Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutExeter Times, 1909-08-05, Page 6Flo Uoexpoeted €011fCSSi011; Or, The Story of Miss Percival's Early Life. l'11.1 l''i lits XVI As Esther opened the door, both girls became aware of a strange commotion in the hall below them. There was the sound of many running feet, excited conversation, the moving of some heavy object, while over and above all there arose an irritable, angry voice giv- ing curt commands, which were profusely interspersed with pro- fanity. Jennie ran out of the room, and, leaning over the banister, listened intently for a few moments. Presently she went back to Es- ther, an expression of disgust on her young face. "It is a new lodger," she said, "going into the rooms correspond- ing to these on the floor below, and a perfect brute, I should judge, front tho strong language ho uses; although he is evidently sick and in pain. He was being taken up in a wheel chair." Tho confusion continued for some time longer, when the newcomer was finally settled in his quarters, and the girls neither heard nor saw anything more of him for several days. It was reported through the house, however, that he was "a cranky old party named Irving, - and that he was afflicted with in- flammatory rheumatism. Our busy young apron makers upstairs hardly gave him a second thought, but steadily pursued their business as usual, until one after- noon, Jennie having gone out up- on some errand, Esther was sud- denly startled by hearing groans of distress directly beneath her. At first she did not pay much at- tention to them, but as they con- tinued, her sympathies were arous- ed, and finally, unable to bear the sounds any longer, she laid down her work and descended to the hall, but without any definite idea re- garding what she would do. Of course the sounds now became more distinct and pathetic, and keeping on down to the basement, she tried to find the landlady, to tell her that her new lodger ap- peared to be suffering greatly. Ilut Mrs. Field was out, and nei- tl,cr of the servants er ants w gold go tip to ascertain what was the trouble. "Catch nig." said Mary, with an indignant toss of her head. "The last time I waited on him he swore at me like a pirate, and threw a tumbler at neo." Tho cook curtly observed that "her business was in the kitchen, and she had no intention of turn- ing nurse at present." So Esther resolved to go herself to the suf- ferer's aid. Reaching his door, she tapped gently upon it. "Come !" some one said, in a strained, unnatural tune; and sho entered the room, where she found a man of perhaps thirty-three or thirty-five lying upon his bed, his face highly flushed. and almost con- vulsed with pain, while every Lrcath that he drew was a pant of agony. Ile turned his heavy eyes upon the young girl with a look of appeal that instantly went to her heart. "Mrs. Field is out," Esther said, in a gentle tone; "but 1 heard you, and have comp to see if 1 can do something to relieve you." The instant she began to speak the sick pian raised himself upon his elbow and stared blankly at her, astonishment for the moment caus- ing hien to forget his suffering. "My God :" he cried. "Is it you 1'' Esther now locked amazed. "I think you have made a mis- take, sir," she observed ; "you can - nut know me, for I am sure I never saw you before," "1 cannot know you! You never water and bathed hint as sho had believe there must be an interesting saw rue before:" the invalid repeat- often bathed her father ; after . romance connected with it." ed. in a tone of awo. "Perhaps which she combed and brushed his l She could not know that her in- Soii do not recognizewme, and I tangled hair until it shone like sa- genuous face was like an open book $raer saw' your face distinctly be- tin.; while the act so soothed and l to the man of the world. and that fine : but I can never forget your ;,',feted him that lie almost fell her thoughts were always as pat- y.,iee. I should know it had a huh- steeep during the operation. ent to him as if she hal give ut- dred years elapsed since I heard "You have made mo feel like ab- t terance to them. it other person," he murmured, when Again a smile swept over his that I should meet you again here !" ne concluded, as he sank back upon Lis pillow with another groan. "What is the matter, sir? What can I do for you?" inquired Es- ther, going nearer to him. He lifted his bands. and she saw that they were swollen out of all shape, and badly inflamed. "1 