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About The Butler herald. (Butler, Ga.) 1875-1962 | View Entire Issue (May 26, 1885)
i THE HERALD. 3 W. N. BENNS, Editor and Proprietor. LilT THEliE BE LIGHT.” Subscription, $1.50 in Advance. VOLUME IX. BUTLER, GEORGIA, TUESDAY. MAY 26, 1885. A BROKEN DREAM. High roared the flames upon the hearth, The wind howled fitfully without, And wind and flame like revellers Seemed gleefully to laflgh and shout, As Maud and I before the fire .Leaned idly back and smiled and sighed, Her. robe of violet velvet hung In shadowy foida down at her side. Her golden hair in rippling waves Hung carelessly below her waist, And cieamy lace from shoulders white Full, and its web-like pattern traced. Her gaze was always on the fire, And mine was always upon her; The faint, sweet smell of sandalwood Came over as her fan did stir. A score of j’rars—and once again I sit within the olden room, And back upon the air there floats The faint, sweet sandalwood perfume. Farted world-wide are Maud and I, Yet, like a subtle, shy caress, I feel anear me fall the folds Of that soft violet velvet dress. Hattie Tyxo Griswold. AN AWKWARD MOMENT. [From Harper’s Weokly.] “Yon must have beta in some pretty tight places at different limes, Roger. Wo know what you got Ihe cross for, hut I suppose that the chances were often very nearly as heavy against you.’ The man who made this remark was seated opposite his friend before the cheerful fire in the smoking-room of a London military club. Both had the bronzed faces and prematurely grizzled hair which betoken long sojourns under almost tropical skies. The one who had been addressed ns “Roger" was slightly the elder, and upon Ins broad chest bore the tiny scrap of ribbon that indi cated that the wearer had won the most prized of English decorations, the Vic toria Cross. He did not reply for a minute or fcw - *o his companion’s words. Appro cutty they had called np many acminiscences, fev 0 f which were agreeable, but at las- a smile lighted np his features, and he sujd: 'Yes, old boy; lye very often thought my life wasn’t o°ing to last a second longer; but the moat awkward moment I ever put in wasn’t in tne field.” “No. Then I presutne that it was when yon were besieged in the Resi dency during the Mutiny ?” “It wasn’t in action at all. It was on board ship. ” “Wreck ?” “No. That is to say, the ship wasn’t wrecked, but I thought I was.” “Tell me about it” “Well, I don’t mind. It’s twenty years ago, tend the telling can’t hurt anyone now. Still you will understand that the names I shall give you are not the true ones, and you must promise not co try and Sad out what those were. “All right. I’ll be content with the story.” “Here goes, then,” said Roger, set tling himself back in his chair. “It •ccurred just after we’d finished np the ust of those black devils. I had pretty nearly got over the wounds I received m the affair for which the Queen gave me the cross, and I reported myself as fit for duty. The colonel, however, bless his old heart! wouldn’t hear of it, and insisted on my taking a year’s leave. There was no canal in those days, and the pleasantest way of going home then—and I don’t know that it isn’t now—was by one of the fine clip per ships round the Cape. I was for tunate enough to get a cabin to myself on board the Winchester, of Greene’s line. The purser, Watson, I had met at some dinners in Calcutta, and he promised to make things as pleasant as possible. We had very few passengers, mostly invalid officers, two or three civilians, and four ladies. I saw threo of the ladies on deck when we sailed, and none of them impressed me as be ing specially charming. The captain, whose name was, we’ll say, John Smith, looked like one of the regular navy. He wore a uniform and sword, and was very severe of aspect and stiff in bear ing. 1 found out afterward that he was a regular martinet, and the half dozen midshipmen and "the minor officers stood in considerable awe of him. On my being introduced, he favored me with a formal grasp of the hand, and jerked out a few words abont having heard of me before. “We did not begin to drop down the river till the day was fairly advanced, and I had scarcely got my traps in order when it was tnu-* to dress for dinner. In those days the captain would have been insulted if his passengers did not turn ont in full evening toggery. We soldiers were seated at table in accordance with our rank, and as I had only just got my company, I was pretty well down toward the foot, or purser’s end. This I did not at first feel inclined to regret, as the prospect appeared that we should be a little more free and easy than were the fogies np at the top. But when I had got fairly settled into my place, I looked toward the captain, and immediately be gan to deplore my insignificance. Seated on his right was the prettiest girl I had ever seen. Her eyes