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I FOURTH PAGE THE SUNNY SOI APRIL it. 1903 Luther’s LucKy By ELLIOT WALKER. ttUEADS, I ask her; tails, I don't.” *1 Luther flipped his old penny in the air and caught it deftly in its downward flight. He gazed at his closed fist In some trepidation, then opened it cau- tously. “Gosh! it’s heads,” he cried. “I was hoping it might be tails." But the die was cast. It was Luther's habit thus to leave matters of moment to the decision of his lucky penny. He thrust the coin in liis pocket and went on brushing his hair. ■ “Heads,” he whispered gloomily. “Heads.” The prospects of Luther CTTubb—finan cial, not matrimonial—were good. Had r.ot Uncle Bildad considerately, if unex pectedly, died and left him the farm? While Bildad Chubb had lived and Luther lived with him in the rather ambiguous relation of favorite nephew and hardest-worked hired man, the charms of Myrtle Gillett had seemed an all-sufficient desideratum for future hopes in Luther's view of eventful matri mony. Miss Gillett was plump hnd possessed of some facial beauty, together with rharacterictics oT indepedence' and hust ling ability. And she favored Luther. But with the accession of worldly re sources came hesitation on the part of Luther, and from Myrtle a letter of most sympathetic condolence and unmistakable personal interest. Luther had involved himself by no proposition. Undoubtedly he could do better. Still, people expected it. His at tentions had been regular, if not serious, end, after all, it would pain him to lose Myrtle. She had admrers. Only that morning old Miss Cope had waylaid him in the postoffice. "1 s'pose soon ez the sod sets you'll silence, “do you think—” “Yes. Luther.” “Think that ‘marriage is a Ipttery?’ ” Miss Gillett faced about in the gather ing dusk. "I—don't—know,” in a queer tone. Chubb laughed.- “Neither do I,” he said. "Don’t know what to think. Maybe I wouldn't mind taking a clyince. I suppose I’ll come to it some time. Not ’specially anxious, though.” In the dark he could not see the girl’s eyes. “I'm fixed to do about as I please now.” went on Luther. "But you and I are old friends, and people sort of expect it, you know. Folks don’t want you to move away. Say, Myrtie. suppose I flip up my lucky penny—heads, we get mar ried; tai's. we don't. Eh?” "All right,” said the girl, quickly: “go ahead.” Luther chuckled. "Guess I’ll end her misery,” he thought, feeling a sudden sense of shame, and he carefully adjusted the coin in his hand, heads up, with a cautious finger. A quick pretense of tossing, a catching slap. “I’ll hare to strike a match,” observe Chubb coolly. “Now'” Holding the light hi his left hand, he peered in apparent anxiety into his right palm. “Heads.” he whispered merrily. “Dor£t say yen ain't lucky, Myrtie.” Turning to draw her to him. he met a fierce push, and fell back in amazement. “Lucky! I wouldn’t marry you if you were the last man on earth. Lucky! Yes, 1 am, to have found you out! Take your hat. Luth *r Chubb, and go home, and don't you dare to ever speak to me again. Go!” "Why—why—” gasped the discomfited lover, “I thought—” But the a oman was past hint and in- Leaves From An Old Scrap Boot ^ Edited By a Georgia Colonel ^ Half the girl’s face was in the slime, but she never let go. start keepin’ house. Wall. Mvrtie Gil- ett's a nice gal fer ye’ Luther,” she. said noisily, right before Mrs._Bayley and Widow Swett. What could he say? He had shaken his head deprecalingly and mumbled, something to the effect that it was no such tiling.” The gossips had laughed knowingly and nudged, one another. Myrtle’s letter had smacked of owner ship. In two places be could have sworn she had written "our” is referring to the farm, and afterward prefixed a "y.” s idea, which had soared tem- R -ivily above the Gillett connection, iame down with rapidity. He guessed there was no other way. His lucky pen ny had settled it. He would impi ess upon Myrtle and her mother one fact, however. Luther Chubb, the proprietor of Blackbird farm, was now a person of importance, and they might consider themselves fortunate in acquiring him. Albeit somewhat cheered by this re solve. he spatted his hair viciously and prepared to set out for Gillett s, a mile down the road. The sun was behind tile hills when he tramped up the grass-grown path and beheld Myrtle seated in the wide porch - a fair picture in her white dress, with the fading light softening her strong fea tures. “Why, Luther Chubb, who’d have thought of you coming over tonight?” she greeted in feigned Astonishment. “Kind of felt like it,” responded Lu ther. with equal mendacity. “Knew you wouldn’t expect me.” The girl made room for him beside her. The clasp of her warm hand seemed to her caller of unusual heartiness. He sat stiffly. “How’s your mother?” “She’s well.” “How's your father?” “Oh. pretty fair for him.” "Ain’t getting along very well lately, I hear. Ton bad.” “Well, the old place isn't what it was, you know. Luther. Hope we won't have to pick up and move over to Fernside. He’s talking of it.” “I wouldn’t do that.” “Why not?” Myrtle edged a little nearer. "That is—no use of