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ST. PETEKSBUBG’S DEFENCES.
The Trouble an EoKiish Fleet Would Have
in Taking »x. Peierfeburf*
“But you are aware that the Russian
fleet could not stand against the English
fleet ?” suggested a reporter to a Rus
sian officer now 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 chiefly
to be relied upon, and that is our strong
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 Cronstadt 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 about
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 lines of powerful forts on arti
ficial islands. Now, in order to reach
St. Petersburg the English men-of-war
would have to pass between these forts.
By 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 have 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 capita). Besides Oron
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 w.-uid have to keep at a re
spectable distance trom Cronstadt.”
Youth of Ferdinand Ward.
The Caledonia, Ne.v Y >rk, Adv< r'iser
says: Strange things happen in this
world, but one of the strangest in this
century was the manner of Gen. GrautT
rum and by such an instrnu Hit as Fer
dinaud Ward. During the lapse oi
time between 1831 and 1876, while
Grunt was winning world-vide fame as
a soldier in the field an I as President of
the United States, the person that was
destined to drag him in sorrow and mis
ery to the grave was an unpromising
Geneseo stripling, a youth without I
honor at home and unknown outside of ;
• the village limits—in short, a goo 1-for- I
nothing young bummer, apparently I
without a single qualification that !
would mark him as one likely to win in
future life so much as a nod of recogni
tion even from the mightiest soldier and I
most illustrious citizen of the United i
States of his day. And yet, if this young I
soallawag had been shot in one of his .
ribald sprees or strnck by lightning,
Gen. Grant would in all human proba
bility have been rich and enjoying mod
erately good health to-day, for however |
obscure Ferd. Ward was as a boy, there
was a certain devilish, latent talent
there for cunning and wild speculation
possessed, perhaps, by no other human
being, and, as it happened, those pecu
liar qualifications were so directed as
uot only to hoodwink, deceive and ruin
. jT the unsuspecting Grant, but men of ripe
experience in financial affairs. Had a
soothsayer appeared in Geneseo twenty
p years ago and predicted such a future
f for the lad Ward, he would have been
sent to a lunatic asylum as a dangerous
character to be at large. Such are the
xny -t rious ways of Providence in shap
ing our ends here below..
An Unfortunate People.
A Honolulu letter to the St. Louis
Globe-D< mo-rat says the charge so fre
quently made that the mission arics are
responsible for the rapid extinction of
the native race at the Sandwich Islands
is without any foundation. The seeds
of deadly disease were sown before
their arrival. The Hawaiian race is
doomed, and nothing bnt a miracle could
save them from certain extinction. That
disease has made awful ravages among
them is due to their contact with for
eigners. Os late years leprosy has been
introduced by the Chinese, and it has
spread with alarming rapidity. It is
estimated by good observers that fully
one-fifth of all the native population is
infected with it, or with similar com
plaints in such an aggravated form as
scarcely to be distinguished from the
genuine Asia*’ prosy.
Th? Composition of the On Cent.
Do yon know of what the common
one cent piece is composed? It is
ninety-five per cent of copper and five
per cent of tin and zinc. There is no
nickel in it. Its real intrinsic value is
about one-tenth of a cent Tne old
penny used to be made of pure copper,
and was worth one-third of a cent Few
. counterfeits have been made on the one
cent piece. If would not pay. 100
many would have to be made and dis
tributed to produce any money for the
sharpers. The old penny was ofice
co”nferfeited, rhe fraud being made at
B mingham, England. It didn’t pay,
and the counterfeiters gave it up tor
a bad job.— Albany Argus.
dfriyette.
VOL. XII. SUMMERVILLE. GEORGIA. WEDNESDAY EVENING. MAY 27,1885. NO. 19.
A BROKEN DREAM.
High soared the flames upon the hearth,
The wind howled fitfully without,
And wind and flame like revellers
Seemed gleefully to laugh and shout,
As Maud and I before the fire
Leaned idly back and smiled and sighed,
Her robe of violet velvet bung
In shadowy folds down at her side.
Her golden hair in rippling waves
Hung carelessly below her waist,
And creamy lace from shoulders white
Fell, 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 years—and once again
I sit within the olden room,
And back upon the air there floats
The faint, sweet sandalwood perfume.
Parted world-wide are Maud and I,
Yet. like a subtle, shy caress,
I feel anear me fall the folds
Os that soft violet velvet dress.
Hattie Tyng Griswold.
AN AWKWARD MOMENT,
[From Harper’s Weekly.)
