Newspaper Page Text
4
YOL. XEX.
ATLANTA, GA., TUESDAY, JULY 5, 1887.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
OUR STORY GORNER.
M An Got on His Feel
By Richard XI* Roe.
From Harper', Weekly.
Atom Snow tat tn lit, Uttlo law office, hi,
. " foot on tiro top rim ot Ills «tove, arm hU stove
full ol wood,and red hot. Hi, offico was about
a tod (rom 111, houM, and quite near the ldgli
wooden gate leading Into the village street.
Over the door one read, "Protlionotory and
Attorney-at-law.” Itwa,i. huge, todedslgn
in black lotters;. one could not go by Amasa
Snow’s office and not know of tho business of
It, occupant. The trouble with tho sign was It
was not alluring enough. Squire Slayton,
down tho street, with a very small ,ipi end
over a grocery ‘tore, and without a big wide
house, a family name and connect nn-bquiro
Slayton somehow got all the business tliore
was coins In East Chcstcrvllle.
Ainasa Snow sat tilted book In bis wooden
arm-chair, pulling Ills long cliin beard, scratch
ing the few gray hairs In his sloping gray head,
and trying to conjure up somo new Khemo by
which ho could beat Slayton and defer
tho foreclosure mile. Ho. had deferred It flto
times ou one excuse and another; but Slayton
had hiiniliis time; there was no help for it.
Tlio old place would have to bo sold—the old
. place where Id, boyhood had been passed imtll
' lie went away to college, and where he had
lived ever slnco, and ,con his six girls grow up
about 1dm. His six glrlsl
• He re sailed down and broke a,plintor off obit
ot pine wood by the'stovej and began, to diew
hard ol It. -What would become of the girls?
Every one a beauty in his oyesj every ono
-worthy ot marrying tho governor ot the stato
How could lid tell that tho solo of their old
home could Ihi postponed no longer; that ovory
dovice and trick, and every legal quibble, had
been tM and tried again? He dared not toll
tho girls. Ho’looked out of the window; it
was mining, An April shower, to ho sure, with
a prospect of a golden sunset later on, hut
snaking everything outside undor thetrecslook
very muddy and dffinal. Amasa Snow folt
very lrr.icli dopressed. Fate appeared tfo bo
What was to bo done? Ho had borrowed
from every ono in tlio town. Ho could borrow
no longer. If tho old placo woro sold at twico
its valuo it would not pay his debts. Ho had
lived well, and Ills six motherless girls had
never known how poor ho was. "Op" ho^
groaned, os lie roso and stood with )ii3 back to
that hot stove—“O; how can I got on my feet?”
Tiftra was Ids law books—a couple Oi thou-
ioah'd dingy calf volame#, 9iot kept np to date,
the inhoritanco from th* judge, bis father, but
©von tl»o law books woro ‘chattelcd,’ as thoy
aaid, i. e., mortgaged quite beyond their value.
Everything ho had, in fact, was mortgaged.
Ho had come this wet April day to the end of
things. Next week came tho sale. He felt
like saying—tho dolugo. Ho had not enough
money to toko him and his family out west.
That was his plan—to go west. Ho hardly
felt his fifty years. He folt young and energetic
whon ho thought of tho west. By-tho-way,
there was his brother, Elisha—his brother who
In his youth was so liko him. Ho was west, in
California. He had not seen him for twenty
yearn. Tho last ho had heard from him was a
request to send on a hundred dollars. That
was fivo years ago. Ho had sent him fifty, and
nothing had been hoard since, except his name
endorsed across the back of the check, showing
that he had rocelved the money.
No, it was clear that Elisha could never
help him. Elisha had caused him to
loso several thousand dollars oaco in amino.
Elisha’s name was always a great bugbear in
hU family since. No, Elisha could not bo ex
pected to holp him. Btayl An idea. Amasa
gnow began to poke the red-hot fire vigorously.
It was a bleak raw day, but tlio fire was hot
pnougii in that little office if left alone. An
Idea. Elisha should bo mndo to help him. It
was a lost hope, but it fired him with enthusi
asm. Horeaehedup into a dusty book-case
and got down a file of letters. Ho was looking
for Elisha's address.
Just then there came a tap at tho office door.
Amasa turned around. "By thunder!” he cried,
nearly carried off his fcot with astonishment.
••It’s Elisha—in propria personal”
"I hare come homo," said Elbha, meekly.
«*I have come—to nelgbor round.”
‘ "And Just in tho nick of time, Elislm.
Blighty gfafil I am to see you!” Then a thought
occurred to him, as ho shook his brother’s hand,
with that feeble wave in tho air so common in
southern Connecticut,"he would not tell Elisha
ot his financial condition. Ho might not help
him if he did. No, he would keep his own
counsel.
Tlio two brothers sat down by the stove, and
Amasa threw another stink of soft pine wood
-on tho fire. It was frightfully hot. "See here,
Elisha,” ho said, after a pause. "How’s the
Grand American Eagle a-doin’?”
"She isn’t ft-doin’."
. "Nothin’ at all?”
"No; hasn’t been for ten years."