have heart disease and inflam- matory rheumatism. I can do no- thing to help myself, even to take the food I eat," was the bitter re - my medicine or get a drink of sponse water and those — servants—" "But it is really a necessity, sir," "Please, sir, do not be profane," Esther persisted. Then, after a gently interposed Esther. "I will moment of reflection, she continued, gladly wait upon you. Which medi- "I think I know of a strong, kind cine ought you to take now?" she young fellow who would come in inquired, -turning to the table by to wait upon you and care for you the bed, where there were several nights; he has nothing to do and bottles and tumblers. would be glad to earn alittle in "That in the plain tumbler; the tliis way. I will see him, if you drops in the fluted one an hour lat- wish; then I myself will look in up- er-two teaspoonfuls." on you occasionally, to be sure you Esther measured out the quan- have proper attention." tity, and carefully dropped it into Tho invalid bent a curious look his mouth. upon the girl, and flushed hotly "Now, would you like a drink ?- , at the thought of his dependence. sho asked. But ho was too sick to care what "Yes; I am burning up with this arrangements were tuade, so that fever." be could be relieved of his pain, Tho girl went down to the din- and he told Esther she might do as ing room and brought up a pitcher her judgment dictated. of ice water. So.that evening tho sixteen -year - Pouring out a glassful, she deftly old son of her washer -woman was raised the invalid's head and held installed as a kind of valet in the it to his lips and allowed him to sick room, and proved himself so drink until his fierce thirst was capable that the invalid was very slaked. glad he had consented to the ar- "That. was good," he breathed, rangement. as ho lay back again. And Esther preserved a faithful Then a half -suppressed shriek oversight of him besides. burst from him as he attempted to She was careful to see that ho al- ways had his medicines on time, rearrange the bedclothing with his sore and swollen hands. that his nourishment was perfectly Esther's heart ached for him. l Prepared and invitingly served, seemed dreadful to have him lie and was so bright and cheerful, there alone in such a condition whenever she came into his pres- with no one to feel any interest in enco, that he grew to watch for her him, and, after regarding him piti- coming with an eagerness that was fully a moment, she said: almost pathetic. "If you would let mo bathe your On the third day after her visit hands in hot water, I believe it to him sho found him greatly im would relieve tho inflammation." proves'. He "I could not bear it -it is tor- was actually sitting up in bed, ture to have them touched," he re- supported by pillows, and Esther observed that his hands were not plied, with evident shrinking. nearly so badly swollen and in - "But I am used to sick people, flamed as heretofore. and I think I could do it so careful- ly you would not be hurt, and I am sure you would be more com- fcrtable afterward," the girl per- sisted. Then, without waiting for permis- sion, sho went to the bath room, where she procured a bowl of steam - int water and a soft towel; then re- turned to her patient and worked ever his hands fur fifteen minutes or more, very carefully and gently, but to such purpose that ho was greatly relieved. Once or twice, when a twinge Esther flushed, but did not feel seized hien, he spoke forth with an called upon to reply to this tribute, and he continued: "I suppose you also feel sonic curiosity regarding the identity of your self imposed patient -unless fed him ith her own hands, since his oweeWere helpless. Tho uian was so toughed by this kindne"s that tears actually stood in his eyes as he told her lie had ta'-tcd nothing so good for weeks, "You ought to have a nurse,' Esther observed; "you are so ill, you should have some ono with you all the time to attend to your needs -you will get well a great deal quicker." "Young lady, I shall never be well again," her companion grave- ly returned; ''1 have organic dis- ease of the heart, which is liable to make an end of hie any day; al- though my doctor tells me 1 may live sone, months longer. If 1 could only have a little good care until this attack of rheumatism sub- sides, I should do very well.' - 'Mien why do you not have your physician get you anurse 1" Esther inquired. "Simply because I cannot afford it, miss. 1 have barely money enough to pay