Tho most beautiful bank notes issued are those of France and Germany. They are very difficult of imitation. Between London and Paris the long distance telephone lines have almost supplanted tho telegraph, so much more expeditious are they. If financial disasters be a test of ac tual condition, the boasted prosperity of Australia seems, to the New York Commercial Advertiser, to bo about tc come to an end in the crash of banks. A New York Judge has decided that the practice of boycotting is not il legal, but ho seems to tlio San Fran cisco Chronicle to have based his deci sion upon the fact that both employer and employed had mutually engaged in the business of harassing each other. According to tho New York Inde pendent ono of tho greatest literary undertakings of late years in America is the reprint in a somewhat revised shape of Walch's edition of Luther's works. This is being done by the book concern of tho Lutheran Synod of Missouri and other States. Twelve volumes in largo quoto have already appeared. # A Kentuckian who entered tha august presenco of the United States Supreme Court recently says there were but two lawyers within the bar, one of them making a prosy speech and the other working mightily like a inan who was expecting to answer his opponent. "There was an air of solemn dullness about the grave jurists which seemingly was an appropriate atmos phere for the enshrouding of brooding Buddhas." A reform movement seems to be sweeping over our Southern neighbor —Mexico, notes tho Independent. States have passed laws abolishing bull fighting, and it is expected that tho National Congress will complete the work by a genoral prohibitory bill. This is a very gratifying indication of the working of good influences in our sister Republic. Mexico without bull fights and without revolutions is Mex ico under the control of the new civ ilization. Tho Railway Suspension Bridge at Niagara, the first of its kind in this country, and for many years regarded as a wonder second only to the great cataract, has outlived its capacity, de clares the New York Mail and Express, and probably will soon bo replaced by another and greater structure. This old bridge was the first of the marvel ous triumphs of our engineers, who have now progressed far beyond it, and who have come to regard it as a very ordinary affair. Cftptain Molard, a professor nt St- Cyr, Franc's West Point, who ought to he good authority, has made a care ful calculation of the force of soldiers now under call in Europe. He puts France at the head, with 2,500,000; next, Russia with 2,451,000 ; close upon her, Germany with 2,417,000; then, after a long interval. Italy, with 1,514,- 000; while fifth among the armies comes that of Austria-Hungary, with , 1,050,000. A great drop brings us to Turkey, with 700,000; to England, with 1142,000; and to Spain, with 300,- 000. The lesser powers put. together can muster 1,289,000, so that the ag gregate would bo 12,563,000. It is a tremendous aggregate for Europe to maintain, comments tho New York Sun. Howover, only a small part of these forces are constantly with the colors, forming what we should call the regular or standing army, They include the reserves of various grades, and perhaps only a fourth or a fifth of the whole body are always nnder arms. These figures, nevertheless, as we un derstand tho matter, shows us the number on the rolls or in the calcula tions for possible use in time of war, and for which provision is made of some sort in the military budgets. But Captain Molard expects these num bers to be far outdone seven years hence. From various calculations and surmises he concludes that in the year 1900 Germany will have 5,000,000 sol diers: France, 4,350,000; Fvussia, 4,- 000,000; Italy, 2,230,000; Austria- Hungary, 1,900,000; Turkey, 1,150,- 000; Spain, 800,000; England, GO2, 000, and the smaller powers 2,832,000. Here would be a prodigious aggregate of 22,420,000. This calculation for the year 1900 supposes, therefore, RU ad dition of nearly 10,000,000 to tho crushing military establishments of to day. It is not beyond the domain of a reasonable possibility that before the Twentieth Century arrives the huge military fabric of Europe will tumble of its own weight, and that, under a general plan of disarmament, tho armies of that period, instead of being nearly double those of 1893, may pe more than half as great, LOVE'S FIRST KISS. Sweetheart, 'twas but a while ago—lt scarce seems yesterday, Though now my locks are white as snow and all your curls are gray— When, walking