’ "It was a splendid mine ouco, Elisha. You
used to say so."
' "So it was. But wo struck hard-pan—you
remain her about it. What's the uso of rakin’
over old personalities at this time, when I
ought to bo received with open arms, and a
bonfire lighted and fire-works touched off?"
» "I know, I know," replied Amasa, apologet
ically. "I ought to ask how you have happen
ed on cast this way."
i "Why, yes; you ought to show gome broth
erly feeling. It’s natural."
"Well, Elisha, have you any ready money in
jour pockets?"
: "A thousand dollars."
Amasa walked over to his old rusty safe.
"Better put the money fn here?" he asked,
casually. Elisha handed him ft roll of bills,
T'Don’t feel liko payin’ back any of that two
thousand?" asked Amass, facetiously, refer
ring to the loan he had made in the mining
Scheme.
'I "No" said Elisha, "I don’t." After a pau*o,
while his brother locked the safe, he said,
•‘That thousand b the last cent I’ve got in the
, world."
I "Glad you’ve come home. Glad you've come
lo live to lire with me,” said Amasa, rubbing
bisbands. "ThegirU will be so happy to see
boo. Come, let's go in the house.”
J He slipped an old, well-worn overcoat over
jms shoulders without buttoning it, and they
went out into the rain. Elisha was very well
'dressed. Anyone would have taken him fora
AroU-todo western bank president. He looked
kleek and well fed. Then want a trace of
anxiety about his face. Otherwise the brothors
looked very much alike.
As they were crossing the threshold of the
house, Amasa whispered, "Just toll the girls
you’re a millionaire; for ft joke, yon know."
Elisha winked. "Yes," ho said, "for a joke
—wish I was, though," and they entered tlio
parlor. There wore tho six girls; six good-
looking, hoarty, frank, healthy country girls.
They all rose, and gave a veritablo shout of
welcome. They usually gavo a united shout
whenever anything pleased them. Thoy fairly
screamed when Elisha opened tho door. They
flew at him. Thoy kissed him. Thoy took his
hat for him; they took away his overcoat and
umbrella. And how they were impressed when
their father said, proudly, "And thon to think
that your uncle has returned to us a million-
airol"
"A millionaire 1-reaily?" cliorouscd tho
girls.
Elisha bogan to feel Ills old boastful spirit,
for which he had long been noted, coming over
him again. "Why," ho said, "out in California
wo don’t reckon a million much money. All
my friends ore worth over a million. My fivo
million dollars don’t count very much out
there."
"Elisha soys he is going to build a publio
library building for oast Chestorville," put in
Amasa, without a grimace.
"A public library 1" cborous tho girls.
"Ho says ho don’t mind paying oil tho dobt
on tho church’cither," added their prevarica
tor of a father.
"How perfectly splendid 1"
"No ono would have thought tlio Grand
American Spread-eaglo Mine would liavo
panned out so well," sold Amasa.
By this time the six girls were dancing
around tho room in their exeitemont* They had
not been so excited since John Mawloy, the son
of Mawiey tlio mill-owner at tho other end of
the village, had become engaged to Bcsslo
Snow, their oldest sister—said Mawiey having
concluded, oh the consent and odvlco of his
father, to break off said engagement, after
knowledge of Lawyer Snow’s financial condi
tion came out and be came common gossip.
"Elisha says the Sunday-school shall have a
new organ if it takes his last cent," said their
father, laughing heartily. He could not hold
himself in.
"Weil," sMd Elisha, "not quite os bad as
But they shall, have a nowmclodoon—
yea."
This capped the climax. Tho Sunday-school
had been holding picnics, strawberry festivals,
ieo-croam festivals, lectures, busy-bees, and 1
don’t know what besides—in which tho six
girls had taken a lively interest—to i
money enough for on organ; but, do tlioir bent,
thoy could raiso only about fifty dollar?. Thoy
threw thomselvcs upon their uncle, and as
there was not quite enough of him to go around,
they threw themselves upon their father.-It
was a touching scCno. Two of tlio girls were
in tear** and ono of thorn was hoard to say.
"Our deli vorer!"
And there in tho midst stood tlio two old hyp
ocrites luughiug os heartily as tho rest—only-
only in Amasa Snow’s eyes there glistened
somo real tears. Poor man 1 how ho wished it
was all true 1 For ho loved his girls boyond
everything on earth, and their happiness and
joy upnorved him for his little scheme. If it
should fail, how should he dare look thorn in
the faco again?
Suddeuly Bossio looked up. "It’s late," she
said—"it’s dreadful latp for the sowing soci
ety 1"
When they were alono Elisha said: "You’ve
dono it!—you’ve gono and dono it I In fivo
minutes overy word of what wo’ve said trill bo
all over this village. Yes, and all tho state of
Gonnoctlcut. Dun itt I say, Amasa, this isn’t
right!”
"Why? Don’t you hare any fears. Supposo
they do tell of your millions; it will give you
credit."