your going, I guess.” Miss Gillett sighed softly and looked down. “Thinks I'm easy,” reflected Luther. “I guess I'll make her feel it's some ob ligation.” side, angrily slamming the door and locking it. Luther rose, dazed and overwhelmed. Slowly he walked across the road, climbed the fence and trod on through the high, wet grass, oblivious to the fact that he was wearing his new shoes. The glamor of wealth had departed from him. lie was no longer the prosperous, envied heir of Uncle Bildad, the man upon, whom fortune had so richly, smiled. He was only the country boy who had thought every night for two years of Myrtle Gillett—every night until that fate ful one when his uncle died, and his head had been turned. “Mj rtie—why, of course, there could be no other—never has been. Without her— Luther gre aned and stumbled on, hating himself and cursing. .vunk Funny? Yes, very. M hat was he think in got? Oh, he was not to be overridden by any woman. The Gilletts were to be shown that he was different now. r lhey were poor. He was rich. He intended to have them all see the difference. Myrtle had always been quick of comprehension. Surely there was no reason for breaking out like that, not even giving him a chance to explain. Didn't she tell him to „ n ahead? Who ever supposed good-hu mored, fun-loving Myrtle Gillett couldn t take a joke? Now, he had lost her—lost How dark it was in the woods. What. Was he stepping in water? Yes, and mud—mud. He must have strayed into Dyer’s swamp. If he should get into one of those mires? Luther plunged wildly about, feeling for firmer ground, and becoming moie and more confused. That was the way no—this. “Help!” The frightened cry pealed out in the gloom. Going down, .down. Now he screamed, knowing what it meant. Gil- lett's cow had gone in the same way. His struggles and cries were growing fainter. The mud slowly came up to his chest. It hurt him to breathe. If Myrtle could only know he was sorry. Almost unconscious with horror and weakness, his breath nearly gone, he wail ed feeble, “Myrtie, Myrtie! O-h-h, Myr tie!” “There he is. father! Hurry! for heav en's sake, hurry!” “Where, girl? Where? “Yonder! Just his head! The rope, quick! Around my waist, so. Throw in Innocently. "Myrtie,” he began, after a moment of He tapped with his foot and whispered | some brush fora footing. Now! Hold this lantern, mother!” An oozy, pushing slide, a gleam of white arms in the flickering light. ‘‘I've got him! Pull! both of you! ’ Half the girl's was in the slime, but she never let go. Slowly the forlorn ob jects were dragged to the little line of turf; than up and back to safety. “Come!” said old Gillett huskily, gath ering up the rope and lanterns, "let's get out o' this. Can you walk, boy? That's it, lean on Myrtie. Good thing she heard you holler, and routed us out!" As they turned, Luther thrust a clam my hand in his pocket, extracted his fist with difficulty and threw something from him with a gesture of disgust. It struck with a spat in the very place which had so nearly terminated his earthly career. “What's that?" asked Mrs. Gillett. “My lucky penny,” replied Luther, with some strength in his tone. "I wonder if it fell ‘heads' or 'tails, laughed Myrtle, squeezing his arm. Dr. Shoop’s Rheumatic Cure Costs Nothing If It Fails, Any honest person who suffers from Rheumatism is welcome to this offer. I am a specialist in Rheumatism, and have treated more .cases than any other physician, I think. Fo r .1 years I made 2,000 experim“nts with .lilferent di ugs, testing all known lemedies while search ing the world for something better. Nine years ago I found a costly chemical in Germany which, with ny previous dis coveries. gives me a certain cure. I don't mean that It can turn bony joints into flesh again; but it can cure the dis ease at any stage, .completely and for ever. I have done it fully 100.000 eraes. I know this so well that I will furnish my remedy on trial. Simply write me a postal for my book on Rheumatism, and I will mail you an order on your di ug- gist for six bottles Dr. Shoop’s Rheumatic Cure Take it for a month at my risk. If It succeeds, the cost is only $5.50. If it fails, I will pay the druggist myseif— and your mere word shall decide it. I mean that exactly. If you say the re sults are not what I claim. T don't expect a penny from you. I have no samples. Anv mere samples hat can affect chronic Rheumatism must ae drugged to the verge of danger 1 use ao such drugs, and it is folly to take them. You must get the disease out of the blood. My remedy does that even in the most difficult, obstinate cases. It has cured the oldest eases that I ever met. And In all my experience—in all my 2,000 tests— 1 never found another remedy that would ur° one chronic case in ten. Write me and I will send you the o»-der. Try my remedy for a month, as it can’t harm you anyway. If it falls it is free. Address Dr. Shoop, Box 901, Racine, WIs. .. . •Mild cases, not chronic, are often cured by one or two bottled At all drug* data. Venus’ Looking Glass. I marked where lovely Venus and her court With song and dance and merry laugh went by; Weightless, their wingless