for my rooms and played about an hour, Mr. Irving laid down his cards, and, bending a thoughtful look upon his compete len, remarked: "Miss Esther, something impels mo to tell you my history. I feel that it is your duo that you should know something about the life of the ratan for ivhont you have done so much -that is, if you feel interest enough in hint to listen to bit story." (To be continued.) FIG HUNG I) I• 1'Olt t'l'N. I1ave Flourished at Certain Ger- man Universities. Something like consternation has been caused in German educational Circles by the conviction on charges of duelling of live students, who have been sentenced to incar- ceration in a fortress. For unnumbered years the "inensur," or student's duel, has flourished at certain universities, notably at Heidelberg, whore it originated. But now the Kaiser has determined that it shall be sup- pressed, and has issued orders ac- cordingly. It will be well for humanity if 110 succeeds, for a more barbarous custom it is impossible to conceive of. The young men are practically compelled to fight with one an- other, and for no earthly reason except to show their mettle. The weapons are always swords of exceeding lightness and sharp- ness, and with these each combat- ant tries to cut the other's face. The resultant scars are highly es- teemed, as they are, from the stu- dent's point of ' iew, exceedingly honorable. Sometimes, indeed, when a duel- list feels he has not been sufficiently injured, and that his wound will not make a respectable showing, he will surreptitiously rub ashes into it, thereby insuring tae formation of a good not eseblc eicatrice, or "sch- miss," as a student duel scar is termed. On the day after the encounter, if the wounds are of a particularly pleasing, i.e., ghastly, character, the contestants have their portraits taken, and afterwards pay a round of visits to receive the congratula- tions of their friends. Duels are always fought in a semi-public room, alt hough none but members of the university are supposed to be present. A strict code of etiquette is enforced. Loud talking or laughing is prohibited. The only drink permissible is white wire, and of this each spectator must consume one bottle, neither' more or less. The duellists wear pads over the She brought her bowl of hot heart and lungs, the neck is swath - water, as usual, to bathe them, for ed in silk bandages, and the eyes lie would allow no one else to per- are protected by huge goggles of form that service for him, and while wire gaoler. the was thus engaged he remarked: ,t, "My young friend, what am I to call you 1 You have not yet told MASTER 01' HIS 1'R 11) I'. me your name." "It is Esther Wellingtun," sl10 Never Had Much to say, But (n - replied. derstood itis Business. "That is a very pleasant sound- Sympathy and understanding he- ing name for the kindest -hearted iw•een an English carter and his little lady I have ever known, ho horses aro delightfully described in responded, smiling. a passage from "Memoirs of a Sur- rey Laborer," and is quoted in "Highways and Byways in Sur - impatient oath, and at last Esther bent a grave, reproving look upon him. "I know it hurts," she said "but it is not gentlemantly to you Iiavo already learned who I swear." ani from our landlady." He flushed hotly at the rebuke, "Yes, I have heard -her speak of then he laughed softly. you as Mr. Irving," the young girl "You are an outspoken young woman, as well as a handy little nurse," ho obstri•ed. "Well, I think I would as soon have a person strike me as swear at me," was the quiet response. "I wasn't swearing at you -it was at tho pain." "Pain has neither ears nor in- • ♦++++♦+♦++++++,+••+,+` fThe Hum MAKING SUMMER BUTTER. I have read with much profit a great many articles that interest farmers' wives, and have often thought 1 should like to say some- thing in regal .1 to making good butter, writes a farmer's wifs. We generally milk from twelve to fifteen cows; we have no patent creamery, and nothing that, any farmer cannot have without tnuch suniers, two ounces to each ten TAX T cTRLET MUSI pounds of cheese is a medium!1[A1 1 amount. Adding cream greatly im- proves the flavor of cottage cheese, and since under ordinary condition u pound of medium rich cream, say 23 to 30 per cent. fat, never would be worth more than ten cents, there is no danger of losing money by adding cream to cottage cheese. (inc pound of cream to ten pounds of cheese is a fair ratio. In a cool place cottage cheese may