"Alt, yes, yes! but they will bo after mo for
my money." Elisha straightened himself up
very stiffly, andbuttoned his coat over his chest
very firmly, as if to impress on his brother tlio
fact that ho wouldn’t let them have a cent—
not one cent—if thoy did.
"Well, don’t say it isn’t so. any way," whis
pered Amasa, and led Elisha to lib room,
where that great and good philanthropist and
millionaire lay down upon a sofa and took a
comfortable nap.
For a week east Chcstervillo was In a condi
tion of ferment. Tho resurrection of Elblia
Snow in tho form of a millionaire, after having
doparted twenty years before with a reputation
for uiicoiiqueroblo laziness, and an ability only
remarkable for imbibing hard elder, was
enough to shake tho entire county to Its center.
Then his magnificent bequests—the town
library building, tho now organ, raising tho
minister's salary, proposing to establish a Home
for Incurable Idiots—for \toor Elblia found ho
could not stop promising when be had once be
gun, and Ills plan to build a new gymnasium,
hkntiug rink, winter bath, all combined, for
tlio young people, made him at once the idol oi
the town.
Mawiey, the mill-owner, met Amasa ono day
in the street. "See here," ho said, "I’ve told
Slayton to let upon you. You and I were always
old friends. Pay up tho interest on that mort
gage any time you please. By the way, I’m
tired of Hiayton. lie’s hotuidcd you, when
you were down, in a darned mean way. I’m
sink of Slayton. I’ll send yon round a retainer
tomorrow of five hundred dollars In a case I’ve
got against somo Providence people. Big case
—hi", money in U. How’s your brother—pretty
well, I hope. Those California magnates are
all coming east, I hear. Think your brother
would like to put any money In my mill? A
junior, who really loved the girl, married Bes
sie, and then they were all ,marriod off in
batches of two, until tlio youngast refused to
marry at all, saying, with lior finger at hor lip,
"alio preferred to stay with her father."
In one year all this happenod. Amasa Snow
was now a successful man—his debt* paid and
lib practice increasing. One day the rumor
readied him—’why had not Elisha paid for the
organ?
Hewent to Elisha. "It,s time, he said, "for
you to disappear.”
"I’m very contented here," protested Elislm,
"reading tho newspapers and sitting in the
hold, it agrees with me. I don’t want to
disappear.”
Ho liked tho adulation extended to him on
tho ground that ho was a millionaire. He
played tho easy, well-fed, rich plutocrat revis
iting his Now England homo to perfection*
Hb acting was consummate, because it was
nature itself, without a mirror being hold up
to it. Ho had just tlmt amount of narrowness,
of closc-fistcdness, of sagacious doubt as to the
motives of men who approached him with
schemes for investment; he acted the million
aire to perfection, and lie never overdid it.
"Amasa, I can't go," ho said. "Thoy think
I’m such a good man to mako money. They
have actually brought monoy to mo to moke
more for thorn. Yes, I’vo received over 800,000
for investment within tho last month."
"Thunder and ganst" exclaimed Amasa.
"This b dreadful 11 sco state prison yawning
before us!" *
"It’s just what tho Grand American Spread-
eagle Mlno needs," said Elbha, swelling him
self out—"a littlo money."
"Well, take the money and go, then—go! I
will have nothing to do with this—nothing 1"
Amasa was very angry. Ho resolved to bo
responsible for his brother no longer. Ho wont
to hb daughtors, all bnt ono now woll married
and in happy, woll-to-do homos. "Your undo
and I have hod a row," ho said. "He Is going
back to California."
"And tho organ, tho now library, tho gym-
nuslum?”
"Woll,he Is mad about something. Ho says tho
town 1ms slighted him. But one thing must bo
understood, wlmtovor lio does, I wash my
hands of him forever!"
Elbha did leavo a few days after. He took
awayobout a hundred thousand dollars of
widows and qrplians’ funds, went to San Fran
cisco, nut hb mono/ into various entorprbos,
paid tho beiiofldarfes 8 per cqnt Interest, was
honest as tlio day. and died a fow years ago
worth a great deal of monoy, which ho left,
share and share alike, to hb brother's six girls,
and he loft a thousand dollars for tho new
organ.
Amasa still lives—a fairly well-to-do old
country lawyor—slightly in dobt still, in oast
ChoBtcrvlllo. But no is tlio adored grandpapa
of twelvo of the dearest littlo grafadcbildron,
and ho often vays to them benignly, "Children,
I have put yon all—and: myself—on our foot.
Yes, but I had to tell y^ur mothers an awful
"What was tho lio, grand popper?"
' "I lmcl to say ’ tlio laziest mail alive—your
grand-undo, children—I bud to say tlio penni
less old rascal—your grand father'a brother, my
dears, who had robbed mo of all I had in one
of hb confounded mines, tho Great American
Spread-eagle Gold and Silver—I had to say.
and stan’ urit/thut ho was ono of tho biggest
millionaires on the Pooifiocoast t But that lio
has put us all on our foot!"
Jfyetyplosioij office fllajor
sale? Good morning."
Mr. Mawiey, one moment. You don’t let
np on me and send mo thb lawsuit because
Klbba is a millionaire, do you ?"