were—well, it’s no nse my giving yon an auctioneer’s cata logue of her charms. Yon jnst picture your ideal, and she would come very near it. All I knew was that I was com pletely knocked over. I am sure my neighbors must have thought I was either surly or stupid, for I never ad dressed them, and I was scarcely con scious what replies I made to their re marks, All my attention was given to a silent watching of my new divinity, and I frantically envied the oaptain and a bluff old colonel who were privileged to sit beside her. “As soon as dinner was over I got hold of my friend Watson, and inquired the nam'e of the young lady. “ ‘She’s a Miss Latimer,’ he said; ‘came out with us this voyage, I suppose only for her health, since she’s going right back. Understand she’s an orphan, and got some money. Dresses well, at least. Shall I introduce you ?’ “Of course I jumped at the offer, and very soon the magic words were spoken which privileged me to speak to my idol. You see even now I get enthusiastic and romantio in my language when I talk about her, so you can imagine the condi tion of hopeless * smite’ in which I was then. Well, she proved to be just as charming 113 B * ie looked;, and before i turned in for the night I was deeply, desperately in love. “I don’t suppose there is any place in the world so favorable for love-making as a comfortable passenger ship. Not one of these uew ‘ocean grayhounds’ that rush at break-neck speed through all kinds of weather, and land yon at yonr destination almost before yon have time to know any one aboard, but a fine clipper vessel, whose only propelling power is nature’s breath, and to the passengers on which every change of weather or shift of wind is of vast im port and interest. These afford endless themes for talk, and mutual interest seems to draw people closer together. Miss Latimer had quite an affection for the Winchester, which had brought her safely from England, and was then bear- iug her back. She and the captain ap peared to be on excellent terms, and she was often invited to walk on the captain’s own Bide of the quarter-deck—a pathway which we were supposed not to venture to tread without a special summons. “There was something about Miss Lat imer-Rose was her name—which was irresistibly attractive to me. I do not know exactly how to describe it, except as a curious compound of girlish inno cence and womanly frankness. One would uever dream of flirting with her, and I fancy few people would have ven tured on any direct love-making without a speedy accompaniment of a humble entreaty for her hand. She was awfully kind to me; used always to be afraid that I’d overexert myself, and was constantly making me tell her stories of my experi ences. I am afraid that sometimes I n little overdid tjre Othello business, but she never seemed to mind. “Day after day slipped away in an eo- stasy of happiness tempered with occa sional qualms of doubt. I hesitated to put my £ot,e to the test, for if by any chance she should refuse me—and despite my belief that my affection was returned such an event was barely possible -it would be very unpleasant to meet her every day for at least two months. Again, if she accepted me, I should be so anxious to be married that I couldn’t bear to think of waiting till we got to England. There Is no need for me to say that I was very young; yon can see that from my state of mind. Well, finally I made a confidant of Watson. He cut the Gordian knot at once, ‘Ask the lady,’ he said, and if she consents get the captain to marry you as soon as she’s agreeable.’ “ ‘But is that legal ?’ I inquired. “ ‘Perfectly. It will be duly entered in the ship’s log just the same as a birth. The captain is ex officio clergyman, magistrate, registrar, and sometimes doctor.’ “The idea was splendid, and I gave Watson my best thanks. I should have at once proceeded to act on his advice, but it occurred to mo that it might be as well to sound the captain and see if he would be willing to perform the cere mony. You see, I wanted to have every thing sure before I put my fate to the test. I waited through one day for a favorable opportunity to speak to the captain on deck, but he never invited me to share his walk. So the next morn ing I sent a message by his boy, asking if he could spare me a few minutes. The boy speedily returned with a request that 1 would follow him to the captain’s cabin. “I found the great man sitting at his table looking over a chart. Somehow or other he appeared to me as unusually formidable. “‘Good morning, Captain Hamilton,’ he said, as he waved me to take a seat, ‘Can I do anything for you ?’ “ ‘Well, captain, it’s rather a delicate matter, but I wanted to ask you some' thing about your powers onboard.’ “ ‘They are absolute, sir,’ he answered a little sternly. ‘Why do you ask ? Do you want some one put in irons for in sulting you ?’ “‘Not exactly, captain. The fetters that I would like you to nse are of a dif ferent kind—the matrimonial ones. ’ “ ‘The devil you say 1’ he exclaimed, jumping to his feet, and his face light ing up with a sailor’s quick sympathy for a love affair. ‘So you have lost your heart to one of my passengers? Pray which is it ?’ “‘Well, captain,’ I answered, ‘I know I can trust yon not to let this go any further at present. It is Miss Latimer.’ “I didn’t quite like the look that oame over his face. Is it possible, I thought, that this old sea-dog is a little bit gone in that quarter himself ? “He gave mo plenty oi time to think before he made any verbal comment on my announcement. His first words were: “ ‘Pray, sir, have you spoken to the lady on the subject of your hopes ?’ “ ‘Not yet, captain.’ “ ‘Has she given you any encourage ment to think that the love you say you feel is returned by her ?’ “ ‘No, captain; but she has been very kind to me, and has talked tome a great leal, and seemed to like to have me talk to her.’ « ‘And on these faint grounds you base your hopes ?’ “I didn’t at all like the tone in which he made that remark, and I was about to reply a little haughtily. I suppose he saw the expression on my face, and he stopped me from speaking by hold ing up his hand. “ ‘Don’t say any more, Captain Ham ilton. I ought to have stopped you be fore. I couldn’t possibly marry you to the lady.’ “ ‘Why not, Captain Smith,’ I asked, rather warmly. “ ‘Because, sir, I couldn’t very well marry you to my own wife.’ “ ‘What ?’ I almost shrieked. “ ‘My wife,’ he answered firmly. ‘I am sorry you should be placed in so un pleasant a position. It is partly my fault, but much more that of your own youth and rashness. You are an officer and a gentleman, and will respect the secret I am obliged to oonfide to yon.’ “1 felt so utterly crushed that I was scarcely sensible of where I was. Cer tainly I did not fully understand all he was saying, but I managed to retain sense enough to bow my head in sign of aseent. “ ‘I was married,’ said the captain, ‘when I was last home, to Miss Latimer, who was left au orphan under unusually sad circumstances and surroundings. She dreaded to be left in England alone. The owners of this line do not allow their captains to have their wives with them even as passengers. We therefore decided to keep onr marriage secret, and my wife booked as a passenger und6r her maiden name. Not a soul on board except yourself knows the truth. I trust to you to keep ft sacred, ror 1 don’t want to retire yet for a voyage or two.’ “I am sure I don’t know how I got from his cabin to my own, but once in the latter, I bolted the door, and never came out till the next morning. I can’t tell if the captain ever confided to his wife what took place iu his cabin, but I sometimes fancied I could see in her face, when her eyes fell on me, an ex pression of mingled pity and amuse ment that I never noticed there before. One thing I wa3 sure of, however, and that was that when I became more famil iar with her I did not think her quite so pretty as I did at first. “When the Winchester touched at St. Helena, I arranged with Captain Smith that I should go ashore there, and wait for the next vessel of Greene’s line. We made ill health and the need of land air the excuse. “That time in the captain’s cabin was the most awkward moment I ever knew. I suppose I am the only fellow who ever asked a man to marry him to his own wife. At any rate, if there is another, he has my sympathy.” Julian Magnus. ST. PETERSBURfl’S DEFENCES. HOW GRANT SAYED LEE How Long We Shonld Sleep. SEVEN HOURS FOR. DAI LABORERS AND RIGHT FOR MEN OF ACTIVE BRAINS. “But you are aware that the Russian fleet could not stand against the English fleet ?” suggested a reporter to a Rus sian officer new in this country. “True enough,” quickly admitted the officer. “England has seventy-two armor clad men-of-war against thirty on the Russian side. But you must not forget that Russia cannot be forced to a marine war. She has to defend her coast line, and this she is fully able to do, even against the English navy. For that purpose we have 120 torpedo boats and nine sloops-of-war. But in case of defence the coast fortresses are ciiiellr to be relied upon, and that is our stro g point.” “It is reported that England intends to transfer the war to the Baltic and to the Black sea,” said the reporter. “Well, they are welcome there. On entering the Baltic the English men-of- war could not do anything more than force our government to keep at the capital an army of a certain strength. But as to taking St. Petersburg there can be no question whatever, and the English know it as well as we do. Let all Europe go there by the sea and St. Petersburg could not be taken. I have served myself in the Croustadt fortress and know perfectly well the whole ar rangement of formidable forces there. I will give you just a faint idea of the