be kept for several days. The softer the cheese the sooner it will spoil and sour. Always use good, clean skim - milk ; do not let it become tow sour. VIN(_ P.tTTI. 2it Was No Joke When She Re- ceived 50 Cente a Note. trouble. Perfect cleanliness is Adelina Patti never suffered from necessary to goes' butter -making, the financial timidity of a Jenny and I prefer women milkers, as Lind. Not only was she a supreme they gentrally have more patience vocalist, but, as Col. Mapleson re- etpec•ially with nervous young cows. marked, "no one ever approached Our milk house is the lower part her in obtaining from a manager of the windmill tower, enclosed over the greatest possible sunt he could the well, and it is 10x10 feet. My by any possibility contrive to pay." husband has made two boxes, ono Tho musical miracle was the sisal - on the north side, mitered in the ed darling of her day, says the corner, so it makes a continuous Bookman, and she never failed to box. These boxes aro made of obtain exactly what she wanted. plank, and aro two feet wide and She was first engaged in London one foot deep, and stand about two in 1801 by Mapleson to sing four feet from the floor. All the joints nights "on approval" and in case aro put together with white lead, of success to obtain £40 a week. and a tight cover made of flooring, This contract was not filled, how - and painted all over, inside and ever, for being hard pressed finan- out. cially sho had borrowed £50 from \\'hen perfectly dry we pump the a rival manager and her receipt water into the box at ono end, and proved practically a contract. This it runs through and out at the other was the beginning of a career so end of the box into a trough for dazzling that its successive steps watering the stock. I strain the aro simply a series of increasing milk into common one -gallon bank notes. crocks, and set thein side by side In 1872 she obtained in London in the box of water. The pipe 200 guineas a night, since she in - where the water runs out should sisted on having more than Chris - be one, or one and one-half inches tino Nilsson, who was receiving below the top of the crocks, so there £200. She sang twice a week. Ten will bo no danger of flooding the years later she got $5,000 a night! niilk with water. I let the milk Her famous contract to sing in stand until it gets sour, as butter America provided that the money made of sour cream has keeping should be paid her at 2 o'clock on qualities that butter made of sweet the day she sang, also a drawing cream does not possess. I am par- room and sleeping car was to bo kieular about skimming the milk especially built for her with cou- before it gets watery under the servatory, fernery, etc. Further, cream. I put the cream into a pail there was to be deposited to her made on purpose for it, tie a rope credit. 850,000 for payment of the to it and hang it down in the well, last ten performances-Patti's fav - where it keeps nice and cool until orite device. She thus received time to churn it. about twenty times what Mario In warm weather I churn every and Grisi got. day, or every other day at lorigest. Her private car, incidentally, I use, a common barrel churn. I cost $60,000 and contained a silver put a pail or two of cold water in- bath, and gold keys to the doors - to the churn and let it stand a few k say nothing of a $2,000 piano. minutes before I am ready to churn Patti only gave to the manager her and then I draw off the water, bring voice and her costumes. Her draw - my cream from the yell and churn ing capacity justified this. "Lucia," it briskly for a short tine; and as an example, was sung to an av- when the butter comes, about like erage of 814,000. "Traviata" drew peas, I draw off the buttermilk more, since she sang more notes; and pour on a pailful of good cold it was a frequent occurrence among water. I wash the butter this way the poorer music lovers to buy a two or three times until the water club ticket and each take turns at does not look milky; then take it hearing her for twenty minutes; if from churn and salt it. one of them overstayed his time ho Now let me say that I have never paid for the entire, ticket. weighed a pound of butter or an Some mathematicians computed, ounce of salt before putting them by dividing number of notes sung together. I use the hest fine barrel by sum paid, that in "Semira- salt. I do not like the salt put up niide" Patti received 42% cents for ir, sacks, for salting butter. In each note; this