‘‘O, no, no, no! My dear fellow, no, no!
Why, what an idea! By-the-way, I never fa
vored the breaking off of that match—my son
and Bessie. Good-day."
Amasa Snow got round behind the fence, and
laughed and snook until tho entire fcnco
laughed and shook with him. Hb little Kchenio
was working well. One uccds very little capi
tal in this world If one con only obtain its sub
stitute-credit. That week and the next heliad
retainers sent him from several wealthy propri
etors in a neighboring manufacturing town.
Hu had the foreclosure suit discontinued, paid
Mawiey bis Interest, got hb mortgage ex
tended Indefinitely. What Is more, hb busi
ness picked up so that ho paid a largo sum on
account all around among the creditors. They
all said, "Elisha b doing it for him." Ho
painted and icfambbed tlio old Snow house,
lie ran slightly into debt in doing it, but hb
girl? had somo new clothes sent them from
New York. He donned a new suit of broad
cloth, and-he was happy. II© was on hbfeet.
Slayton was utterly nonplussed. In vain tlio
wily practitioner went about spreading doubts
as to Elisha's having any money whatever.
"Why don’t he buy that organ?" he kept say-
ing, until people began to wonder why indeed.
As soon as the rumor spread about that Eli
sha was childless, a Ad thru bo intended leaving
hb money in equal shares to hb six nieces,
they went off literally like hot cakes. Mawiey
lly Wallace P. Reed*
For Tho Constitution.
Tlio mysterious disoppcaranco of Major Pot
ter causod considorabla talk at tho timo in
army circles, but tlio facts havo never been
mado public.
Major Potter was stationed at a small post
on tho coast of Oregon, and tho absonco of
telegraphio and mail facilities is perhaps ono
reason why tho unfortunate man’s fato lias
remained unknown to all except a fow of hb
brother offleors.
Tlio Major’s special hobby was explosives.
Ho was all tho timo experimenting with dyno*
mlto and othor destructive compounds, and It
was hb firm belief tliat he was on the track of
a discovery which was destined to revolution
ize modem warfare.
As there was no littlo daugor connected with
tho Major’s experiments, tho Colonel in com
mand of tho post persuaded him to occupy a
cabin at somo distance from tho quarters of
tho other offleors. Thus secluded the veteran
mixed hb deadly chemicals, and tested hb in
ventions at all hours of tho day and ulght.
His friends had their doubts, but when tlio
inventor turned up ono morning with his mns-
aclio and eyebrows singed off, and on anothor
occasion appeared at breakfast with only ono
car, it was udmitted even by tho doubters that
ho was making progress.
There is no telling what ho will do next,"
said the Colonel ono morning, when tho roof
of tho Major’s cabin was blown skyward with a
thundering report.
Everybody agreed with tlio Colonel, and
after that the Major was quietly watched by
the entire command.
Colonel, I’vo got it!" shouted the Major one
afternoon, as hb superior officer passed hb
door.
‘Glad to hear it," briefly replied the com
manding officer, as ho started off in anothor
direction.
If yon will come in—" began the Major.
Thank you," was tho prompt answer, "but
’vo promised to meet Captain Jones, and I
haven’t a moment to lose."
The Major rushed into hb den and darted
out again.
"Here it b," he mid, exhibiting a littlo
round pellet in the palm of lib hand.
"Why,that—that looks like a pill," remark
ed tlio Colonel, edging off a littlo.
"No matter what it looks like," responded
the Major; "I know whatMt fa and what it
will do. You wouldn’t think, now, would you,
that a little thing like this, at tho slightest tap
or jar, would blow up the entire camp?"
"Confound you,” roared tho Colonel. "No,
I moan I beg your pardon, but I can’t stop
another second. I must go."
At a safe distance, the Colonel paused.
"Isay, Major!” ho yelled, "for the Lord’s
sake put up that blasted thing, and don’t,
bother with ft tonfglit."
"Oh, that’s ail right," answered tlio other
briskly. "I am going to test it in the day
time away from headquarters.”
"That's a good fellow," laughed the Colonel.
"Why not go a few miles np tlio river? You
need a widtfield for such experiments, Tako
all the timo you want ami find a suitable
place."
"It’s all right," growled the Major. "I ara
not going to do an) thing rash. Don’t bo un
easy."
The next morning, at an early hour, the Col
onel was notified that Major Potter desired to
see him at once.
"Ho is sitting down In front of hb cabin,”
the man said, "And he appears to be sick."
AY hen the Colonel, accompanied by several
officers, reached the spot, they immediately
jumped to the conclusion that their comrade
was a very sick
Tbe Major's fact—usually ruddy and cheer
ful—was of a deathly pallor and woe-begono in
the extreme.
"What is tho matter, my dear fellow? 1
asked tho Colouel kindly aud with somo auxi-
ety in hb voice.
"Lord help mo, bnt I l m in a fix!" was tho
gloomy answer.
"But what b it, Major; arc you ill
"I’m a dead man as sure os I live," groaned
tho Major dolefully. "You know that thing
you called a pill?”