in the twilight hose, ere stare had smiled above, I Whispered soft: "I love you," and you kissed me for that love! The first kiss, dear! and then your hand— your little hand so sweet, And whiter than the white, whito sand that twinkled 'noath your feet- Laid tenderly within my own ! Have queens such lovely handa? No wonder that the whip-poor-wills made sweet the autumn lands! It seemed to mo that my poor heart would beat to death and break, While all the world, sweetheart! sweetheart! seemed singing for your sake ; And every rose that barred the way in glad and dying grace, Forgot its faded summer day and, leaning, kissed your face ! I envied all tho rosc3 then, nnd all tho rosy ways Thnt blossomed for your sake are still my life's bright yesterdays; But thinking of thnt first sweet kiss and that first clasp of hands, Llfo's whip-poor-wills sing sweeter now though all the winter lands ! —Frank L. Stanton, in Atlnnta Constitution. AN UNPUNISHED CRIME. DY LUCIA BURTOX MORSE. T" E ROY, you were ft well warned of this * n ftmpl© timo to prevent its occur _ rence. A year ago, when you left col lege, I settled nil jjj your debts, in \F fjpwT- creased your allow * *' ance, gave you a good start in your chosen profession, and told you decidedly then, or tried to impress upon you, that all further expenditures must come within the limit of your personal income. Your opportunities for making that income a large amount were better than most young men start out with, and if it has failed to meet your expenses you must settle the matter in the best way that you can. The affair is yours alone." Tho Hon. Amos Leonard turned again to his papers, as though to dis miss the matter, while his son, whose affairs had been returned to himself with so much decision, crossed the room and stood looking out of the win dow, whistling softly as he jingled the coins in his pockets. He had not expected this rebuff. Never before had his indulgent father refused to help him out in whatever difficulties were brought to him for consideration. It may have been in one sense the fault of this parent that his only son had grown to manhood with a disre gard for dollars, which led his gen erous, happy-go-lucky nature into wild nnd reckless extravagance. Leroy Leonard had been a very lit tle boy when his mother and older sister died, leaving him alone to his father's care. So it was the most natural thing in the world that, after the first paralysis of grief had worn away with time, Sir. Amos Leonard centered all his love, and hope and pride in this lonely fel low. Whatever happiness was left in the world for his father was embodied in Le Roy. What wonder is it that the boy grew to a man with the idea that all obstacles would be in some way removed from the path of the courted Le Roy Leonard. Ho had gone through college with every confirmation of this idea and it was not until ho started out in business, that his father realized the utter lack of discipline or manage ment in his adored son. Then with his usual mixture of indulgence and in consistency, he gave him a generouß start and absolutely withdrew all further aid, It cost the Hon. Amos Leonard more than his son dreamed to hold out in this matter. He would deny himself anything in reason, or out of it, to save this bright nntured son of his one extra care or trouble ; and this self-denial for Le Roy's own good was hardest of all because it brought its hardships to him as well as to his father. This idea of discipline had occurred to Mr. Leonard rather late perhaps, but he was determined to undo the wrong of former years, at whatever cost of self-sacrifice. There aro many who will criticise his judgment in this case—rightfully, too, perhaps—but ho was doing what he thought best. His motive was good, indeed; it was only that he was a man —a father, not a mother. Lc Roy ptood whistling for more than half an hour. Then he took his hat and started toward the door. "I shall dine with you fit home to night, father," he said, pleasantly. "Good-bye, sir." "Good-bye, my son," his father re plied, looking up as Le Roy left the room. He looked at the door for some minutes after his son had passed out. "The boy is all right," he said, half aloud. "It was only a little firmness that he needed. I have never been quite firm enough." So he turned and went on writing. Le Roy walked down the avenue to Twenty-third street and stood for a few moments in the porch of the Fifth Avenue Hotel. His debts were larger than usual, and two of them were what is culled in a certain