was found to bo just salting I put in what I think is 7 1-10 cents a note more than ltos- about enough, and when thorough- sini got for writing the whole opera. ly worked through it. I taste the 3' butttr, and if I think there is rey" by Mr. Eric Parker. enough to keep in warm weather, "I see a carter once," said Bet- it is enough. I have never had any Fragrance of Flower Wafted for Two Miles. - A LAV'ENDEB TO1WN. tesworth, "get three big elm-treesfault found, but on the contrary up to a timber -carriage with only have had many compliments fur my hisself and the bosses. He put the good butter. After salting I put runnin' chains on and all hisself." the butter into a tin pail and hang "And that takes some doing," I said. returned. Then as she glanced into his face, "Yes, a man got to understand and observed a mockinglight in his the ay'tis done. The farmer says g t..'n, "You'll never get they up eyes, and a little scornful smile hov- by vourgeIf ' it in the well. I tie a cloth over the top of tho pail, and let it stay in the well about twelve hours, then I bring it up and work it thor- oughly with a ladle until all the milky water is worked out of it. Bring about his lips, she said to her- 'I dessay I shall,' he says; and I either make it into rolls or pack self with sudden inispiration : so he did, too. I'hreo great elm - "That in tubs for market. I have fur - "That is not his real name -it isr-ished families in the city with all trees upon that ane carriage! their butter for several years, and one he has assumed to conceal his "Well, he had afour-boss team, identity ! He told me, that night so that'll tell you what 'twas. They they' say that my butter keeps per- telligencc,'' said Esther briefly. when ho attempted to shoot bran it as some bosses too Ordina fectly sweet until the last ounce is Then as she saw !iiia flush again, self, that he was an alien and an farm bosses wouldn't ha' Bono t used up: and in summer i frequent- sho inquired: "Now, is there anything else 1 can do fur you?" ''If you will be so good, i would like my face washed," pleaded the sufferer. "In two days it has not known how water feels." Esther went for a bowl of clean outcast. Ho is evidently a gentle- But he only jest had to speak, and 1y get double the prevailing price. man. in spite of his occasional pro- you'd see they wet::lin' hint. So you see there is no great ex- fanity, and I am sure he must be- "When he went for'ard, after penditure of money necessary to long to a nice family, notwithstand- he'd got the trees up, to see what make good butter. ing his poverty, for he is very dainty sort of a road he'd got for gettin' in his tastes, his language fault- out, they stood there with their less. and his manners cultivated. 1 heads stretched out and their ears would like to know his history ; I for'ard. ' My voice !" said Esther, looking perplexed. "Where have you heard it before 1 I do nut know what you meant" "Oh, girl. how strange' Have sou forgottea the man whom you eased from an awful death a little She gently drew the counterpane i los attendant, even though he seer a sear ago --whom you pre- goer him, softly pulled down the' could ill afford to spare him. ♦crated from committing a terrible curtains, to shade his eyes from the But Esther still continued to have light. and then went back to her . an oversight of him. Tho doctor ork. 1 l.ad told her that the man was Every hour throughout the day; domed -that the end was only a she attended to gising him his me- j question of a comparatisely short head to feet as she was thus re- dicine, and did what she could for' time, and she resolved to do what •i<•.1 . f how near she had cenie his comfort. When his evening; she could for his comfort while he t.. witue-sing a tragedy so long neo meal was brought up to hint, shot should live. w hilo returning from the errand was so disgusted with the ill -cooked I She also spent an evening with t.. Mrs i'ushman's dressmaker. food, to say nothing of it being en- l him, now and then, reading aloud ' t)h.