"Yos, yes," said the Colonel, hastily." Ncvor
mind about that. Toll mo your symptoms?"
"The fact fa," explained tho sufferer, "I’vo
swallowed it!’
"Are you crazy? How did it happen?”
questioned tho visitors,
"Woll, you know I didn’t do it intention-
ally," mid tlio Major. "I was not feeling woll
in thofljght, and I got up in tlio dark and felt
about on tlio tnblo for my box of pills. I found
the box and it had only ono pill in it. This
swallowed and then I wont back to bod. After
awhile it occurred to mo that tho box ought to
havo been half full of pills. I struck a light and
found that I had boon fooling with tho wrong
box. Tho pill I swallowed was tho explosive
pellet I showed you yesterday, Colonel."
"But groatGoddlomightv,man!" ejaculated
tho Colonel, "wliut will bo the result? What
are yon going to do about it?"
"Xgivo it up," replied tho Major, mournful
ly. "I havo boon sitting hero ever sinco'
found out wliat I had dono. You soo, I havo
to movo with great care. A jar, you know,
might oxplodo tho thing. Then, I don’t know
wliat to do about, eating. I’ll havo to take
liquid food, I supposo. If I swallow any hard
substance, and it comos In contact with tho
pellet, tho jig will bo up."
* "Keep still a fow hours, and you will bo all
right," suggested tho post surgeon,
"I don't know," and tho Major shook hb
head sadly. "Tho stuff is a mixture that no
mortal man ever made before, and it is impos
sible to tell how it will affect mo. I fear that
I shall
"Wliat?" asked a young lieutenant breath
lessly.
"Bust!" gasped tlio victim. "Bust Is tho
only wofd that expresses it. If I don’t go up
in tho air I’m liable to tear a hole in tlio
ground at any momont. You soo, I know tlio
force stored away in that thing. All the
powder packed away in our magazine b not
equal to it.”
A whispered conversation ensued among the
officers.
'Havo joa taken any medicine?” inquired
tlio post surgeon
"Nothing except brandy and water, and I
think I'll go in and tako another doso.”.
Aftdfadvfalng the Major to remain quiet,
and promising to return in a short timo, liis
friends left him.* It Was breakfast timo, and
thoy desired to dfacuss tho caso among them
selves.
"I believe that there Is something In it,"
was tho Colonel's opinion. "Ho knows moro
about explosives than any man living, and I
havq no doubt that he has succeeded in in
venting a very destrnctivo affair. If ho has
swallowed it I think that ho has just causo
for hb alarm.”
Tho post surgeon said that ho did not liko
to speak positively about such a peculiar caso,
but ho did not mind saying that the situation
was neither dangorous nor critical. With a
littlo prudonco, tho patient would bo able to
bo up and abont as usual in a fow hours, or by
tho next day at farthest.
"I think," volunteered Captain Jones,
"that hb mind is out of gear. That would
explain tlio wholo business."
"And I think," said a lieutenant, "that hs
is drunk."
These views, however, did not meet with
much favor, and the kind-hearted warriors sat
down to breakfast with thoughtful faces.
Just as there was a lull In tho conversation
thoro was a deafening, stunning crash, loader
than the jarring roll of a dozen thunderclaps.
The building shook and rocked. Thedfahos
danced on tho table, and the furniture clat
tered about the room.
"My God I the Major has exploded 1"
As the Colouel said this hb face was as wldto
as a sheet.
A wild rush was made for the door, and once
there the spectators saw tlio realization of
their wont fears.
In the denso column of smoke, shooting up
from the spot where the major’s cabin had
stood, could bo soon countloss fragments of the
wreck whirling round and round in tho sir.
Pretty soon they began to descend in a showor,
covering tho parade ground with pieces of
shingles, plank and logs, while numerous par
ticles spattered down into the river a hundred
yards away.
When the bewildered party reached tho
sccno of tho disaster there was little satisfac
tion to be obtained. A smoking hole in the
ground and tho scattered debris of tho cabin
were all that could bo soeu.
There was no trace of the Major.
Hod the daring inventor exploded 7
Tho officers looked at each other with awe
struck countenances.
No, I cannot think so," said tho post sur
geon, reading the question In tho inquiring
faces before him. "Spontaneous combustion
is possible. Such cases have been recorded,
but if tho Major really exploded it Is a phe
nomenal event without a precedent. The poor
fellow took too much brandy and went to work
with his chemicals after we left him. That is
my theory."
Do you regard It as impossible?" asked
the Colonel.
By no means, but it is highly Improbable."
Then," said the Colonel, firmly, "I believe
that the Major exploded."
And that b my opinion," chimed in several
others.
Notwithstanding the most careful search,
nothing belonging to tho mfaslng man, not
even a button, could be found. Tho river hod
doubtless swallowed up everything.
Tho explosion of tho Major dla not figure In
the next report made to tho secretary ol war by
the commander of the little Oregon post.
At tho very fast moment the Colonel tore np
hb lira report, and substituted a briefer docu
ment in which lie slated that Major Potter had
cornu to an untimely death white experiment
ing with explosives.