feet seemed made to fly, Bound from the ground and *n mid air to sport. Left far behind, I heard the dolphins snort. Tracking their goddess with a wistful eye. Around whose head white doves rose, wheeling high Or low, and cooed after their tender sort. All this I saw in spring. Through sum mer heat I saw the lovely Queen of Love no more. But when flushed autumn through the woodlands went spied sweet Venus walk amid the wheat; Whom seeing, every harvester gave o’er His toil, and laughed and hoped and was content. —CHRISTINA ROSSETTI. O NE of the best of the old war poems that have been lost sight of was written by Ralph Gower in The New York News. The beautiful and touching poem. appearing during the war as follows: The Rebel’s Widow. Belated on a strange'road, I encountered a servant and was by him conducted to the dwelling of his mistress, a small log tenement once occupied by negroes'. She was the widow of a confederate officer who, with her two sons, fell in defense of their native state. A detachment of fed- erals encamped in the vicinity, and her home was burned by order of their com mander. The next day I found the black ened ruins of the house already half covered by the luxuriant vegetation of the climate, Away, away, triumphant Spring, , Why beauteous dost thou linger here? Thy scented songs of joy to ring In childless widow’s wretched ear? If golden jessamine’s mellow breath Would raise my darlings from their bier. How would I watch the swelling sheath, Impatient, thrilleVl with hope and fear. When honeysuckles charm the air, And hyacinths raise their purple heads. Vain, vain the power these sweets declare, You cannot give me back my dead. Nor Summer, with thy gorgeous ray. Shine on the land that cannot smile. Sole empress of the buyiing day. At night by softest dews beguiled. i The bursting rose’s crimson heart Unfurls our battle flag again. Or scattered 'minds me of my best Dear blood that flowed and flowed in vain. Wave not the ruthless passion flower High on the ruined walls of home. Nor bid the bright crape myrtle shower Where calling on their names I roam. Rich Autumn, thou const not desire To rest where grape nor yellow field Can fill thy chilling veins with fire Or plenty to thy sickle yield. Thy red and russet garlands pain The eyes that but behold despair; No more they glad the loving train Were wont thy luscious gifts to share. When nuts are falling on the ground. The deer and squirrel through them race, No cheery horn or yelping hound Wake in the lonely woods the chase. Come Winter winds that wailing rare. Bring mourning skies and kindly snow, To heap above my lost ones' graves. The only fanes they yet may know. RALPH GOWER. Some Ammunition Statistics. The following statstics wore furnished near the close of the war and published in many of the old war newspapers: Colonel Duff, chief of artillery of the army of Major General Grant, has furn ished the following statement of the whole number of cannon shots fired dur ing the campaign, commencing with the affair at Port Gibson, on the Mississippi, and ending with the capitulation of Vicks burg:. “From the time of crossing the Missis sippi river. May 1. till the surrender, July 4. 18,889 solid shot. 62.314 shell. 17.897 case, 2.723 canister, were expended, making a total of 141.823. They were used in the several engagements as follows: .3,960 at Port Hudson. 82 in the pursuit frogi Port Gibson. 620 at Raymond, 476 at Jackson, 3.442 at Champion Hill. 1,297 at Big Black riyer, 9.59S on the 10th of May (nearly the first day of the siege), iso,754 on " the 22'd of May, and 117.814 during the remainder of the siege, an average of 653 shots for each cannon used. These are cannon shots, the reader will remember. Add to these the musketry, and some idea may be formed of the immense amount of am munition consumed." Price of War Rations. People who are complaining about high prices should read the following, which was an official order during the war: , 2. The following prices, Veing the aver age of late schedules established by com missioners for the states east of the Mis sissippi river, with the cost of transporta tion included, will be charged for sub sistence stores sold to officers under the act of February 17, 1864, and amendments, in Virginia. North Carolina, South Caro lina, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Missis sippi and east Louisiana, until further or ders: Bacon. $2.50 per pound. Fresh beef, 70 cents per pound. Flour, $40 per barrel. t Corn meal. $4.50 per bushel of 60 pounds. Rice, 30 cents per pound. Peas. $6.50 per bushel of 60 pounds. Sugar, $3 per pound. Coffee, $6 per pound. Candles. $3.26 per pound. Soap. $1 per pound. Vinegar, $2.50 per gallon. Molasses, $10 per gallon. Salt. 30 cents per pound. 3. Non-commissioned officers and pri vates are allowed rations for their own use, but this privilege does not authorize the sale or other disposition of hem. If it is impracticable to use the ration, c«m- mutation may be drawn in lieu thereof. By order, S. COOPER, A. & I. General. Lee’s Tribute to Cobb. The following just and beautiful tribute was paid by General • Lee to General Thomas R. R. Cobb in a personal letter to General Howell Cobb: “Camp Near Fredericksburg. 