circle "debts of honor." They must bo paid to-morrow at tho latest, and his entire income for several months ahead was long ago consumed. His profession was not yet paying divi dends. He had been three times to his father, and he realized now that ho meant to refuse all aid. Suddenly, standing there ii\ the bright winter engine, Lo Roy Leonard grew very pale and started slightly. After that he stared intently at the square opposite for five minutes, and then walked hurriedly off down Broad way. "What is this? I have no note of such a sum." 1 'lt is quite correct, sir. The amount is a large ono and tho check was pre sented by your sou. You must recol lect. " The cashier of tho down town bank placed in the Hon. Amos Leonard's hands a check for exactly the amount of Lo Boy's debts, not a cent more or loss. It was signed with the Hon. Amos Leonard's name, in his own peculiar chirography, but not by his hand. Only he knew thnt—ho and one other. "Ah yes! my memory must bo fail- i ing a little, I—yes, of course." Mr. Leonard forced a short, harsh laugh. "I recall it now—yes, yes—perfectly. It is all right, good day, good day, perfectly indeed." A young clerk, with his slim legs twisted among the rounds of a high stool, watched the stately old man, as lie made his way out. When the heavy door swung together, he dipped his pen in the ink again but paused before lie used it, to say with a shrewd, malicious grin : "Guess Beau Brummel Le Roy might help him to remember it bet ter." "Go on with your books, sir?" The cashier spoke in a quick, stern voice, which admitted of no retort or disobedience. Silence ensued, except for the scratching of the pens. Mr. Leonard's carried him homeward unwittingly and he sank into his deep chair before tho library fire, conscious of a desire to think it all over and a corresponding dread of tho same. Perhaps it might not be long before he ceased thinking altogether. He felt that ho had grown to be an old, old man in the last few hours. How brightly tho firo was burning. The great library looked unusually neat and well appointed. He re membered that it had lately been cleaned and renovated. He hoped that Harry had mislaid none of his books or papers. Ah 1 papers! He must begin to think now about that paper he had seen at the bank. When ho had warmed his bloodless hands— well, then ho would think about it. Since Lo Roy had entered upon his professional career, father and son had rarely met during the day, but they had by mutual, though tacit, agree ment taken up the old habit of dining together almost regularly, notwith standing the demands of society upon the time of each. To-night, Mr. Leonard reasoned, Lo Roy would probably not come home. Or perhaps he was not aware of the fact that the check had been shown to his father. It would be better to wait in that case until ho did know. It would also afford Mr. Leonard more timo to think tho matter over. He stepped to n window to lower a shade, where the sun blazed in too glaringly in its red setting light. Down the avenue he saw Le Roy com ing home. The father stood there watching his son, as ho had dono a thousand times before. Le Roy had grown into tho habit of expecting him there, and now just as he had always done, ho snatched off his hat and waved it boy ishly over his head. The Hon. Amos Leonard nodded his white head and then laughed aloud at tho mockery of it. "Ho does not know yet," ho mused. "I shall have moro time to think." He was waiting in the library when Le Roy came down 6tairs dressed for dinner. He sat down by his father and read tho evening papers until the meal was announced. Then he arose, and just as ho had done ever since he grew to his father's height, offered his strong young arm and led his father to his placo at the head of the table. Tho evening dinner had always been a happy one to thttfjo two old friends when they dined alone together. 