“You must have been in some pretty
tight places at different times, Roger.
We know what you got the cross for,
but 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 as “Roger” was slightly
the elder, and upon his 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. Ho did not reply for a
minute or two to his companion’s words.
Apparently they bad called up many
reminiscences, few of which were
agreeable, but at last a smile lighted up
his features, and he said:
“Yes, old boy; I’ve very often
thought my life wasn’t going to last a
second longer; but the most awkward
moment I ever put in wasn't in the**
field.”
“No. Then I presume that it was
when you were besieged in the Resi
dency during the Mutiny ?”
“It wasn't iu 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. and 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 to try and find 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
occurred just after we’d finished up the
last of those black devils. I had pretty
nearly got over the wounds I received
in 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 1 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 three
of the ladies on deck when we sailed,
and none of them impressed me as Ire
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. I 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 about 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 tim- to dress for dinner. In
those days the captain would have been
insulted if his passengers did not turn
out 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 up at the top. Bat 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
use my giving you an auctioneer's cata
logue of her charms. You just picture
your ideal, and she would come very
near it Ail I knew was that I was com
pletely knocked over. lam sure my
1 neighbors must have thought I was
either surly or stupid, for I never ad
dressed them, and I was scarcely con
! scions 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 captain 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
name 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 ?’
“Os 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
romantic in my lauguage 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 as she 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 new ‘ocean grayhounds’
that rush at break-neck speed through
all kinds of weather, and land you at
your destination almost before you 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
ing 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 side 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. Ido not
know exactly how to describe it, except
as a curious compound of girlish inno
cence and womanly frankness. One
would never 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 bo afraid that
I’d overexert myself, and was constantly
making me tell her stories of my experi
ences. lam afraid that sometimes I a
little overdid the Othello business, but
she never seemed to mind.
“Day after day slipped away in an ec
stasy of happiness tempered with occa
sional qualms of doubt. I hesitated to
put my fate to the test, for if by any
chance she should r fuse me—and despite
mv b lief that my affection was returned
such an event was barely possible—it
would be very unpleacant 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
i-ay 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 bis advice,
bnt it occurred to me that it might lie
as well to sound the captain and sec if
he would be 'ling 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.
“1 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 on board.’
“ ‘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 use 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 you not to let this go any
i further at present. It is Miss L dimer.’
“I didn’t quite like the look that came
! over his face. Is it passible, I thought,
I that this old sea-dog is a little bit gone
‘ in that quarter himself ?
“He gave me 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, eaptain.’
“ ‘Has she given you any encourage
ment to think that the love you say you
feel is returned by her ?’
“ ‘No, captain; but she lias been very
kind to me, and has talked to me 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 couldu’t very well
marry you to my own wile.’
“ ‘What ?' I almost shrieked.
“ ‘My wife,’ ho answered firmly. ‘I
nm 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 confide to you.’
“I felt so utterly crushed that I was
scarcely sensible of where 1 was. Cer
tainly I did not fully understand all ho
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 bo left in England alone.
The owners of this lino do not allow
their captains to have their wives with
them even as passengers. We therefore
decided to keep our marriage secret, and
my wife booked as a passenger under
her maiden name. Not a soul on lioard
except yourself knows the truth. I
trust to you to keep It sacred, tor 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 in his cabin, but I
sometimes fancied I could sec 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 was sure of, however, and
t hat was that when I became more famil
iar with her I did not think her quite so
pretty ns I did at first.
“When the Winchester touched at
Ht. 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 nm 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.
-
Indians as Horse Thieves.
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 from 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. Os
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
stoops 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, but incurs suspi
cion from any one who may happen to
be lying awake in the neighborhood. In
cases where there is a probability of such
an attempt, it is.better both to tie and
hobble them.
Tub power of Niagara Falls, exclusive
of the velocity with which the. water
r, tel >.s the brink, is calculated to be
5 G 00,009 horse power, or nearly one
fourth of li» whole steam power A the
sarsh.
A SPANISH BASTILE.
WHO ENTERS CASTLE MORRO LEAVES
HOPE BEHIND.
All the Records of Prisoners Token to
Spain and there Destroyed.
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, is
considered equivalent to a sentence of
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
cast over the parapets into the 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 peninsula
which embraces the harbor of Havana
and makes the latter, when once entered,
as safe ns 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 iu 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 artillery 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 I
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, tho 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; and 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 chooses, and ho
has chosen that many of them be spent
within these castlo walls. Nobody
knows how large a number arc 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, come
back from the Castle, and it is better for
the family and friends not to ask why.