But the truth of history cannot he suppress
ed. What tho war department failed to get
will soou be known far and wide.
A Petrified Pineknot.
Prom the Gilaon, Ge., Knterprfce.
The other day Mr. J. D. Chalker, of thb
countv, brought into our office a strange thing,
tlio like of which we never saw before. It was
a petrified pineknot. Thb cariosity was about
one feotfn length and had the shape and ap
pearance of an ordinary fat knot, but was solid,
heavy stone. Mr. Chalker says thb oddity
wss found in one of kb fields.
ARTISTIC ARP
Busy Making His Home Beauti
ful.
HIS FONDNESS FOR COOL LEMONADE,
Anil l*rnlio for III. Entlmori to Please—
lie Uni Been Heading n Pamphlet
and Comment. Thereon, Ktc.
It Is most astonishing how much we live and
do for othor people—how much regard wo havo
for othor people's praise and opinions. Wo all
do a sight ot work to plcsso thoro who aro no
kin to us and no littlo (or those wo don't know.
Hero I'vo boon worklog hard for a month Ax
ing up tho now homo, nnd It Is all from a com
bined pleasure of pleasing Mrs. Arp first nnd
tho children noxt and then the public who
pass by and will say "Isn't that a lovely
place I” Well, of couruo I liavo somo tasto for
tho beautiful and the tostlicUo, but not enough
to work so hard ns I have been working. I was
content end thought wo were doing pretty
well, hut I got a hint that Uro verandas were
almost obliged to bo palutod and rcmodoled,
and so I surrendered nnd went nt It and got
oncouragemcnt all elong. "Oh, It Is so nlcol
Isont It perfectly lovely ? What harmony of
colors that red and white and green? 1 ’—and
they fondled over mo nnd rubbed my head and
coinbod my hno khair, and they mako ino lem
onade whon I como hi tired. I con heat the
Jews playing tired when I want sympathy and
lomonado. I can look tlrod nnd walk up tlio
stops tired. There Is an art In that, and overy
husband mid father ought to know It if ho
wnnts domestic favors. Sly folks have discov
ered now that I have a cough nnd I let them
keop an discovering It. A cough Is a good
thing. It provokes sympathy and alarm mixed.
I cun cough just like a consumptive mid havo
tho tenrs running out of my eyes. After tho
verandas were fixed up and the floors painted
a eweotgum color mid tho front blinds
painted with u fresh, bright coat ol
green, It was hinted to rao that
our bedroom ought to bo repapered, and that
It I would buy tho papor the girls would put
It on, nnd tho celling overhead ought to ho
pointed just to cover up thofiy specks, If for
nothing olso. So I surrendered to that, and
whon tho colling was finished thoy told tho
painter to keep on with tho doors and win
dows and mantol, so as not to waste the paint
he had left, and so, of coarse. I admired tlielr
frugal minds, mid then tho papering was next
In ordor, nnd they said I was not to ho bother
ed,hut I did havo to fix up tho wifr Id end
arrungo tho plank to pas to on and movo all tho
Iiiniilurcto buo aide) mid when they —*
I had to movo It all book again
koep moving It, from Han to Bedrsbolw,
then at hut movo the acalToldlng and
and clean np the room, nnd It Is all just ns
nlcoanunew, and they aro nil so Iieppy, mid
tho wholo room didn't coot bnt a tew dollnia,
and so I am lmppy too, And thoy liavo been
talking about that old stnblo for two month!—
that groat big old stable that is forty feet front
was right In a front lino with tlio dwelling, tho
mansion and the new verandas, and tt wot too
big and too dilapidated, and so they got me to
walk around In tho rear ami look at a placo,
aud I walkod and I looked, not that they
wanted It moved right away, but eoine timo
when I was able. That's tho Idea—samo time
when I was ahla. That always gets me. Ho
ambitious lord is willing for his lady to be
lle vo ho Is not ablo to do anything in soason.
It Is his bushiest to ho ablo. lie promised
ablo when he mar
ried her. It was Implied
If not expressed that he would always ho ablo
to gratify hor reasonable wishes, snd It wss
certainly rsaaonabls to want that old stablo
moved. So I have been a week at that and I
believe now that 1 lirnl rather build a now one
then move an old ono. But It Is oil dono and
tho femalo women of my hoiuehouhl are satis
fied and they lake all the visitors around to as*
the Improvements, snd I listen to tho compll-
mentaon the sly snd enjoy them. Wliat Is tho
next thing on the programme I don’t know,but
tliero is some whispering going on about the
old fashioned stair*. I have built a dining
room and a pantry and double doors to the
parlor and our home la now comfortable, and
If It la not happy it ought to he. I wish that
■y family In the land had ns good a one.
r they say that where the stains was snd
Jot attached lathe very place foregarden—
a garden for flowers and small fruits, and so I
have all that work In prospect and If thertk la
any stopping place I don't kuow It. Thera
navor has been any. It took me two hours
yesterday to tlx tho rollers on the wsslistsnd
and the bureau and to piano oiland sandpaper
' ' ' lastly.
the drawers so they would open ami shuteasl .