80 it was to-night. There were no guests. Le Roy's bright talk cheered tho lonely home and his father joined in it with more than usual vivacity. It was 110 time to think while "tho boy" was present. After dinner came a game of chess, and that finished, Le Roy got out his guitar and accompanied his rich, sweet, baritone in the ballads his father loved to hear. Usually after this, Lo Roy wont out some where. Occasionaliy tho Hon. Amos Leonard went with him, bait to night neither seemed inclined to leave the luxury of home. Not until the great hall clock chimed the hour of midnight did Lo Roy rise and bid good-night to his father in the old, boyish and unusual, perhaps, but in finitely sweet to the old mun, who had no one else to bid him good-night in any way. After that it was too late to think. "To-morrow," said Amos Leonard to himself, "he will know and he will not j come." "To-morrow" pascd slowly and yet the father had not found time nor mind to think. That dull old grief had come upon him again just as it had when he was first left with only Le Roy in the world. Sometimes ho seemed to hear the boy's childish prattle, aB he did in the days past, when it was meaningless to him, coming through his mist of sorrow. At fivo o'clock he rose and stood in the window again, with the western sun blazing in his face. And there, indeed, came his son Lo Roy up the street. Off came his liat again ; bob went tho curly head, and what could his father do but bow and smile as of old? No one outside should know. When Le Roy should come dowft to dinney Ue speak. Dinner was announced, however, before the young man appeared, so it must again be deferred. If Le Roy knew that his father had seen that cheek he was either a most remarkable actor or a hardened villain. There was in his manner not the slight est trace of nervousness or fear. If any change could be discerned it was a slight increase of the respect and tenderness in his manner toward his father, which had withstood all indul gence. As they passed into the library after dinner, Le Roy remained standing at the table when his father was seated. "I am going to tho opera to-night with Mrs. Van Cruger's party," ho said ; "but before Igo I want to say to you, sir, that I have been thinking things over for the past few days and I begin to realize a little of what you have done for me. I have never been appreciative nor grateful, I know, and a great deal of it all has l>een thrown awny, but whatever I can do now to make up for it I shall try to do faith fully, nud—honestly. Good night, sir." And leaning down ho put his arms around his father's neck—as ho had done years ago—and kissed tho glow ing, grand old faco with new reverence and solemnity. It was the only reference either man every made to this one dishonesty in Le Roy Leonard's brilliant and honor ablo career.—Elmira (N. Y.) Argosy. Bell Founding. Tho art of bell founding is undoubt edly of great antiquity. The Haxons aro known to have used bells in their churches, although probably but small ones, for the Venerable Bede, writing at tho end of tho Seventh Century, al ludes to them in terms which seem to show that they were not unfamiliar things. The towers of the Saxon period have belfries of considerable dimen sions, in most cases; and at Crowland Abbey, in South Lincolnshire, there was a famous peal of seven bells many years before the Norman Conquest. Tho monks at that time, and for long after, were tho chief practitioners of the art of bell founding—which, in deed, is one of tho many things those well-abused men have handed down to us. Their bells were rarely without inscriptions, often in very bad Latin, containing perhaps some obscure joke, tho point of which is quite lost. More often they were of a religious nature, sometimes, wo fear, not unmixed with a dash of superstition, as when the bell declares that its sound drives away the demons of the air who caused pestil ence and famine, lightning and thun derstorms. As a rule, unfortunately, they put no dates on their bells, a de feet which has been in some measuro overcome by tho researches of many enthusiastic campanologists, but which is likely to keep the early history of bells shrouded in darkness for a long time to come.—Gentleman's Maga zine. The Boys' Festival in Japan. The great event of May, in Japan, is the celebration on the fifth day of the month of the boys' festival. It is called Nobori-no-sekku, festival of flags, or Hhooy-no-sekku, festival of reeds. Before the door of every abode which lias been blessed by tho birth of boys during tho past seven years, rises a tall bamboo pole, from tho top of which are flung to tho broezo gigantic carp—koo—modo oi' paper or woven stuffs in brilliant colors, one for every son. This particular fish is chosen for a symbol because it swims stoutly against stream, and even up rapids, leaping cascades to the higher waters. This implies that tho boys in like man ner must be sturdy and indomitable, stemming courageously the stormy currents of life's stream. Flags also are raised before tho houses, bearing pictures of the Chinese mythical hero Shoki, as an example of strength and bravery. Weapons, jirmor and pic tures of heroes and horses aro chosen for the decoration of tho tokonoma, the slightly raised platform which is tho placo of honor in every living room. The flower held in highest favor for this festival is tho iris; but a kind of early chrysanthemum, and a particular variety of bamboo, called moso-chiku, aro also used. Bundles of reeds and mugwort aro fastened to the projecting roofs of tho houses on this day.