Tho Castle is for political prisoners ex
clusively, and when we were over there
our guide told us it was full. He
showed us the place—-a little parade
ground—where tho executions take
place, and the precipice over which the
bodies of the dead are cast into the sea,
bnt could give no clue to the number
annually shot, or the number who die
in the dungeons; and the officers and
guards on duty were quite as uncommu
nicative, if they were not as ignorant.
To all inquirers they have one answer.
If yon ask them how many prisoners
are confined in the dungeons, the same
reply will be:
“ 'Dios sabe.' (God knows).
“ ‘How many ever come out alive ?’
“ 'Dios sabe.’
" ‘Dothey ever secure release?’
“ ‘ Dios sabe.’
“And the words were true. Heaven,
and heaven only, knows all that har
transpired within these gloomy walls.
The officers on guard are changed often,
and while they stay it is their business
to learn as little as possible. When a
prisoner is sent there they lock him up
and report the fact to headquarters.
With that their duty and their knowl
edge end. And it is in this way that
Cuba is governed. The theory of gov
ernment which Spain has followed since
she assumed control of the Western
Hemisphere, and by which she has lost
all that she once had, is still in vogue.
The Spaniard has learned no lesson by
experience. He seems oblivious of the
results of tyranny in Mexico and South
America, and has seen a magnificent
empire pass from his hands without re
i alizing that murder and cruelty are not
i the best modes of securing peace and
; promoting civilization.”
i ■ '•
i The North Pole.—Lieut. Lockwood
. reached 83 degrees 24 min. north lati
> tude, which is about 456 statute miles
l from the pole. The chief object explor
i ' ers have in view who seek the pole is
1 i the fame they expect to enjoy if they
succeed. An explorer may not get with
in hundreds of miles of the pole, and yet
3 geographers applaud hi.s work if he
a pushes into the unknown area, adds
. news facts to the maps, and collects in
s formation that meteorologists and other
scientific men say is useful to them.
HOW GRANT SAVED LEE.
HIS GREAT MAGNANIMITY AT THE
CLOSE OF THE WAR.
He Keeps li!m Word of Honor* and Prevent*
Stunton from Ordering nn Arrest.
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
wasover. Gen. Lee and his half-starved
Confederates had returned to their deso
late homes on their parole of 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
iu 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 tabic, 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 to the War Department and learn
the cause, if possible. Col. Barroll, of
the Second Regular Infantry, was dis
bursing ( Ulcer 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 Gon.
Grant’s hasty action and if he had seen
the hero of the hour around the Depart
ment. Co). Barroll answered, “Yes,’’
but was surprised at anybody’s knowl
edge of the event. When told of what
transpired, 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 mo in
reference to the execution of certain
orders, and while listening to his in
structions Gen. Grant came iu. 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, th-ongh
laboring under mental excitement, and
quickly said:
“ ‘Mr. Secretary, when Gen. Lee sur
rendered to me at Appomattox I gave
him my word and honor that neither he
nor any of bis 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
late adversaries have broken their prom
ises, and have come hero to make you
aware of that fact and would also sug
gest that those orders be canceled.’
“Sacretarv Stanton became terribly
angry, and said:
“ ‘Gen. Grant, are you aware whom
yon are taking to ? lam 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 out as un
concerned as if nothing had happened.
“It is needless to say,” continued Col.
Barroll, “that neither Lee nor any of
bis 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.
Oil in Russia.
Russia has, it is estimated, 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
I 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 resi-<
due being used as fuel for steamers oa
the Caspian and on many of the Rus
sian railways.
qp
“What did the sparrow do yesterday ?”
; asks a poetess. Well, dear, we think he
followed out his usual scheme, which is
to—get up at 4 a. m.—hop around in tho
gutters—quarrel with his neighbors—
dig bait, not for fishing, but for amuse
ment—take a balh in the puddle—quar
i rel the rest of the day—and retire at
i about 6p. m. If you have any more
curiosity as to what he did you will have
’ to apply somewhere else, as this is all
the information we can give yqu.
A BATCH OF STRAY JOKES
FOUND IN THE « OIAJMNH OF OI.'K
t UVMOKOUS EXCHANGES.
The Blnlden mid l lie Ilnrte-Tlie Unwlan
General—A Trn.edy in One Act— Making
his Word Good. Etc., Etc.
TIIB LOUISVILLE MAUDEN.