situation. Cronstadt is situated on the Kotlin Island, forty-six versts, or abont thirty-one miles, from St. Petersburg. There are two channels leading to the capital, one north and the other south from Cronstadt. Both channels are, as it were, virtually closed by the three strategic linos of powerful forts on arti ficial islands. Now, iu order to reach St. Petersburg the English men-of-war would have to pass between these forts. Bv a device of our own we may concen trate the fire of at least a hundred can nons at any time and on any point of those channels. As I havo said already, we might easily sink there the combined fleet of all Europe. The cannon we have there are of the heaviest and best make in existence. Some of them could welcome the English with half ton can non balls. Our men-of-war might also stand between those forts and act as forts. Besides all that, each channel there is closed by torpedoes. I hope yon see now that it is quite impossible for the English to pass Cronstadt and to reach our capital. Besides Cron stadt we have those excellent coast fortresses, such as Sveaborg and Vyborg. The whole coast of the Finn Bay is guarded by torpedoes. No, no, the English would have to keep at a re spectable distance from Cronstadt.” An interesting story of Gen. Grant’s magnanimity at the close of the war, and his keen sense of honor, comes from a New York correspondent. The war was over. Gen. Lee and his half-starved Confederates had returned to their deso late homes on their parole t>f honor. The victorious armies, under Grant and Sherman, were encamped in and around Washington and Jeff Davis was in Fort ress Monroe. Gens. Grant and Rawlins were play ing a game of billiards in the National Hotel and two civilians were indulging in that pastime on an opposite table. A major entered the room in a hurry and whispered to Grant. The latter laid his cue on the table, saying: “Raw lins, don’t disturb the balls until I re turn,” and hurried out. One of the civilians said to the other: “Pay for the game and hurry out. There’s something up.” In front of the hotel stood a mounted sentinel. Grant ordered the soldier to dismount, and springing into the saddle rode up the avenue so fast as to attract attention. The first civilian questioned the soldier as to the cause but was an swered with the surprise of one who knew nothing. On being told of the General’s breakneck ride it was decided to go <5 the War Department and learn the cause, if possible. Col. Barroll, of the Second Regular Infantry, was dis bursing officer in the Quartermaster’s Department, and to the Colonel one of the civilians went for information. Ask ing him if he knew the reason of Gen. Grant’s hasty action aud if he had seen the hero of the hour around the Depart ment. Col. Barroll answered, “Yes,’’ bnt was surprised at anybody’s knowl edge of the event. When told of what trauspired, the Col. said: “Well, as you are aware of the coming of Gen. Grant I will tell you all about it, providing you promise not to repeat it. “Secretary Stanton sent for me in reference to the execution of certain orders, and while listening to his in structions Gen. Grant came in. The Secretary greeted the General with a pleasant ‘Good morning,’ which the latter returned and said: ‘Mr. Secretary, I understand that you have issued orders for Gen. Lee and others, and I desire to know if such orders have been placed in the hands of any officer for execution.’ “ ‘I have issued orders for the arrest of all the prominent rebels, and officers will be dispatched on the mission soon,’ replied the Secretary. “Gen. Grant appeared cool, though laboring under mental excitement, and quickly said: “ ‘M Secretary, when Gen. Lee sur- n.::.o-red to me at Appomattox I gave him my word and honor that neither he nor any of his followers would be dis turbed so long as they obeyed their parole of honor. I have learned nothing to cause me to believe that any of my laic adversaries have broken their prom ises and have come here to make you aware of that fact and would also sug gest that those orders be canceled.’ “Secretary Stanton became terribly angry, and said: “ ‘Gen. Grant, are you aware whom yon are taking to? I am the Secretary of War.’ “Quick as a flash Grant answered back: ‘And I am Gen. Grant Issue those orders at your peril.’ Then turn ing on his heel Grant walked ont as un concerned as if nothing had happened. “It is needless to say,” continued Col. Barroll, “that neither Lee nor any of his soldiers were arrested. I was dis missed from the presence of the Secre tary with the remark that my services in connection with the arrest of the leading rebels would be dispensed with until he took time to consider, and I now wait the result of his decision.” Like some cases in law the decision of the great War Secretary was reserved for all time, but whether the game of billiards was ever played to an end has never been definitely known. The latest authority on this vexed question, Dr. Malins, says that the proper amount of sleep to be taken by a man is eight hours. So far as regards city life the estimate is probably cor rect. Proverbial wisdom does not apply to modern conditions of social existence. “Five (hours) for a man, seven for a woman, and nine for a pig,” says one proverb; and a second, quoted by Mr. Hazlitt in his English Proverbs, declares that nature requi'es five ; custom allows seven; laziness takes nine aud wicked ness takes eleven. These conclusions were, however, drawn from observations of country life. Physical fatigue iB more easily overcome than intellectual. Which of us when traveling in the country or abroad, or in any way sepa rated from the ordinary process of thought and anxiety, has not found that he could, without difficulty, do with a couple of hours less sleep than ho was in the habit of taking ? Men, however, who follow an intellectual pursuit are exceptionally fortunate if the processes of restoration occupy less than seven hours. More frequently they extend to eight or nine hours. Kant, I see it is stated, took never less than seven hours. Goethe owned to requiring nine. Sol- dierB and sailors, on the other hand, Jike laborers, do with much less quantity. I am afraid to say how few the Duke of Wellington regarded as essential. A schoolmaster, under whom at one time I studied, a hard-working man at the ac quisition of languages, proclaimed loud ly that he never took more than five hours’ sleep. The hour at which he rose in the morning gave some color to this assertion. Only in after life did I dis cover that a two hours postprandial siesta was not included in that allow- A SPANISH BASTILE. All the Records of Prisoners Taken to Spain and there Destroyed. Indians as Horse Thieves. BARRIOS AND IIIS PEOPLE. The Dictator as Ho Appeared to an Amer ican who Lived In Gunteuinln. The manner in which the Indians steal horses is as follows: Two or three men approach the encampment cautiously soon after nightfall, and take advantage of any creek, dell or brushwood that may serve to conceal them irom the ob servation of the out pickets; if they suc ceed in reaching the extremity of the village undiscovered they stand up and walk deliberately through it, wrapped in their buffalo robes. They can no longer be distinguished from the Pawnees of the party by the faint light of the half extinguished fires; and as they pass the groups of horses collected before their respective owners’ lodges, they cut with a sharp knife the lariats that secure those they purpose to carry off. As soon as they have loosened the required num ber, each man jumps upon one and they drive off the rest at full speed, shaking their blankets and urging the alarmed animals to their utmost exertions. Of course they obtain a considerable start of any pursuit, and, if the night is dark, run but little risk of being overtaken. The manner of securing horses on the prairie against these depredators is two fold; either to tie them by a lariat passed round the neck or to ‘hobble’ them, which is affected by tying the fore legs close together, by leather thongs passed round them below the knee joint. This latter is the safer plan, because a thief can sometimes cut the lariat as he walks without risk of observation; but if he sieop3 down to untie or cut a strong leather thong between the shins of a horse, he not only runs more risk of alarming the animal, bnt meurs suspi cion from any one whe may happen be lying awake in the neighborhoi cases where there is a probability an attempt, it is better both to* hobble them. The severity, and even cruelty, with which Cuban insurgents are punished by the Spanish authorities is well known. A correspondent of the Boston Herald gives an interesting description of Castle Morro, at Havana, which has witnessed many mysterious imprisonments and executions: “Who enters Castle Morro leaves all hope behind. To pass between its por tals involuntarily, for any reason, i3 considered equivalent to a sentence cJ death, and many who have gone there cannot even be traced beyond the iron doors. Some say that the records of ar rest and confinement are sent to the Minister of Justice at Madrid. Others suggest that the daily reports of the commandant are sent to Spain and de stroyed after perusal. But, however it may be, the common understanding is that whoever enters Morro Castle loses his identity, and never comes out again, for the bodies of the dead are said to be oast over the parapets into th6 sea. “This castle stands at the entrance to the harbor of Havana; a picturesque but gloomy pile—massive masonry resting upon the crest of a rock which rises about 200 feet perpendicularly out of the seas. It is the point of a peniusula which embraces the harbor of Havana and makes the latter, when once entered, as safe as any in the world. Covering