— Demorest. A Generous Cat. A member of tho Zoological Society says: ' T once had a cat which always sat up to tho dinner table with me, and had his napkin round his neck and his plate and some fish. Ho used his paw, of course, but he was very par ticular and behaved with extraordi nary decorum. When he had finished his fish I sometimes gave him a piece of mine. One day he was not to be found when the dinner bell rang, so we began without him. Just as the plates were put round puss came rushing upstairs and sprang into his chair, with two mice in his mouth. Before he could be stopped he dropped a mouse on his own plate and then one on mine. He had di vided his dinner with me, as I had often divided mine with him."—Lon don Answers. Courteous Bandits of China. The robbers of China are banded to gether, and form a terrible compact. If a bank in the city wishes to send a large amount of money to Pekin, tho banker sends a gift to tho chief of the banditti infesting the territory through which tho money is about to pass, toll ing him the time the silver will be sent, and requesting that it bo not disturbed. When such a request is made, ac companied by a handsome present, it is usually honored. These banditti i;ro not tho only robbers. Tho Government is engaged in tho same business. Taxes aro very high, and every time one comes in contact with the rulers it costs something,— Brooklyn Citizeq, BOYHOOD OF COLUMBUS EVENTS THAT OCCURRED DUR ING HIS YOUTH. Famous Monuments that Were Herun In Ills Youth—The Rore# War and the Turks —Siege of Constantinople— Building of the llastllo. Childhood of Old ClirK To realize how great have been tho changes since the boyhood of tho dis < overer of the now world is a matter of no little difliculty to people of the pres ent time. Columbus was born in 144 \ four and a half centuries ago, but sin ;o (hat timo tho world has moved so fast and gone 60 far that, in point of prog ress, the time of Pericles Is not further removed from our own. The boyhood oi tho groat navigator is, therefore, of Interest to us, since the scones he dally beheld, the topics be heard constantly discussed, tho events of his period, tho customs of his contemporaries, are as diverse as possible from those with which we arc familiar, and, by compar ison, the world of his youth is a world with which tho general realer is as little acquainted as he is with the pres ent state of learning in Timbuctoo. Yet thrilling history was being made while Columbus was a child at his mother's knee, and as tho boy grow older, fond of books and im mersed in study as ho was, ho rould not fail to hear something of the great events which were then, in default of newspapers, passed from mouth to jnouth along tho quays and through tho streets of the bustling city of Genoa, tn those days the fleets of Genoa cov ered the Mediterranean, and daily arri vals brought intelligence from all quar ters of the known world. News spread with wonderful rapidity, considering the fiwt that newspapers, telegraphs, post oftleos, were all lacking; news of the batrde of Agincourt, fought thirty years befo>o Columbus was born, was told in = r> V AN ANTWERP IIOUSR—TIME OF COLUMBUS. Rome, over a tnousam. miles away, be fore tho end of a week; tho results of Cresßy, a huudred years earlier, wero known all over Europe within a fort night. Sometimes, of course, exagger ated, the accuraoy of this hastily trans mitted intelligence was wonderful. A gentleman in England, whose brother was killed and whoso two sons were woundod when Joan raised tho sioge of Orleans in 1429, learned the fact In six days, and started to the relief of his boys on tho seventh. When intelligence spread like this, a great eonter of busi ness and population such ns Genoa was must also havo boen a center of news, and Columbus, when a lad of 0, may havo heard tho news of the final expul sion of tho English from Franco In 1451, and when a little older he must have heard newe of the war begun In 1453 in England botween the rival housos of York and Lancaster, in which roses wero the emblems and the kingdom the prize. No doubt, among his com rades he had heard