A Louisville girl who was visiting
here a short time ago scored a signal
triumph over a fresh young society man
of this city. They were sitting upon a
sofa together, and as the conversation
progressed he allowed his arm to grad
ually fall down until he had it around
her waist.
She arose very indignant, and he
made the following explanation and
apology: “I hope you will not think
anytning of this. It is just away I
have. AU the Memphis boys act the
same way, and you will have to get
used to it. I hope you will not take
any offence at it, as it’s just my way.”
She left the room, but came back in
a few minutes with a married friend and
sat down on the sofa again. Soon she
began to yawn and gave every ostensi
ble proof of being thoroughly bored.
Finally she said: “I’m dreadfully sleepy,
and I hope you’ll go home. You mustn’t
take any offence at this. Ail the Louis
ville girls act the same way. You are
exceedingly tiresome, and you had bet
ter go home at once. Don’t be offended
at this. It is simply away I have !”
He stood not upon the order of his
going.— Memphis Times.
GOD THE SPIRIT.
Oh, blessed Spirit! let me feel
Thy vital breath upon my heart;
Thirsting for thee, I lowly kneel,
And wait till thou thyself impart.
To Thee ray earth-dimmed spirit cries;
Change thou my blindness into sight.
Give me from shades of sin to rise,
And bathe my soul in Heaven’s pure light.
Thou const, to my weak thought unfold
Tho wonders of Christ’s ma’ch'ess grace;
Canst bid faith’s ravished eyes behold
The glories of his unveiled face I
If but tby quickening breath inspire.
This heart with fervent love shall glow;
And kindling as with Hen ven’s own fire,
Heaven's bliss, on earth begun, shall know.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill this breast
With thy sweet, soul-transforming power;
Bo thou my ever present guest,
My life, my joy, from hour to hour I
AVOIDING A BEAT.
The editor of the Deadwood Roarer
atttended church for tho first time last
Sunday. In about an hour he rushed
into the office and shouted:
“What the blazes are you fellows
doing? How about the news from the
seat of war ?”
“What news ?”
“Why, all this about the Egyptian
army being drowned in the Red Sea.
Why, the Gospel sharp up at the church
was telling us about it just now, and not
a word of it in this morning’s paper.
Hustle round, you fellows, and get the
facts, or the Snap Shot will get a beat
on ns. Look spry, there, and run an
extra edition, while I put on the bulle
tin board ‘Great English Victory in the
Soudan.’”
THE SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN.
The Czar—General Komaroff, why
did you attack the Afghans?
General Komaroff—l crave pardon,
sire, but did you ever come suddenly
upon a flock of wild geese when yon
had your gun loaded for lions ?
The Czar—No, General.
General K—Well, sire, then it would
be useless for me to make any explana
tion.
The Czar—My brave and gallan
General 1 Here, take this medal and,
when you got a good chance, hit ’em
again !— New York Journal.
ECONOMY IS WEALTH.
A farmer and his wife went into the
dentist’s.
“How much do you charge for fillin’
teeth ?” asked the farmer.
“From two to five dollars.”
“An’ how much for pullin’ ?”
“Fifty cents.”
“Mariar, he said, turning to his wife,
you’d better git it pulled.”
HE MADE HIS WORD GOOD.
A passenger got off to walk around a
little. As the train began to move again
the passenger jumped aboard, but just
then he discovered that he had but one
overshoe. Thinking that he dropped
the other, he pulled off the remaining
shoe and threw it out on the platform,
exclaiming:
“There, that makes a good pair of
overshoes for somebody.”
Entering the car, there, to his great as
tonishment, was his other overshoe. A
look of intense disgust came upon his face,
bnt he did not hesitate. Quickly pick
ing up the lone arctic he hurried to the
platform, threw the shoe as far As he
could back toward the other one and
shouted:
“By jimminy, there is a pair of over
shoes for somebody I”— Chieayo Herald.
A Hnsband’s Interest.
“A married woman buys 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 husband’s
interest, if he has any, to be taken into
account at ail in the transaction ?”
According to the laws of the State
of New York a married woman may
sell her own real estate and make a good
title without her husband’s joining in
the deed, but most lawyers out of pru
dential considerations, advise their
clients to get the signature of the bus.
band to deeds made by a married wo
man. A short time ago this was neces
sary to make the title good, but recent
legislation has changed that and while a
married man cannot deed real estate un
i less his wife joins iu the deed, a married
. woman may do so with her own prop-
I erty.— Tribune.