many acres with its walls and dungeons the castle is one of the largest and most formidable fortresses in the world, sur passing even Fortress Monroe in its ex tent. The present castle is not so an cient as some others on the island, as the English captured it and blew it up 100 years ago, compelling the Spaniards to spend a million or two of dollars in its re-erection. Modern ariillery would batter down the walls, but would make no impression upon the eternal rocks, among whose crevices and ravines the dungeons of the castle have been placed. There is no prison in Europe so secure from capture, either by exterior or in terior attack, for the corridors constitute a labyrinth in which it is said the com mandant himself requires a guide. No pen will ever record, and no mind can ever correctly imagine, the horrors which have taken place within those walls. The iniquities of the Inquisition did not surpass them, if the stories that are told are true; aud people say that the cruelties still continue. “The life of every citizen of Cuba is the property of the Captain-General, to be disposed of as he ohooM, and he has chosen that many of them be spent within these castle walls. Nobody knows how large a number are in con finement; nobody knows who they are or what they suffer; all the public ever knows is that Senor So-and-so has been ‘denounced’ and taken to the Castle, and his friends keep mighty quiet lest they have to join him there. These Senors So-and-so seldom, if ever, e<^ back from the Castle, and it is bett the family and friends not to as! The Castle-is for political prisoni clusively, and when we were ovi our guide told us it was fi showed us the place—a littlo ground—where the executii place, and the precipici bodies of the dead aj ^ but could give no anuuallw A Hnsband’s Interest. The Composition of the Oni Cent. Do yon know of what the common one cent pieoe is composed? It i3 ninety-five per cent, of copper aDd five per cent. of tin and zinc. There is no nickel in it. Its real intrinsio value is abont one-tenth of a cent. The old penny used to be made of pure copper, and was worth one-third of a oent. Few counterfeits have been made on the one cent pieoe. It would not pay. Too many would have to be made and dis tributed to produce any money for the sharpers. The old penny was once counterfeited, the fraud being made at Birmingham, England. It didn t pay, and the counterfeiters gave it np for a bad job.—Albany Argun. Russia.—The returns of the census taken in 1882 give the population of Russia in Europe as numbering 77,879,- 621, of whom 38,651,977 were males and 39,227,544 females, making, with the grand duohy of Finland and other parts of the empire, a total over 102,000,000. “A married woman bnys a house and lot with her own money; she and her husband live in the house, during which time the husband is relieved from pay ing rent which he would have been obliged to pay had not his wife bought the house and lot; at the end of three years she wishes to sell the property and the question is does the husband have any claim upon it and can she give a good title without the signature of the husband to the deed. Is the hnsband’s interest, if he has any, to be taken into account at all in the transaction ?” According to the laws of the State Df New York a married woman may sell her own real estate and make a good title without her hnsband’s joining in ihe deed, but most lawyers out of pru dential considerations, advise their clients to get the signature of the hns. band to deedB made by a married wo man. A short time ago this was neces sary to make the title good, bnt recent legislation has changed that and while a married man cannot deed real estate un less his wife joins in the deed, a married woman may do so with her own prop erty.— Tribune. American Fables, To incarcerate a man as a lunatic in Denmark nothing is required but a cer tificate from a competent medical practi tioner Btating that the individual in question is insane. Any one in Den mark is entitled to keep a private asylum without license, and the patients in such au asylum are not under State control. Denmark has an excess of lunatics, due chiefly to the Scandinavian habit of con stant dram drinking. They are well cared for In spite of the defeot of the lunaoy laws. A Carter whose vehicle W( the mud plied the lash over the most vigorous manner, and called out: “Alas! that I Bhonld be the owner ol such a Cheap Beast.” “But you must Remember,” replied the mule, “that my food consists of the very Poorest Quality.” moral: Cheap hands turn out cheap work. THE PEASANT AND THE DOS. A Peasant who was Awakened at mid-j night by the Barking of a Dog nni his Window, threw np the sash sailed out: “How now—what is the danger “Thereis none.” “Then why do you Bark and Ij my Slumbers?” “For the same Reason that y< the Fiddle aud keep me Awaki Self-Amusement. ” MORAL : When the Piano next door becomes Unbearable buy your boy a Drum. THE WISE JURTHAN. A Juryman who had Assisted in Reaching a Wise Conclusion in Several Oases of Importance was Complimented by the Lawyers on his Wisdom, and he replied: “Beally, I Deserve no Praise for what you Mention, for I was sound Asleep during your Arguments.” moral : The less Lawyer the wiser the VerJ diet.