tales of the terrlblo Turks and of tho still more terrible Tamerlane, who, forty-three years be fore the birth of Columbus, had defeat ed and captured the Sultan Bajazot, and imprisoned him in an iron cage for tho amusomontof tho savago troopers who composod tho conqueror'sarmy. Tales liko tills fascinato the boys of every century, and Columbus was probably no exception to tho rule that boys delight In stories of adventure. When Colum bus was a boy the name of Turk was u torror word throughout Europe. Moth ers frightened their children into obedi ence with tho threat that the "Turks aro coming," and the story of the great est Turk, who, at the time of his do feat and rapture was besieging Con stantinople, a city In close commercial Intercourse with Columbus' birthplaco, was doubtless told with many exagger ations In tho streets and nurseries of Genoa. Tho year before Columbus was born Ladlslns of Hungary was defeated and slain at Varna by the Turks, and tho memory of this great national disaster was doubtless revived by the terrible dofeat of the Turkish cavalry by Hun niados when Columbus was G years old. Whon ho was 8 tho city of Genoa was stirred to Its depths by Intelligence that alarmed the world. Constantinople, in spite of the horoio resistance that for months had excite ! the admiration of Europe, had fallen lofore the victorious arms of Amurath, and swift ships Hying before tho souiheaotorn gales had brought tho dismal news to Venice and Genoi. The capital of tho East was BAI.LV-I'ORT O/ ANTWISIIP FORT. tho trading post for Eastern Europe and Asia Minor, and thousands of merchants (u Genoa, Ycnlco and otlior ports of tho Medltcranoan saw their busfnoss swept away at ono stroke. For a long timo there had boen talk of Bonding aid to the boloagurod Constantino TaUtologus, and the last voseol that escaped from Constantinople bore an urgent appeal for help. "Come qui. kly, or we are lost," said tho letter dispatched from the un iortunato monarch. In Genoa and Yonlco flocte woro i ronaring to put to 6on; moroennrios. hlrod in Italy, Switz erland, on tho banks of tho Rhine, gath ered from tho strolling bands of frco imccß, j-cciuited c vf u in far-aw^y England and Scotland, were gathering In both cities, ready to embark with the first favorable wind; but before the wind came the news arrived that the Turkish cannoD,novel and much-droadod weapons, had made a breach In tho walls; that Constantino, sword In hand, had fallen among his troops, and that tho crescent had replaced tho cross on tho giant dome of St. Sophia. When A SPANISH GALLS*. the future discoverer was 11 he no doubt witnessed the illuminations that were ordered in every city In Europe in honor of tho brilliant vlotory of the Hungarians over the Turks before the walls of Belgrade, and, posaibly, a few years later, may have stood among tho crowds that gathered before the po -ted proclamations of the reigning pontiff, < ailing the world to arms against tho cruel infidels. Those were stirring times, for what with the wars of Christendom against the Turks in the East, the Moors in Spain, the continual warfare that was going on by sea and land against tho merciloss corsairs of Morocco and Bar bary, the wars of Christian kings aga'nst each other and against their own subjects, the never-ceasing con tot t < between rival noblemen, the pri vate feud* of free cities, tho ravages of Ine plundering companies of knights and retainers who hired their swords to whomsoever could pay, and were ready, at the promlee of h gher pay, to turn their lances to-day against the era p'oyers cf yestorday, and tho universal desolation wrought by fnm'ne and the Black Death, Europe had plenty of sub jects to talk about and gossip was plentiful. 'J he boyhood of Columbus antedated even many of those monuments which we arc accustomed to regard as memen tos of n hoary antiquity, says the Globe-Democrat. When Columbus was 5 years old, Pope Nicholas, after long pondering the subject and gravely con sidering the cost, determined on the coristru 'tion of a grand church at Borne, a church which should as much surpass all the others of ( hristendou as Borne In sanctity surpassed other cities. Ho began by tearing away the ruins of tho basilica of Constantino, but got out of funds when the ground was leady for the foundation, the work stopped, and in the boyhood of Columbus Hie sito of St. Teter's was a large excavation in the center of Borne. Thus it romained during the whole life of the discoverer, and not until 1500, the year of his death, was