• she exclaimed, in a start- tirely unfit for a person in his con -I erre i'iteresting book. Sometimts lid tone, "aro you that man :" clition, that she took the tray down- she played backgammon or crib - "The very sante ; and even though stairs, where she made n cup of 1 age with him. while she was al - 1 have scarcely seen a well day since nice beef tea from her own stores. ; wrys so cheerful. so sweet, and so 1 have never ceased to be grateful and a slice of golden brown teast, 1 thouirhtful that he became greatly that a-oneavid mo front committing which, upon taking it to the suffer-! attached to her. That cuss, i deco+. Hey strange er, she broke Into the broth and 1 One evening, after they had sho finally laid down the brush, face, but this time there was not "and I thank you very much." I t. vestige of scorn or mockery in it. "Perhaps you will be able to get; He grew steadily betttr, and in a nap," Esther replied. "and at the course of a couple of weeks was the end of an hour I will come and 1 nide to get about his room and wait give you your drops." ( upon himself, when he dismissed crime :" demanded the sick than, 1•et panting painfully with every word he uttered. felt herself tingle from " 'Come on,' he says, and away they went, tearin' away. Left great ruts in the road where the wheels set in, that'll show ye they got something to pull. "No, none o' we helped 'n. We was only gone out to see 'n do it. He never wanted no help. Ile didn't say much ; only 'Git back,' or 'Git up,' to the horses. "When it come to gettin' the last tiee up, on top of tether two, I never thought he could ha' done it But he got 'n up. And he was a oldish man. too; sixty, I dessay ho was. But he jest spoke to the bosses. Never used no whip. "Didn't the old farmer go on at his own men, too! 'You fellers, call yerselves carters" he says. 'A pian like that's worth a dozen o' you.' "Well, they couldn't 'a' dune it ! Besides, their bosses wouldn't. But this feller, the old farmer says to 'n, 'I never believed you'd ha' done it.' "'1 thought mos' likely I should.' ho says. But he never had much to say." A graft. by any other name is just as apt to land some men behind the bars. HOW TO MAKE SCHMIERKASE. Cottage cheese, sometimes called Dutch cheese or schmierkase, is made from skimniilk, writes K. A. Ulniann, of the Nebraska station. A small amount of buttermilk niay be added. To make cheese, allow the skimmilk to become sour and curdled. Heat it then to form 90 to 100 degrees F. in about thirty minutes. After reaching the de- sired temperature remove the ves- sel from the source of heat and leave tho curd in the hot whey for about fifteen minutes. Itemove then the whey by pouring the heat- ed clapper inti a cheesecloth bag er on a draining rack (made ori o' wire screen with cheese spread over it) and allow to drain until no more whey appears. The higher the temperature to which the clap- per is heated, or at a like tempera- ture, the longer the curd remains in the hot whey, the harder and dryer the cheese will be. By regu- lating the time and temperature we can always prod,.ec cheese of the desired consistency. The yield is aIsut fifteen to twen- ty pounds frons 100 pounds of skim - milk, and the price is about ten cents per pound. 11efere using or selling. the curd must be worxeo thoroughly and sone salt and cream added. The a,nouiit of salt added dcpe:ids upon the taste of the con - One of the minor harvests that promise well is that of the laven- der fields. I have seen some flour- ishing crops in the Hitchin neigh- borhood to -day, says a writer in The London Daily Mail. Comparatively few know of this quaint Hertfordshire town as an im- portant lavender growing centre, yet it has grown the sweet old herb (which the Romans called lavendu- ia when they used it to scent their baths), has distilled the flowers and sent their extract into all parts of the world for more than a century. The Hitehin district had less rain and more sunshine than the London area during the month which has just closed. and consequently the long, trim rows of lavender plants is their dusky green look strong and healthy. They are beginning to show their flower buds. arid there is every likelihood of an abundant yield at cutting time, which will be from three to four weeks hence. At cutting time people come in from miles around to inhale the sweetness of the fields, and when the distilling begins the fragrance of lavender is borne on the wind two mile or more from the town. The flowers are put into tile still with the fresh bloom of their matur- ity on them, and for six pounds of such flowers about half an ounce of oil is extracted. IT 1)0. Teacher -James, what is gram- mar James (alias Jimmie) -Grammar is the science which learns us how to speak correct. "Oh, ye -es," remarked Ketchley, in a self-satisfied why. "Lulu and I will start out in married life under very favorable circumstances. Her mother gives us a neatlittle