—Detroit Free Prats. Oil in Russia. Russia has, it xupestimated, 14,000 square miles of oil-producing territory, but the field at Baku is the only one worked, and this covers a space of three and a half square miles only. The out put is enormous. A gentleman who witnessed the opening of one well says a column of oil spurted up to the height of 100 feet, carrying big stones with it, and that it continued flowing till a large lake of petroleum was formed. The product is refined on the spot, the resit due being used as fnel for steamers on the Caspian and on many of the Ra» sian railways. Barrios has been abused undeservedly by people and papers who do not know the kind of a nation ho has to deal with. Dictator Barrios looks jnst like a suc cessful Irish contractor. He is ot mid die height and weight, and has a full grayish beard. He is sturdy, energetic, and successful. Fifteen or sixteen years ago he was a private soldier in the army. He worked his way up to captain, col onel, general, and by tho aid of the army he became President and Dictator. Be fore that he had studied law, and was half a lawyer and half a mule trader. I do not believe he is dead now. He is net that kind of a man. For five or six years he has been fix ing np his army and getting ready for this‘contest. He has bought uniforms, rifles, ammunition, and Gatling guns and cannon. French officers have been drilling his men, and his artillery corps is very efficient. He issued his procla mation creating himself Dictator and declaring the union of Central America, on one Friday a month ago. On Saturn day flags were hung everywhere and t! city was jubilant. Sunday was a fet day. On Monday morning recruits we brought in. He sent out the regul| army and snaked them in. He had forms and rifles ready, and he mixed t conscripts in with the old soldiers a once. Every available man was im pressed. Thirty-five thousand wer raked in in four days. They didn’t dare to kick. Guatemala is a small country, and a man can’t get ont of it or travel through it without a passport. When I left I engaged a man and four mules to go to the port with me. Before we got off they impressed him aud impressed the mules and pnt them in the quartel, and it took a day to get them out. When I loft Barrios had raised sixty thousand infantry from Guatemala alone, without eonnting Honduras. Barrios is an absolute dictator. There is not a Judge that dares make a decision against his wishes. A few years ago the Senate would not pass one of his measures. He got mail and told them he wouldn’t be President any more if they didn’t stop. Three or four of the Senators worked against him at the last election. Unfortunately they died sud denly the next morning. He forces them to elect him. Every man who votes has to write his name on his bal lot, and if a man signs his name for a candidate who is not elected God help him. There was a little rebellion on one of his coffee plantations lately, and he sent some of his officers with red breeches and an army corps and they shot 300 insurgents. They have a Senate and House of Representatives, but they meet only to vote what Barrios wishes. If he wants money he dips his hand into the Treas ury, and there’s nobody*to call him to account. Most of the revenue comes from the Custom House. Forced loans are resorted to in time of war, but they A. BATCH OF STRAY JOKES found vn the columns IIUMOUOUS EXCHANGES The Malden nail Hie Unde—The Kns«lnn General—A Trnaedy in One Act—Alnhins bis Word Good, Etc., Etc. THE LOTJISVJHLE A Louisville girl wi here a short time triumph over a free! of this city. They were sit sofa together, and a3 the converse progressed he allowed his arm to grad ually fall down until he had it arouj^ her waist. She arose very indignajJ| made the following e' apology: “I hope anytning ofJ| have. same wl used to ] To Theel Ch&ngl Give me4 Aud be] Tliou cat" I he i Can-*t bi » The slorif If bm thy qi 1 This henrt ' And kindlin Heaven h bliss! Come. Holy Spi With tbv sweety Be tho- my My life, my jov, ffl AVOIDING A The editor of the Deadwo! atitended church for the first time Sunday. In about an hour he rusM into the office and shouted: “What the blazes arc you fell! doing? How about the news fro seat of war ?” “What news ?” “Whv, all this abont the Eg army being drowned in the P Why, tho Gospel sharp up at the c^ was telling ns about it just now, sword of it in this morning’d Hnstle round,, you feiioWSp facts, or the Snap ShuL on ns. Look spj^ extra edition, wl tin board ‘Gregj Soudan.’”