I nin a pretty good carpcntcrand they all know
It, nnd when Ilicnr them say with faith nnd
pride that papa can fix tt, I never back out, but
go at It. There was a rat hole in tha pantry
and as fast tut I stopped It up with mortar he
gnawed It out again, hut 1 fixed him
at last. It won't do fur tho paternal
anccttor to admit that ho cau’t
do such things, whether he gnulusted at a
school ol technology or not. Boraelbne* when
I hint that wo aro getting old nml ft don't
matter about fixing up, sho says that old poo-
plo ara the very ones to fix up and havs nice
things sou to compensate for the low of yonth
and hilarity. I hare been reading a pamphlet
about the world coming to an end In a few
years, and I liavo tried to distract her atten
tion from sublunary things, but sho says she
remembers the Mlllcrites very well, and how
they sold out their possessions np north and
bought white robea—ascension robes, and bnllt
high towers and scaffold* to fly from, and bad
the day and the night all fixed, hut the Savior
didn't come after them and thoy didn't ascend
stall. ...
Well, that was a wonderful excitement. It
was In ISIS, and there were over fifty thousand
converts who got ready to ascend. Miller had
studied the prophecies of Uanlel and fit. John,
until he was an enthusiast and behoved all ha
uhl, bnt Miller wu no theologian, no scholar,
and sensible people paid no attention to him.
Next como Camming, the great Scotch preach
er, who thought he had solved the prophecies,
but he too wu mistaken. And now cornea
ltev. Mr. Baxter, of tho Church of England,
who publishes the Christian Herald In I-ondon,
and liu three hundred thousand sub-
scribcrs, and has ISO orthodox ministers
to indorm his solution of the prophecy.
His pamphlet Is the meet learned exposition of
tho prophecies 1 havo evor seen, and it daw
Ho .declares
3 night of the
worid'sweek, snd that tho year 1900 will eleae
out our comedy of errora and a new play will
begin. That great warn are near at hand, and
England will take a back seat and will low
Ireland and the West Indiw, and that what
now constitutes 23 kingdoms will, In MO, be
merged into ten, with France in the lead and
a Napoleon on the throne. He tell* all abont
the gnat battle of Armogedden, and how the
Christians us to sailer for throe and a half
years snd then triumph, and hew tha Savior Is
to com# In the yew 1900 and reign for 1,000
years, aud so forth and so on. Uncertainly a
remarkable book and written by one of the
flint scholars of the ago.
"In no event,” says ho, "can this old earth
f irogress much longer In a peaceful status, far
thus hat twenty-five thousand million of
acres of land, and counting ono acre for seven
potsons, the world will bo full In 330 years.”
-'FullI” Just think of the world being full
ami no moro room. I asked old father Dob
bins what made hint keep on buying land, and
ho eald: “Because the Creator
is not making any more land,
but keons on making people. Thoro are
3,000 million people now and If they difiibls
overy thirty years there will bo fivo hundred
thousand million peoplo within three hundred
years. Thoy will be ns dense ns peoplo at s
barbocuo and about u hungry. I8omoth1ng lias
S ot lo hapiicn—elthor this multiplying has got
J ston or war nnd peetilonco has gotto wake
up and go to work lively or the world will get
full mid run ovoraure enough.
But still I reckon wo hod all better keep on
working nnd fixing nnd pursue the even tenor
of our way. I told Mm. Arp that It seemed
like great events were near at hand and we
had better put oil In our lamps and have them
ready, nnd ahe aahl yes, and told mo the oi!
was ant aud that I had better send for sugar
too. Whon I mentioned tho great boast wills
ten horns that Daniel saw In his vision she
said that reminded her to tell mo that the
ponfowl had hatched and I had bettor taka
Carl and go alter her nml being her home and
keep her In a coop for a few days. Verily
there Is no rest for tho wicked. Bill Aar.
FIGHT IN THE B?AR PIT.
Keeper Harrison, at the Zoo, Nrarly Killed
by Five Ilalry Unite*.
Pim.AnxLi’iiM, Juno ».—Thoro was a florae
fight among tho bean nt the Zoological tiertlea
this altenioou, the battlo lasting nearly one
hour.
About a year ago the society was presented
with a beautiful littlo black bear, which lied
been captured In an unsettled portion of tha
state, At tho Uino of Us presentation the
nnlinnl was too young to bo put In the pit with
tho other bears, so It wits placed In a cago ad
joining tha lion ar.d .'get hou.o
Hay by day It grew larger and more hcautl*
f ill It was tho pot of tho "Zoo.” last week
llcadkeopor Byruo came to tho conclusion that
It was old enough to affiliate with tho oilier
hears, It was named "Bessie,” and on Mon
day was placed lu the pit with fivo others of
various spoclcs.
All tho bruto*. with tho exception of Danger,
a big, oruol-looklng griuly, took kindly to tha
now comer and showed it marked attention,
and It was not lougboforo the dormant hate of
tho griuly was araused, and ho begun to as
sume a threatening attitude.