home, her fattier furnishes it, and her Uncle de Long has given a carriage and pair. Besides, Lulu has a snug income in her own name.'' "What part do you furnish?" "Well, principally the nave- principally the dame." R1:STIUI('TO\S ADOPTED 111 VARIOUS COUNTRIES. England 1s the Only Country 1Vblc► .tlloes Itinerant Mu'iciaus Full Swing. In most Continental countries stringeet police r • ons do not Ixrinit the avcrab breast, to be) charmed by indis riwinate per- formers. It is only in rnerrie Eng- land that musicians ply their trade without let or hindrance, from the strident barrel -organ to the blind cripple who sings Moody and San- key to the accomp►.uimcut of a con, - cordite, and takes haii an hour to pass a given point. Here are some of the restrictions placed upon street musicians is various countries. WHAT AUSTRIA DOES. In Austria licenses are granted by the police, but only to those persons who aro unable to earn a livelihood by any other means. .The license only permits the holder to perform in courtyards and public - houses, and any infringement of this rule renders him, or her, li- able to instant, arrest. While Germany is not so strict, the word.ng of the law relating t216646 this subject is distinctly rude, --ren is doubtless acutely resented by members of the "perfession." 16 reads: - "Those pjersons who, as means of livelihood and not in the interests of art, sing or perform on any musi- cal instrument require a license from the police." The police exercise their own de- cretion, and they must, therefore, combine the ability of an art critio with their other estimable quali- ties. IRUSSIA WILL NOT HAVE THEM Russia is short, if not sweet. "Itinerant musicians," reads the Imperial decree, "are not allowed to sojourn in this country, and those who are of foreign nationalit are not permitted to pass th frontiers." This greatly simplifie matters. WEAR A BADGE IN FRANCE. France is much more complicat- ed. Monsieur requires a certificate of good character from the police, and must satisfy the minions of the law that he is of French nationality No license is granted to blind, de- formed, crippled, or infii in per- sons. The circle ,of poseib candi- dates being thus nano .'the the g P regulations proceed i n ,c to lt► possibilities of mischief of each in- dividual fortunate enough to re- ceive a license. In the first place he must wear a badge on pain of in- stant arrest. The license is issued in a small book containing twenty- four pages numbered and signed, and giving surname and Christian name of bearer, his age, place birth, religion, and residence, t gether with his exact description. They mention the kind of perform- ance he practises, and set down besides the number, age, surname, Christian name, and place of birth of the persons who accompany him. Licenses must bo shown at the Pre- fecture of Police every three months. In addition to this, singers are not allowed to sing any songs other than those which have receiv- ed the stamp of the Ministry of the Interior. Vire la liberte! IN ITALY. Italian candidates require merely a formal certificate, which is al- most always granted. The idea, however, of Italians playing organs to each other irresistibly reminds one of the villagers who eked out a precarious existence by taking in one another's washing, and ap- pears to contain an economic fal- lacy. In Spain the picturesque guitar - players easily obtain licenses, but the piano -organ is rigidly suppress- ed. And yet Spain is called a de- cadent nation ! THE LAND OF T111: FREE. - There is no fixed law in the - United States. but each State doeth that which seemeth good in its own eyes. Thus we find all de- grees of restriction, from Brooklyn, which has no law on the subject whatever, to Illinois, where music is not allowed in the streets at all. In New York State, Mayors grant licenses at $1 per annum. Piano -organs must not- used within 500ft. of any scho !lurch, hospital, asylum, or pt institu- tion. The unfortunate artiste must presumably undertake a geometri- cal survey of each point he inten is to occupy, and, added to this diffi- culty, he is not permitted to ask for money. -London Tit -Pits, + d IN 1913. Farmer- -"What's all that racket, Mandy I" Farmer's Wife --"One of them airship chap is tumbling down th• chimney and out into the dining room." Farmer -"Do tell ! Wall, just set another plate on the table and tell him to make himself comfor- table. Funny ho•:; guests do drop in these days. ice. .... �_..