the work resumed by the laying of the first stone by Julius 11. St. Paul's, in was a homely building, whose aisles were used as tho most convenient | assageway a-ros a public square, and whoso walls ro soundod to the voices of the buyer and seller, while the greater portion of Paris was contained in the limits of tho island whore now stands tho Calhedral of Notre Dame. The grand Cathedral of St. Albans. England, whose gAtes and doors have for ages been the admiration of architects and builders, was not then in existence. A roomy and well-filled monastery stood hard by, the rich and comfortable abbot of which had more than onco received a sharp jemon stranco from the King for not erecting a church propotiloned to the wealth of the community. At last, unable to re sist longer the King's wishes, he, with much reluctance and some grumbling at tho cost, laid tho founda'ions when Co lumbus was 0 years old, and then the gates were luilt round which, when Columbus was 10. the Yorkists and TUB ATE OR ST. ALDANA. Lancastrians fought the first battle of tho Hopes war. Whon the explorer was 12 ho, no doubt, saw many of tho Cologne Jews who at that time were expelled from tho German capital, and as we know little of his early travels he may even havo been at Co'ogne, and there have seen the foundations of tho Cathe dral which is now ono of the wonders of the Christian world. Its first 6tones were laid 200 years bofore ho was born, but tho work went on slowly, and In his youth the walls wero scarcely ten feet high, while a small roofed inclosure in ouo corner served to shield worshipers from the weather. Three years after his death the work ceased altogether, and was not resumed until 1842, nor was It until 1880 that the grand pile was fin ished, over 600 years from the com mencement of tho enterprise, which thus ooveroi in its construction nearly half Middle Ages und tho wholo of modern times. In the travels of his early days It is no.. impossible that Columbus may have \ 'sited Antwerp and there have beheld in their prime the fortresses which, now in decay, wero then just finished and tlie pride of tho stout Dutch city that hoped by moans of them long to j re serve its independen e. Tho Antwerp forts, however, dwindled into insig nificance in comparison with another fortreß3 which Columbus may have Boen, and which had then just been completed, the famous Bastile of Paris. Ereoted as the cltatel of Paris, it was tho principal dofenso of the city, and was then des med ono of the strongest tho giant structures that tho barons of William the Conqueror had erected in England to hold in awo the vanquished Baxons. Nearly 100 years after the death of Columbus Henry IV. and his vctornns assailed it in vain, its thick walls and loftv battlements defying every attack. In Columbus' boyhood it was known only as a castle, not hav ing thon boon put to tho vile uses of tyranny that afterward made it infa m us in tho eyes of the French na tion and brought about its demolition at tho hands of the infurlatoi rabble. Bu*. Columbus did not need to travel U) Paris to 800 a model pottos. I for In his native city there was an es tabllshment of this kind which, in his day, rivaled the later reputation of the i Bastile. The men of tho fifteenth cen l tury had little of comfort In their dally | lives, and, not knowing what it was, i never missed it. Even tho palaces of I thoso times were built without the | slightest care for what the moderns consider comfort; and in the royal resi dence less regard was shown for th-3 convenience of its occupants than is now displayed in the cottago of the la borer. Even in tho Tuileries, begun over 100 years after the birth of Colum bus, no systems of sewerage or drain ago was provided, and the slops of every description wero thrown into the court yard, through which tho palace attend ants constantly passed and repassed. When roj*al dwellings were of this de fcrlption little regard would naturally bo shown for the com'ort of prisoners, and no more cheerless place of abode can bo imagined than the huge State Prison of Genoa. Its forbidding ex terior was indicative of the internal ar range men's. No provision was made cithi r for heat, light or ventilation, and many of the cells wero FO far under ground that no ray of daylight ever il luminated their interior. But those were merciless days, and the prisoner was fortunate If he escaped with only a term of imprisonment, for In the lower tiers were torture cham bers where evidence was oxtracted from luckless wretches-by savage