This afternoon Bessie, bclngln an especially
sportlvo mood, playfully tapped tlio crizily
alongside tho head with her paw. I lunger
retaliated by knocking Bosvlo clear across tho
stony enclosure, and taking a ploco out »f her
nock. Tlio tnslo nnd sight of blood, so lung
denied tho grtasly, scorned to infuriate it to
tlio utmost. <9f
THK XKXrrn joins in TlUtjnOIIT. .
Tho black boor gavo vent to nrfsi of fcor and
pain, und Keeper tleorge Ifsrrlson, who hap
pened to bo einnding near hy, oelxcd a abeaS
Iron bar nnd mado a rush for tlio pit,
Tlio visitors, hearing the nffrlghlcil cries of
the boar and rightly conjecturing that some
thing was amiss, hurried after tha Intrepid
k «ren , who it a man nt magnificent bu'.id,
entorod tho pit from tho renr and sprang hr tho
midst of thosnarllng, snapping, fightingbratos
str king right nnd loft. * ' : .
The crowd of men, women and children that
hung over tiro Iron rollings gassd with pallid
faces down upon the combat, which was bo-
lug enacted with fierce intensity.
Frenzied with rsga and bleeding from a
score of ugly stretches, the big grisxlr bounded
at tho daring keeper and bore him heavily to
tho hard floor.
”Ob, my Ood, he'll be tom to pieces!”
shrieked a woman, holding her lianas before
hor oye* to shut out tho seene of death that
waa momentarily expected.
Concentrating all his powerful sttongth,
Harrison struggled aud regained Ills feet. The
grizzly, backed np by tbs other bears, renewed
“Come out or you'll lie killed,” yelled •
normxo rtvs '■sans.
Harrison msde ns reply, but taking a firmer
hold dealt Hie nearest animal a blow on tha
bead that rent, it gyrating across tbe pit. In
six frlenzled brute.* closed
an Instant tho
around tbe keeper, who fought with tha
strength of a maniac. }fe handled tho shaggy
coated animals a* If they were pup[4o*. Itut
excited to tho highest tension they seemed not
to fool the force of hts blows.
Buch a contest, where the odds wore so un
even, could not last long. Hsrrlson’a torrifls
struggle began to tell on him, and tho bean
were as savagO In tlielr attacks as ever, and
the spectators trembled with excitement,
■aacus xoxn too sutaLY.
At this juncture Head Keeper Byrne, fof.
lowed by Keepers Ford, Bbsnnon and Murphy,
arrived with stoat clubs sad entered tho pit.
After a lively tussl* often minutes’ duration
they succeeded lu subjugating tlie brutes,
Stretched upon tha atone floor, Its ayes cover
ed with the film of death, wu the body ot
"Houle.” The other bears crouched In one
comer and glowered sullenly at their keepers.
Harrison, his clothing tom In stripes and his
faco, limbs and bosom Indented and bloody
from the claws of the brntu, staggered oat at
the pit to receive medical assistance.
Bald lie to a Herald cccreapondent: "I’ve
traveled with circuses for many years, and
had many encounters with animals, but this
one eclipses them ell.
Belling Ills Wife for Blsllandrsd Dollars.
New Philadelphia (Ohio) Telegram to the Pittsburg
Dispatch.
About two yean ago a prominent young
msu of foekport, a small place half a mile south of
here, married a pretty young lady of this place, A
neighbor, a young fellow of cocridemM* property,
often noticed the charming woman next deer, and
the odener he as her the more be liked her. Mat-
ten uoppod not her*. The tmoroo* neighbor weak
a step further and fell tn tors. It 1* presumed that
the pretty will wu not evens to admiration and
threw out some meoaragemenl to her hopalea lover.
At any tale aaM hopeless suiter finally summed np
courage to approach the htafeaad and offer him 1*0*
lor tils wlfb.
At first the offirr wu sooreed; then It wu con
sidered snd tt last embraced. Wins were to be had
for tho asking, tat 9000 wu accumulated only after
long and ardent weombrg. Bo the transfer wu
mad* amid mutual congratulations. The lucky
man—or unlucky, u the cue may be—tunned talfr
ly took precautions sgelnd any remorm oa the part
of th* self-mods widower, and carried hb WOO wife
tn the tier vast Th* husband now ngietshbea-
Uoo and b trying to get hts spoors beck again.
North and South,
from tha New Orleans picayune.
A people must be judged by their controlling
motive. If the acquirement of wealth b the peat
goal, trthe degree of wealth marks the degree of
•octal stotos. then every person who desires to rise
In the social scale will engage tn the mad rash foe
gain. Thb b. perbapr, the chief cause fortbesctlr.
tty noticed hr home northern chics. In tha ninth
there b no social plutocracy. A man does not take
rank from hb hank account, nor be woman's post*
Uon proged byherdremas and Jewels. A* aeon-
■aqoence there b ben no wild and Inordinate bast*
to get rich. If thb eoruerraUTt and honorable state
of attain be doe to chnuitc condltlous, then w*
welcome tbe Infiueuct* which moderate the define
without debilitating the body, which directs th*
natwtbV»eM«tmin<l^p!»lr*«m,