18th De cember. 1S63.—General Howell Cobb: "General—I beg leave to express my deep sympathy in your great sorrow. Your noble and gallant brother has met a sol dier’s death, and God grant that this army and our country may never be '-ailed upon again to mourn so great a sacrifice. “Of his merits, his lofty intellect, his accomplishments, his professional fame, and above all his Christian '-haracter, I need not speak to you who knew him so ultimately and well. But as a patriot and soldier, his death has left a deep gap in the army which his military aptitude and skill render it hard to fill. In the battle of Fredericksburg he won an im mortal name for himself and his brigade. Hour after hour he held his .position in front of our batteries, while division after division of the enemy was hurled against him. He announced the determination of himself and his men never to leave their post until the enemy was beaten, and with unshaken courage and fortitude he kept his promise. “May God give consolation to his afflict ed family, and may the name and fame of the Christian statesman and soldier be cherished as a bright example and holy remembrance. “With great esteem. “Your obedient servant, “R. E. LEE.” Lincoln on Colonization. In view of the movement now on foot to colonize the negroes in Liberia the following words from the message of President Lincoln in 1862 will be read with considerable interest: Lincoln says in his message: “Liberia and Hayti are as yet the only countries to which colonists of African descent fcum here could go with certainty of being re ceived and adopted as citizens; and. I re gret to say. such persons contemplating colonization do not seem willing to mi grate to those countries as to some others; nor so willing as I think their interests demand.” How General Gregg Was Shot. The’Robel. alluding to '..he way in which General Gregg was shert^r, the late battle, said: ‘^General Gregg's horse became un manageable during the engagement and ran away with him, carrying him quite into the yankee lines, when he was shot in the neck and fell to the earth, where he lay for some time insensible. The yan- kees, believing him to have been killed, cut his spurs from his boots and his sword from his belt. But our forces subsequent ly driving the enemy from that portion of the field, the general was rescued.” CAN dt CATHARTIC <2=3 <2=3 GET WHAT YOU ASK FOR! CASOABBTS Candy Cathartic are always put up in blue metal box, our loner-tailed O on the cover — tablet octagonal, stamped CCO. Never sold in bu . and substitutes are sometimes offered by unscrupulous dealers who try to palm o a CASOABBTS are called for, because the fake pays A little more profit. Get the.genuine‘ C ABETS and with it satisfaction or your money refunded under iron-clad guarantee. , , boxes a year, that’s the sale of OASCABETS today, and merit did i*. They are a perfect cure for Constipation, Appendicitis, Biliousness, Sour Stomach, Sick Headache, Bad Brea , a Blood, Pimples, Piles, Worms and all Bowel Diseases. All druggists, lOc. 25c. SOo. Sample and booklet free. Address Sterling Bemedy Co., Chicago or New York. 687 ROYAL FOOT WASH C URKS TENDER FEET. MAKES WALKING EASY. CHECKS EXCESSIVE PERSPIRATI' <N . REMOVES OFFENSIVE ODORS — IN ONE APPLICA TION DRUG CO.. Atlanta. 6a. TION. AT DRUGGISTS '25 CENTS. 2 BOT TLES BY EXPRESS PREPAID, 50 CENTS. BUILDING As a Career For Young Men «CONTINUED FROM SECOND PAGE one time a seven-story structure was considered a sky-scraper, and the problem of putting it up nad to be studied care fully, and special appliances made. Now, the same methods which would caj*ry a building to the fifth story would carry It without change to any desired height. "The opportunities are better now than ever for the contracting builder. More work is now done than ever before, and it is the kind of work that requires wid>'r and deeper knowledge. Buildings, of course, must be safe, and the contractor must not only see that his own part ot the work is safe, but he must also watch the plans of the architect, who himself is likely to make a mistake occasionally. The builder, however, is responsible. “I think that, on the whole, the chances in our line of business are good. if. as I said, the young man is educated, capable and honest.” Mr. Lewman says that he knows of no business which offers more to young men than contracting. He speaks as follows: MR. LEWMAN’S VIEWS. “Contractors are always on the lookout for capable men to fill positions. It would-surprise you, in fact, to know how hard it Is to get men qualified for respon sible work; men who are capable of tak ing charge of tihe construction of a building, and of managing the other men employed on it. “We have applications every day trom engineers and graduates of technical schools, but we pay little attention to them because, as a rule, they are not practical builders; their knowledge is en tirely theoretical. On the other hand, the more mechanic is limited in his ability to plan his work. The combination of practical builder and engineer is rare— so rare as to demand a large salary. “To begin with, a man in the business of building and contracting must be quick in his movements, for if he is quick In his physical makeup, he is apt to be alert mentally. And it is necessary for his mind to act quickly. He must figure the plans for his work carefully and economically to make a profit. In a sense, what he does' is merchandise, with this difference, that it is not already made up with a price set on it, but he mus. make his cost price and his profit aLo. He must know the weight of material, too, and he must examine the plans of the architect to see that no mistake has been made there. If there is a mistake 'and the building collapses, he will be mixed up unpleasantly in the conse quences. “As I said at first, I am inclined to discount the advantage of technical train ing, for, somehow, the men who nave, it seem to have missed the practical ex perience which must go with it. If I had a son who expected to go Into this business. I should send him to a techno logical school for a few months, and then give him practical work, alternating me until the course was finished. Th'e , and increased their stock of general in formation. until they began to get small jobs of their own. SALARIES ARE LARGE. “Salaries are as large, perhaps larger, in our line of business than in any o! ner Superintendents are worth at least $126 a month, and $500 is not an unusual price for a competent man. One man In At lanta was taken away from us by a northern firm and given a salary of $10,000 a year. I don't think that many bank cashiers or professional men earn that much. “The chances for salaried men in the south are particularly good, owing to our labor system. In the north the la borer is a white man and an intelligent white man. He has not worked long at his trade before promotion is offered him, and thus the superintendents’ places are filled from his ranks. In the south the laborers are negroes; and with their nat ural incapacity they can never hope to rise to a responsible position. Conse quently the contractor has no source to draw from. The supply of competent em ployees is scarce, hence they are in de mand. “And there is another point in this con nection which a great many people over look—the fact that every section b;4; its local conditions which only a man who has lived there can understand lully. Not long ago I employed a man from the north to take charge of some work in Louisiana. He undouotedly understood his business, and he came to me wel» recommended, but he failed to accom plish anything on the job 1 gave him, from the simple fact that he couldn t adapt his ideas to the peculiar conditions which prevailed at Baton Rouge, La. “1 should by all means advise a young man to go into business for hinise £ a iter he has had the necessary experience. It is not essential for him to have capita! in the beginning, if he sets out with the determination to work, learn, and perse vere. Capability, after all, as what counts, and if a man has it and can show 1-, there are plenty of firms that will give him a working interest and ue glad to do it. “Competition is keen, of course, and I don't claim that there is a tremendous amount of money to be made in the building business, but 1 don’t know of anything where there is more room at the top. Particularly is this true in the south, where building, one might say, is in its infancy. You have only to com pare methods of today with those in vogue a few years ago to see the advance which has already been made. Then, if you look ahead, and compare conditions which exist today with the still more improved ones Which must come with time, you can see that the young man who steps in now will have a brilliant fu ture to look forward to. “The south is developing rapidly along talk about it for two hours, and yet not show you all there is in it. I should, by all means, advise him to follow it, if he intended to stick to it, learn it, and apply himself heart and soul." Mr. Glide believes in technical educa tion. though he says that it is not abso lutely necessary. He also speaks of the scarcity of competent men, and the bright outlook for Contractors in all parts cf the country. He says: MR. GUDE’S VIEWS. “In the first place, the builder needs education, and the more of it he has the better off he is. To begin with, he should have at least a common school education to fit his mind to receive a technical training. “The latter is a groat thing, though not absolutely necessary. The young man who knows a trade, or if he has no trade, is bright and quick, stands a good show to learn the business. Such a course, though, as the technological schools give, saves him a great deal of time. It teaches him not only the fundamental principles of building, but also gives him a specific and thorough mastery of me chanical drawing and engineering. He then needs only the practical experience which is necessary in everything to take hold of important work. “The schools have been blamed by some people for the incompetence of many of their graduates, but the fault is not with the system, but with the boys themselves. They go there from the country without even the advantages of a common school education, and the professors are expect ed not only to teach them mechanics, but also the elements of arithmetic and Eng lish. Naturally they are not fitted in the beginning to learn anything, and the course, as far as they are concerned, is a waste of time. “But if the student is fairly well edu cated at the start, and applies himself, he is at the end of his four years’ course valuable In a builder's office. In fact, it is hard to get these young men—they are applied for even before they graduate. OFFICE POSITIONS. “They are (irst given a position in the office in some clerical capacity, where they write letters, run errands, or assist the superintendent on the building. By gradual stages they are promoted, per haps to assist the draughtsman or to superintend smaller jobs. Finally they become superintendents, with the whole process of construction under their di rection. “If the demand is great for the grad uate. you can imagine how hard it is to get hold of competent superintendents. It is almost impossible to find them, and necessarily they are worth large salaries. So, you see. the possiblities for the right kind of man in a contractor’s office are extremely alluring. “The chances are also good if he wishes to go into busines for himself. Does he need capital? Not if he is competent and inspire* confidence. Plenty of men will risk their money on him if he is worthy. “I hear a great deal about the prospects of this or that kind of business compared with those of a few years back. As far as building is concerned, and I think this is true of everything else—the oppor tunities are no better or no worse now than in the past, and I don't think that you would notice much difference one hundred, years hence. There may be times of depression, or periods of extreme activity, but. striking an average, condi tions remain about the same. Just now business is good, and successful liri*s have more than they can attend to. “.Vs for the south as a field for busi ness, it is good, but so also is the north and the west, though I am not well ac quainted with conditions in the latter section. The south, if anything, has the advantage, for it is much less developed than the others, and, in proportion to its wealth, is advancing faster. The young man would at least have as much chance here as anywhere else. “Another thing which seems to bother a great many people is the raising or lowering of standards in certain lines. In building, for instances, they wish to know whether the requirements are any stricter now than they were twenty years ago. There is really no essential differ ence; the fundamental principles are al ways the same, except that new methods aio invented, or old ones abandoned, for carrying them out. There are also changes in syle, and developments in the arrange ment' or size of buildings, but the old in style, and developments in the arrange- “I would advise a young man.to go into contracting and building, provided he likes it. If he works hard and determines to succeed, there is no possibility of his failing. But he must rid himself of the idea that he can succeed in a short time. Success comes only after years of hard work and experience." Picturesque Story of Easter days. The rule that "Easter day is al ways the first Sunday after the paschal new moon" means that the 14th day of the calendar month, which had been the ecclesiastical “full moon from the time of Moses, falls generally on the fif teenth or sixteenth day of the real moon. The paschal full moon is that which comes on. or next after, the 21st of March, which is the beginning of the ecclesiastical year. If this happens on a Sunday, then Easter is the next Sunday thereafter. We have seen how deeply the old time western churches resented the claim of th eastern churches that the Easter festi val was the equivalent of the Jewish Passover, even going so far as to call it heresy. And right here we come to that reason already referred to, for this odd arrangement of the calendar moon, for the determination of Easter. It was that the latter might never fall on the same day as the Pa,ssover. But “the best laid plans of mice and men oft gang agee,” and so it has chanced that in spite of the early fathers of the church, the two fes tivals have sometimes met. FIXING OF EASTER. The Jewish feast is also a movable one, and it encountered the Christian feast on the 14th of April, 1805, on the 3d of April, 1825, and again will do so on this present year, 1903, on the 12th of April. The Jew ish festival usually comes during Pass- over or Holy Week, never before the 26th of March, or after the 25th of April. The Christian festival is never earlier than the 22d of March or later than the 25th of April. Sometimes it happens that Eas ter come at a different time from what it would if the “full moon” that determines its advent were really the visible, as tronomical full moon. Thus, in 1818 Easter was celebrated on the 22d of March, the earliest possible day, although the real moon was full on that day, and the same thing happened in 1845. Y'et, according to the ecclesiastical fiction, the time was in both instances the Sunday after t'he full moon. The question is often asked, "Why has Easter always been celebrated after, and never dur ing, the calendar ‘full moon?'” The an swer is this. Because the crucifixion oc curred at the time of the full moon, and therefore the resurrection came after, and neither before nor after this period. On this one point as to actual time we are certain. In the far away ancient times the cele bration of Easter lasted for eight days, but after the eleventh century it was re duced to three, and still later to two days. Easter was then the favorite time for performing the rite of baptism. The courts of justice were closed and all busi ness came to a pause. Alms were dis tributed among the poor and sick, who were even feasted in the churches. This latter custom, however, gave rise to so much irreverence that it was finally abol ished. In those countries where slavery was practiced, and they were many in those days, Easter day was the time chosen for freeing slaves and proclaim ing pardons to criminals. In fact, mark ing as it did, not only the most glorious event in the history of the world, fcut the end of forty days of gloom and depres sion, it naturally became a signal for general rejoicing and gaiety. Popular sports, dances and farcical exhibitions became the order of the day. In these latter the clergy took a prominent part, reciting and singing from the pulpit le two until the course was finished. . __ . ,, , combined experience would then be more buildings, structures^ o^ al^kmds^are valuable than either one taken separately. “Most successful builders, however, have begun by working at a trade. While they were working as stone masons at carpenters, they kept their eyes open, commercial lines, and is? now regarded as a business center. Factories, office j gends and songs calculated to excite mirth and uproariousness. This custom springing up. It is hardly necessary to point out what share the contractor will have in tHls development. , “It is a great business, a splendid chance for the young man; and I could TO CURE A COLO IN ONE DAY Take Laxative Bromo Quinine Tablets. All druggists refund the money if It fails to cure. E. W. Grove’s signature is on each box. 25c. CONTINUED FROM SECOND PAGE. was carried to such an extent that the re formers of the sixteenth century de nounced it in such scathing terms that it soon fell into disrepute, and finally died out altogether. On Easter day the people saluted each other with the kiss of peace, and an ex change of exclamations, “Christ is risen!” “He Is risen indeed!” This custom of “Easter kisses” still obtains throughout Russia, and as all strictly religious peo ple deem it their duty to kiss the first person they meet on Easter morning, whether high nr low, young or old, some very comical situations result. The “great white czar” was one of these strict observers of the Easter kisses, and the story is told of an old beggar woman, who, going out early on one Easter morn ing to collect kopecs and eatables from the arms of the great czar, and his beard ed lips pressed to hers. In her stupefied astonishment, not unmixed with terror, she almost forgot to respond to his greet ing of “Christos voskres" until its cus tomary third repetition, then at last she stammered the answer, “Voistinu vosk- res,” and sank upon her knees, where she remained until the laughing monarch had passed out of sight, leaving in her hands a gold coin such as she had not so much as seen before. Pcor though she was, she and her descendants, that coin was never spent, but still remains a treasured lelic in the family of "the peasant who was kissed by the great white czar.” PRETTY STORY OF FORTITUDE. The late emperor Nicolas was also a strict observer of the Easter kissing rule, “first come, first served,” and so it hap pened that once upon a time he honored a common soldier, who, by the way, was the worse for sundry libations he had in dulged in, with the touch of his lips. Then, to the usual Easter greeting, the czar added a sharp reproof for the dis grace of his condition and passed on his way, little realizing that he left behind him a man who then and there took a solemn oath that the lips that had been honored by the kiss of the czar of all the Russias, should never again be defiled by the touch of liquor. He kept his oath, too, and eventually won his way to a high position in the army. In many parts of Germany the day was celebrated by the kindling of bonfires (an other relic of pagan customs) and other ceremonies which are still extant, either in their pristine state or in a modified form. These old time bonfires can be traced in the immense “paschal tapers” which lighted the churches and often weighed 300 pounds. In the ancient rec ords of one of the London churches there is a charge "For a quarter of coles for the hollowed fire on Easter eve, six pence.” The explanation of this quaint item is found in the custom that obtained for many years in the English churches. All the fires in all the churches 'ifere put out on Easter eve, and then were kindled afresh with flints that had been blessed upon the altars together with the waxen paschal tapers, which, as noted above, were usually very large. There was a widespread superstition as to the rekindling of those “hallowed fires." The blessing and striking fire from the flint was attended with impos ing ceremonies, and these were consider ed to hallow each brand in the burning, and give it the ijjiwer of guarding its owner from danger, and especially from lightning. Therefore as soon as each stick was fairly ablaze: “A brande thereof doth every man with greedie minde take home. That when the fearewell storme appears, or tempest black arise. By lightning this he may be safe from stroke or hurtful skies.” An odd feature of the old time Easter festivities in England was that of “heav ing.” The villagers formed themselves into parties of a dozen or more and car rying a chair decorated with white rib bons, paraded the streets on Easter Mon day captured and placed in the chair every woman they encountered, unless she chanced to be old or homely. Then the chair was lifted and heaved to and fro. This was repeated three times, and then the usually laughing prisoner was released on payment of a contribution, a kiss being the toll exacted. On Easter Thursday these conditions were reversed, the women “heaving” the men. whose contribution were something more sub stantial. The “water tilt” was a merry game that might well he revived on our own shallow waters, ranking as quite equal to tub races or similar aquatic sports. Two tall stakes were driven into the bot tom of a shallow pond in water not over 3 feet deep. The stakes were placed a? far apart as the cross piece nailed on top would permit, the object being to allow as much space between them as possible. From the center of this cross piece was suspended a wooded shield. The contestants in the tilt entered small boats, having no boards and provided only with a long pole or spear. The boats were left to drift about until chance brought them in position for a tilt at the shield. When this moment oame the water knight stood up and struck with his spear at the shield. If the spear broke against the shield, it was consider ed a good stroke, and the knight was clapped and cheered. If. on the contrary, the spear missed the swinging shield, as it usually did, or remained unbroken, its owner was certain to lose his balance and tumble into the water, whence he emerg ed like a drowned rat, amidst the cheers and laughter of the onlookers. The "Easter ball playing" as conducted In the Romish churches of olden times, was one of those customs “more honor ed in the breach than in the observance.” A large ball was placed upon the altar, while the highest priest present and his representatives began an antiphone, a sacred song sung by two persons respond ing to each other. The chanting in the English cathedral service, it may be re marked in passing, is an imitation of the ancient antiphone. EASTER BALL PLAYING. The dean or priest, taking the ball in his left hand, and still singing, began a dance to the tune of the antiphone, tha other priests dancing around him hand in hand. At stated intervals the ball was tossed or “bandied” to a choirister, who returned it to the dean to be passed on to another, until each one had tossed the sacred ball. During this strange scene the organ was playing in accord with the dance and antiphone. The lat ter concluded, refreshments were served in the church to priests and choiristers. It was the esteemed privilege of the para mount priest or lord to throw the ball, and even the archbishops did not con sider it beneath their dignity. In Ireland at the present day great are the rejoicings over the ending of Lent, and the coming of the glad Easter tide. On Easter eve the cottar’s wife puts in the pot on .the stove “a good fat hen” and a special cut of bacon, and no one dares so much as to touch the contents of the said pot until the cock has crowed on Easter morning. The stroke of midnight on Easter eve finds the light-hearted Irish peasantly assembled in merry con claves, and it is greeted with clapping of hands, shouts of joy and laughter and ciies of “Out you go. old Lent." Until the clock strikes one. dancing and feasting are in order, and then every one goes to rest until 4 o'clock, when they all rush toward the nearest sheet of water and fix their eyes upon nature’s mirror. “To see the sur dance in honor of the resur rection ” This latter superstitnon is by no means confined to the lower classes in Ireland. Many persons of rank, wealth and educa tion. even in these modern times have not hesitated to declare that they have literally seen the sun dance on Easter morning. The modern custom, which is growing more and more Into favor, of religious Easter offerings an'd of friendly Easter gifts, originated in the old time custom of Easter dues. These dues were com mutation monies paid to the clergy at Easter. instead of personal labor or tithes, which the ecclesiastical law th’n lequired. The old superstition that to wear something new on Easter day would bring good luck is seen today in the cus tom of appearing on Easter la a aew gown or bonnet.