torture. Executions wero then public, and one of the worst features wero the insults ' heaped on tho condemned by the rabble I that always attended an exqoution. i These outrages were not only not dls -1 couraged by the authorities, but on oc casions when it was anticipated that \ public sympathy would be extended to the condemned, bands of ruffians were hired to attend tho execution and curse and maltreat the unfortunate victim. Hanging, burning, drawing and quar tering wero then accepted modes of ex ecution, and on more than one occasion the young Christopher no doubt saw in tho street before the great Genoa prison the carts containing the tnangled remains of state prisoners, while before tho ghastly tokens walked tho masked A QUBKN'B CARRIAGE executioner i, bearing on poles tho heads of the condemned. The days of Columbus' youth were days when the highest ladles of the land rode In rude carts drawn by two horses, as shown in the illustration, a convey ance then considered tho height of re spectability; indeed, so select was It that ere his boyhood ended royal edicts in France and Spain forbade the ÜBO of su?h vehicles to any but members of tho royal family and of tho highest ranks of nobility. They were days when la dies who from fatigue or overexertion fainted were bled at onco until they fainted again, and were then sent home on a cot placed on a big horse and a little horse side by side, so that the im provised bed was in a reclining position. They were days when kings wore their crowns all day long and every day, the most gorgeous costumes, made JiL •the most extravagant styles, and of the most glaring colors were worn. They were days when the ontralls of serpents were considered an infallible cure for alimentary diseases, and when the hair and hide of a fox, burnt under the nose of a patient, was regarded as nn excel lent specific for rheumatism, because the fox was fleet, and burning his hair in the presence of the slow-paced rheu matic was conjectured to quicken his steps. They were days when feuds were settled by private battle, and when the adjudication of a lawsuit was determined by singlo com bat, under tho idea that provi dence would surely fight for the right. They were days when Eu rope was ruled by a horde of petty des pots, each in his own little castle op pressing Lhe poor and robbing tho stranger They wore days when no pro| o.ty was securo If either tho noble or tho king wanted it for his service when the king owned the property of the nation and disposed o' it as th< kh it were his own. They wero days when science was not yol lorn und whon ecclesiastics solemnly confuted the statement that the earth was round with the assertion that it must be square, for the Bible spoke of tho four coiners of the earth With tho story how the boy outgrew the ideas and prejudices of his youth—ideas and prej udices which were the common prop erty of his time—and by the sheer force of reason solved the problem of a new route to the east by the way of tho west, tho pages of history are filled. But the old narrative gives us little idea of the struggle that he must have undergone before he finally succeeded In bringing others to a belief in his own sentiments, nor does It picture for us tho curious evolut on of the man from tho unfavorable circumstances which surrounded his boyhood. Imperial Telephone Etiquette. Emperor William 11. has his own imperial way of using tha telephone. Despite mistakes caused by the En> peror's refusal to name himself at the opening of the conversation, as othei people do, he Invariably Intidduccs his telephoned orders mcreljWiyith the words: "1 command that," and so forth. As soon as the chief of de partment hears these words he mo tions that his subordinates must at once leave the room. The cance of this arrangement is suppose to be that the chief is having some thing like an audience with his Maj esty and that it would be presumpt uous for a person not summoned to hear the imperial voice to occupy the room into which its tones are con veyed. At the end of the converse-* tion the Emperor walks away with out saying "good-by," and the chief with whom ho has conversed must listen for five or 9lx minutes after ward to make sure that the imperial ordeis have been completed. Then ho calls back his assistants and the usual etiquette Is resumed. MAUD —"GoodnessgraciousiJlavcn't you an overcoat on this bit to if d av Mr. Mutphy?" Murphy—"No; a pepperiulut every five minutes \,f stead-"—Ally Sloper.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers