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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times, 1887-8-25, Page 7A MOTHER'S STORY; "Te young man you met at the gate, sir? Yee, that is my son—my boy Jack. "Yeti noticed the Kars on hie fees, and thought, maybe, that they spoilt featurea meant to be handsome? "Ah, sir! that was beceese yea did not know. Why, those red marke make hine more beautiful to me now than When a baby in my arrns' with yellow curls and laughing eyes, anda ekin like a roe -leaf, the people hurrying in end out of the treble would turn to look and smile at him, and prise him to each other, speaking low, maybe, but not too low for his mother's arack, proud ears to hear. "For we lived in a, little house cloae by the station, and when I heard the whistle of his f ther's train, I used to snatch the bey hui cradle or off the floor where he sat with his little playthinga, and run down o the farther end of the long depot where t e engine lways halted, to get the smile: and loving word that my heart lived on all day. "Not the least bit afraid was the beley / of all the whistling and clanging of bells, the groaning of the wheels, and puffing of the steam. He would laugh and spring so in my arms that I could sorcely hold him, till his father would retell down sometimes and lift him up into the engineer's oab and Ides him for one precious minute and then toss him down to me again, "When he grew a little older he was never playing horse or soldiers like the other little fellows around; it was always a railroacl train that be was riding. All the smoothest strips of ray billets of kin - tiling wood went to build tracks over the kitchen floor, hither and thither, crossing and re -crossing eaeh other. "Don't move my switch mother, dear he used to ory out to nee. You will wreck my train, for sure 1' So I had to.go softly about my work with scarce a place sometimes to set my foot. And all the chairs in the house would be ranged for oars, the big rocker, with the tea bell tied to its back, for the engine ; and there he would sit perched up by the hour, making believe attend to the valves and shouting to the fireman. "1 shall never forget the first thne his father took him to ride on the engine, "Jack had begged over mut over to go, but his father always bade him wait until he was older. So I said: '" Don't tease father any more, Jaok, dear; ' and like a true little heart that he was, he had not said another word about it for a matter of six months or more. "But that day such a wistful look came into his face, and he pulled himself up tall and straight, and maid, quite softly, his voice trembling a little, Father, do you think I am growing enough now ?' "Looking at him I saw tears in his pretty eyes. I think his father saw them, too, for he turned to me in a burry and said: '"We meet the up train at Langton, as - s Mary, e:4rtraight, I know. What do Brown will bring the little chap b you say? " What could I say but yes? At supper. time he was back, but he could not eat. His eyes were like stars, and there was a hot, red spot on each cheek, so that I feared he would be ill. And I thought he would .11. never be done talking, but now he had said scarce a word. " What was it like, Jackie?' I asked " '0, mother l' he said, 'It wasn't like anything l' ie. "He s t for a moment thinking, then he said, ' essiit was like—you read last Sunday.' "'And what was that, Jack?' I inquired, for I bad forgotten. "'Don't you know, mother? The wings of the wind r "That was not his last ride on the engine by many times, for as he grew older, his father would take him often on Saturdays or other half holidays. He was perfectly trusty and obedient. I believe he would have his right hand cut off sooner than have meddled with anything. "But he knew every valve and screw and gauge, and watched every turn of Ms fath- er's hand, and learned the signals all along the line, so that my husbaud said o. me more than once: ' " I believe in my heart, Mary, that if I was to be struck dead on the engine, Jack could run her through without a break!' "He was in school and learning fast, but out of hours he was always pouring over books and machinery and steam. Such an odd child as he was, with thoughts far be- yond his years! " Sometimes, sitting here by myself, I go over in my mind the very strange things he used to say to me in those days. I remember that oue evening he had been reading for a long time in some book that he had got out of the public library; but by-and-by he stoppecl and leaned his head on his hand, looking into the Neale. Then,all at once: "'Mother," said he, "isn't it a wonder- ful thing that God would trust men with it?' "'With what, Jack ? "'With the steam—the power in it, I mean! It was a long time before He did. But then the right time came, and then "'0, mother 1 said he, with his eyes shining, 'what must it have been to 'be James Watt, and to listen to such a secret as that?' "In a minute he spoke again: " ' And it's never safe to forget to listen because we don't know when He might siteak, or what there might be to hear!' could not answer him for a choking in myjljiroat, but I had laid down my knit - tin, and I put my arm around him; and he looked up into ray ‘face with something in his eyes that I never forgot. "We were getting on well then. The little house and garden were almost paid for, and we thought that nowhere in the world were happier people than we, or a brighter, cosier home. My husband and I were al- ways talking of this and that to be done for Jack as soon as the last payment should be made. Bet before the money was due my hit:band came home very dolt one day. "'Do not be frightened, Mary," he said. "I think I shall be better toonorroved But he only grew worse next day. It was a lung fever that he had, and for many days we thought he must die. Yet he ral- lied after a time --though heltept his hack- ing cough—and sat up and indeed about the houee, and at last thought himself strong enough to take his etace agate. "But that was too much, for at the end of the first week he came hone° and fell fainting on the threshold. "'It's of no use, Mary,' he said, after he came to himself. "1 can't ren the engine, and if I could it isn't right for people's live , to be trusted to suck weak betide as mine l' fr "He eover did any regular work after that, although he sarvived for a year. " Consturiptioa is a terrible disease, sir ! To see one that you would give your heart'a blood to save, elipping, slipping away before your eyes, and you helpless to hold' him book by se Much as a hair'e breadth from the black gulf of death 1 AM sir trust you have never learned how hard it ie 1 "Young as he was, Jade wee hid' stay and comfort through that dark time, My poor husband had matters in his mind that he longed to speak to me about, but I always put hien off, for I could not listen to any- thing like his going away from we "But at last, the very day before the end came, as I sat by his bed, holding hie hand in mine, he said, very gently but firmly: " "lelary, wife, I theele you must let me speak to you to -day.' I fell to crying as if my heart would break, and he drew a pitiful sigh that went like a sword through my breast; yet I could pot stop the oohs, Then Jack rose up from the little stool where he sat so quietly tnat bad almost forgotten he was there, and came and touched nee. " 'Mother! dear mother 1" he said; and as 1 looked I saw hie face was perfectly white, but there were no tears in his eyes. "'Mother 1' he said again, please go away for a little while. I can hear what father wants to say.' "You will think me cowardly, sir, but I did as the child bade me. I left the door ajar, and I could hear my husband's weak voice, thangh I could not understand the words, and then my brave boy's; answers, clear and low, not a break or tremble in the sweet voice. And at last Jack said: "'Is that all, dear father?' and 'Yes, I will be sure to remember it --every word!' "Then he came out and. kissed me with a smile, and went through the outer door. "But an hour afterward when I went out to the well, I heard a little choking sound, and found him lying on his face in the long grasseender the apple tree, sobbing his very heart away. So I turned about and went into the house as softly as I could and never let him know. "After it was all over and we had time to look about us, we found some debts left and very little money. It was a bad thing for me, that had had for so long a strong, loving arm between me and every care, to take and plan how to make both ends meet, when I could not even start evenly at the begtnning. But Jack came to my help again. "Father said you were never to work hard, dear mother, because you were not strong, but that I must take care of you in some way. " He thought you could let two or three rooms to some lodgers, maybe, and that the best thing for inc just now would be to get a train boy's place. He said the men on our road would be sure to give me a chance for his sake." "I do not know that I had smiled before since his father died, but when I heard him say our road,' in that little proud tone he had, I ()aught him to my heart, and we laughed and cried together. 'And I spoke to Mr. Withers about it only yesterday,: he went oa, and he said Tom Gray is going to leave, and I can have his chance and begin next week if I like. What do .you say, dear mother?' "'Oh, Jack l' I said, how can I get through the long, lonesome day without you? And if anything should happen to you I should die?' "'Don't mother,' he said gently, for the tears were in my eyes again. But I would not heed him. " " And you to give up your school 1' I cried, and all our plans for you to come to naught 1' "'Father thought of that, too,' he an- swered; but he said that the whole world belonged to the man that was faithful and true; and I promised him. You can trust me, mother? Trust him? Ah, yes 1 He had struck the right chord at last, and I lifted my head and dried my tears. Ye hatever un- seen dangers I might fear for my boy would be of the body, not of the soul. Faithful and true 1 I thanked God and took courage. " It was wonderful how he succeeded with the books and papers and other things he sold. There was something in him that made hmi a favorite with everybody. I have been told by more than one that the sight of his frank, handsome face was like sunshine, and that people bought of ren crowding, to the windows, vainly trying "t4j Count the whizzing telegraph polo ; young, happy peoplegolog on wedding joule neys, maybe, and others coining home who had been very long away. " He remembered that, as he hurried te Ms place at the front, that day, a little girl with a cloud of golden hair had lolled from a car window to give one more goodbye Mos to her father on the platform.'Take good care of mamma, darling,' he had hoed the gentleman say. " The fireman—no coward, either, was Tim Harbrook, with vsife and babies at home—let himeelf down from the tender and escaped. So might my Jack have done. But he crept along the side of the leaping engine, tastefully and painfully he swung himself into his place, and with every motion of his hands an untold agony, he reversed the engine and put on the air brake. "Then the train stopped, snatched baok from the pit's mouth, and they took my boy from his post—' faithful and true.' "It was a long time before Jack's burns were healed. The road people came often to see him—no men could have been kinder —and every week his wages always: came in full. But one evening, after he had began to get out a little, one of his mates came in him. "'What Jack to go to a l'afttiog with sort of a meeting ?" said Jack. "'Oh, I can't say exaetly, something in- teresting, they told me, and everybody in- vited." "}Ie stole a queer look at me, and I knew he wanted me to help him, So, as I really thought it might do Jack good, I said: "'Yes, Jaok, go along with Tom." "'Bat Pm not presentable with this face 1" s Pshaw, man 1it's evening, and nobody will notice. Leastways, they need not." "With a little more coaxing, Jack set off with him. I had hardly heard the gate click, when the door opened again, and Jennie Brown came in like a sprite. "Quick I quick 1 Mrs. Burton ! Put on your bonnet 1" she whispered. " Where ? What do you mean?' I said, for I was frightened. " ' To the meeting I Hurry, or we shall be too late.' "She was tying my bonnet strings under my chin as she spoke; and she had the house door locked and me down the garden path arid out of the back gate fairly with- out my will. She hurried me across the square, and then pushed me through the , crowd around the hall entrance. " I was out of breath with nervousness ' and fast walking, so we sat down in a back seat. The room was full. There were a great many ladies there, and on the platform sat the superintendent and several of the I directors of the road. Everybody seemed to be whispering and smiling and looking , backward toward the door, and I looked too, • although I did not know why. "Then the door opened, and Jaok came in with Tom. I heard somebody on the other side of me whisper, That's he r and anothei and another, and a rustle crept , through the place, and then, all at once, I such a cheer went up as, I can truly say, I never heard in all my life before—no, not even when the troops came home from war. I The people stood up, and the ladies waved their handkerchiefs. "The superintendent tried to speak, and rapped on This little table, but all in vain, until the crowd had their three times three. "And through it all I watched ray bey. He looked around him'dazed at first by all the tumult, and trying to see what it meant IWherever he might turn his eyes'. he met a hundred others smiling on him, and a score of hands stretched out to him aethe passed —and, all at once, he knew. "Oh, sir, I cannot tell you about it ! How they carried him up to the front, though not on the platform—there he would not go—how they found me out and made me sit beside him; how there were speeches and hand shakings and laughing and crying. "And at last the superintendent said that there was a little child there, the grand- daughter of the president of the road, who had been with her mother on the train that day, and that she had been eelected by many him whether they wanted anything or not. grateful friends to present a little token to "Well, the years went by, and he grew up—working his way from one position to another on the road—trusted everywhere. He was my own boy still, though he was so tall and strong, with his bright curls turned chestnut brown, and a silken fringe shading the lips that kept their old, loving 'kisses for me alone. I I "It was not long before he had the i place of engineer, which he had so much r wanted. He had a day off, and was I doing some little things for inc about the house and garden, when one of the depot , hands came running up the path, calling ' for him. i. "'Mr. Harding wants you instantly, Jack ! cried the man. 'The Jerry express I should have left' the depot five minutes ago, ' and the engineer hes just fallen clown in a , fit. Curtis and Fitch are both off on leave, ; and Mr. Harding says there's nobody left 1 but you that he'll trust with the train. "'11' cried Jock,' in a maze. 'The Jersey express! And I never drove anything but a freight train I 'Well,' cried the man, impatiently, "don't stop to argue 1 Orders is orders and here is a minute and a half gone al. i eady.' , "Tack seerned to come to himself at that. He darted one smile at me'and was off like a shot, drawing en his coat as he ran. In Iless time than I take in telling it, I heard the sinal of the outgoing train, and knew , that my boy was trusted with a task that ' was need to be given only to the most intel- ligent and careful men in the service. I "They brought him back to me that I night, sir, and laid him on his father's bed; 'and, by piecemeal, and then afterwards, I , learned what had happened that day. 1 "The train starting out so late, they , were forced to make up gine somewhere on , the line. So, on that long, straight stretch ' of track through the valley, they were mak- ing sixty miles an hour. The train fairly flew. Jack could feel the air strike his fate I ; like sharp wind, tho' it was a balmy spring ' day " Then an awful thing happened I The great conueoting rod of the driving -wheel on the right of the engine broke. Jack seemed to live all his life over in that one terrible instant when he saw the end of the rod swing upward. It struck the cab un- der him and dashed it into a thousand plow, and he knew no more till a horrible agony :melte him where he had falkti senseless on the engine. "Burned and &finest blind, with the flesh scalded and torn from his hands, he remem- bered his engine, with its open throttle leaping on to certain deetruction, seem- ed to see the passengers inside the long train, as so many times in the old days When he called the morning papers through the care, He knew how they looked and what, they woe doing, smelting, talking of the eleetions, the price of grain or Isow stooks 6 went np lot week ; Women, with °revving, dimpled babies his their tome ; little child - the man whose faithful courage had saved so many livo " Tben a beautiful lady; all in soft rust- ling silk, came up the aisle, leading the loveliest child I ever saw, with a great glory of golden hair around her head, like the picture of an angel. I felt Jack start, for it was the very child whose face had come to him in that awful moment on the flying engine. "The little thing let go her mother's d 1 blue eyes, and in her small ngers was a purse of gold. You could see the great coins shining througe the silk netting. She held it up to him, and all the room was still as death. I heard one great sob rise he my boy's throat, and then he lifted the child in bis arms, and stood up, holding her, straight and tall. " But he did not take the purse. 'No, darling,' he said, in a low, tender voice, so olear that everybody heard. Then he kiss- ed her and lifted one long curl from her ',nec'it; 'This is the only gold I want,', he said and looked at the child's mother with a (motion in his eyes. • .` The lady nodded, and my boy took out a little pair of scissors from his vest pocket, and out the curl off gently, and put it care- fully away. "And,.sir, if they had cheered before, what was it now? The arched ceiling rang, the gas jets flared and flickered, and the very pendants on the chandeliers dashed to- gether. "But he would not take the money— then nor afterwards. '"Ib is not ours. What can we do with it? We cannot throw it away,' the super. intendent said. "'['11 tell you, then, sir,' said Jack, at last; brakeman Sim Flaherty was killed last week. lie left a sick wife and six little children. Give the tnoney to them.' And so they did. "Now you know, sir, what the scars on my, boy's face mean to me, I read in the red marks, Faithful and true 1' and I would not have them changed foe the coat of arms of any king or any throne.' han as s e came near oohing up with shy fi Ambiguous. "And how did you like America, Count? "Ab 1 ze longer I stay away, ze better I like it." SWORDS/41N IN INDIA. , Wonderful Skill Displayed by the Alen or the East with their liken Abides. The high-claee dainaimened and exquieitely tempered blade, the ourved eirnetues of mare bard steel, and the keen tveomoas , of highly enished derability came to India, with those mighty eonquerors of the Emit, theMoJeareneedens, whoo,docendents under the, yhaterieuts and. peace-peonaotieg 13ritish rule eche no longer follow, the craft, disarm - jag heseg the preveiling regime. The coin. paretively few sword lades of sterling quality nowadays are only to be found in the palaces of loyal princes, most of them heirlooms in their armories Before the great inutiay every uative, even menial servants, carried a sword; the peasant at his plough wore the weapon of defence; so did the harmless wanderer in search of em- ploy, and the black soldier on short leave. It was a national appendage, due te the un settled state of popular,feeliege and lawless inclinations, The excited Moelern prrated and Shouted the great text of the false prophet, The Sword is the Key of Heaven and Flelae while the quiet Hindoo frequent- ed midnight meetings and brought his teg- har, or village sabre, to a razor edge. The quiet dweller in England will scarcely be. lieve the prodigies performed in sword cut- ting by these ooarse ill -looking bits of curv- ed metal; tooting no more tilers two shill- ings. The Englishmen can excel in every. thine if he chooses to master the subjeet. Not less than half a dezen, perhaps, even a dozen, have attained ascii swordsmanship with the Oriental weapon as to be aoknow- ledged champions, the title of " master of the sword" being heitowed on them by universal consent. I had shot numerous wild beasts when I was told, by an expert that my hunting education was very deficient, as I could not handle a eimiter to stop my game. I was told to exercise continually on a pillar of soft clay, and thns acquire the drawing cut at the proper part of the blade; then on a pillar loosely stuffed with cotton *hen on a newly killed wildcat or jackal, kneaded previous to the practice by the feet of a heavy man till the carcass Immune a loose, soft mass; then on a great pond carp, a fish clad with heavy horny scales, like elastic mail, considered an Al feat to test man and sword. My first trial at this experiment resulted in a triple fracture of the good blade, sundry scales flying in the air, uncut, only dislodged; then the artistic tour, de force at paper cones placed on a tables and muslin thrown up to a height—all manner of strange and difficult tasks which, being only ornamental, I eventually forsook for the useful and more easy decapitation of fierce quadrupeds, beginning with a wounded wild hog of full growth, and on essaying the sloping stroke behind the ear sweeping off the head nearly, that important part dropping between the fore feet. Not long before I had seen a bold young Ghoorka princeling dismount from his elephant, leaving it standing to await his return, and follow on foot alone an iinmense boar he had wounded with his rifle. On nearing the powerful brute it champed its foamy tusks to charge. He drew bis llookree or nepaulse sword, and as it speang at him the blade was buried across piggy's back, all but severing him in two parts. Perhaps readers will not credit my state- ment of village peasants, with sword and shield, attacking and slashing a full-grown tiger, when one of these powerful animals has strayed from the forest into their fields Yet I have often known such encounters a man or two always killed and several wounded, the tiger's'skin spoiled, too, by the long, deep out of their teghars. I saw a champion swordsman, a native soldier, who went into the rose bushes alone with no other weapon—shield on shoulder. His cuts were masterly; but the bold man was soon struck down and Beverly mauled. A crowd came tothe rescue and shot the beast the hero recovered. "The manly weapon," is its designation. In their party fights each side would swear that no other deadly arm should be used.I accordinly witness- ed one of these combats. Swordsmen, shield on arm, in twos and threes, came running to the scene of quarrel—a cow's It was an exoiting event.Olans- men were continually arriving, and every man selected Ms foe. It was grand sword play. The head, legs, and arms seemed to be the chiefpoints of attack. Being a British subject, passing through an inde- pendent State, I was obliged to gallop off as fast as my horse could go at the com- meneement of this battle. At the same time and place, near my camp, two brothers fought a duel about land. One was killed, the other well lslashed. In two or three days I passed by Demand and Supply. Why does is young man wear a siegle boatel, centre -fire ey ogles% my son? Well, because that kind oi a young man never sin. derstands 'More than half he sees, and by ehutting off one-half the spectacle he man ages to keep about half -way up with the show. Does thee savy ? Well, keep on a sevyine end if you must went, a minoele, ' keep both eyes wide open and wear 5Totir tninoclo over your mouth and you'll know more and look pbetter. off the neck of an envil—an Eastern of couree ; the Persian :sad Central 4eit4n ElVeoufleas, elegantly Watered in circular veine, game so light that a girl could use them others so heavy that height and length of arm, with breadth tit chest, were needful gifts of nature to utilize them—men like "Rob Roy" or "Mahmud Gineznie whoo halide hune below their knees. The latter notable carried au awful steel mace in preference to is weird, and smaehed idola and idolaters with his own arum on all occasions. BISHOP IIANNINGTON'S IVELJEDER. Testimony orate Eye.Witneas• The Church Missionary Society has re- ceived froin the Rev. A. Downes Shaw, Missionary at Frere Town, East Africa, the followingnarrative taken down by hina from a young Afrion Christian named Christo- pher Boston, who was with Bishop Han- nington when he was killed, but who escaped, and has only lately arrived at Frere Town :--- The Bishop was kept a prowler for seven days. We were all quite free to walk about. We had our guns, and all; the loads were left' in our house: nothing was taken away, only there was, a soldier there always to see that we did noi take anything away. On the seventh day the messengers returned from liwanga, and there was much firing of guns. We asked what the news was, and we were told that Mwanga had refused to give us permission to fp OU to Uganda, that we were to go batic the way we came, and that on the morrow we should start. We all slept well that night Abent 7 a. m. on October 29th, some soldiers canae and began to bind UB. Some of us struggled a good deal, and then those who did had their hands tied behind and were pat in wooden slave collars, but those who submitted were only tied with their hands in front. Some Wag - ands, whom eve had not previously seen (they came back with' the messengers) came and talked to us. They asked, "Who geve you permission to come this way? You have come without leave, and must return at once." About 2 p. m. the Sultan came to see us ; he had the Bishop's umbrella in Isis hand, and *hen it rained he put it up. He divided us among his soldiers, putting one of us to two soldiers, and then we were taken away, each one to the soldier's house who had charge of us. At 3p. m. we were brought out sad put together in.a line and marched off, taking a road leading in the way by which we had come. Before leaving the houses our guards had taken away our clothes and gave us pieces of bark-oloth to wrap round our loins. We were marched a long way—it took us more than two hours to reach the spot where we halted. Shortly before reaching that place we sew in front of us the Bishop and his boy Death, who carried hia chair; they were surrounded by a great many soh:tiers. Ponta, the Bishop's I coek, was with us, with leis hands tied be- Ihind him. We wane to a place where there were many trees on one side and a valley on the other. Here the Bishop was with the 'soldiers. We stopped within a few yards 1 of where he stood, and could s'ee him quite plainly. He tried to sit down but the soldiers would not let him. They began to pull his clothes off him. They, took away all his clothes and left him naked, with only his boots on. This they did, for they want- ed his clothes. Then most of the soldiers left the 'Bishop and came and stood near us. Suddenly a gun was fired off as a signal; then two soldiers, who were standing on' either side of the Bishop, stabbed him in his • sides with their spears, and he fell down on his back. . 1, Mr. shaw adds :—This narrative was taken down by me from the man himself. He knows a very little Englithe bud spoke Kiswithili. He is one of nue Frere Town boys, having years ago been releaeed train is slave dhow, trained in our scheols, and when of a suitable age, sent out to earn his living. When we were commencing our work at Taita, there was a need of promising lads to go up to assiat Mr. Wray with his work. I Christopher was one of these. When Bishop Hannington was making tip hie caravan to go to Uganda, Christopher volunteered to go. Anther fragmentary account mentioned by Mr. Mackay, confirms the above, but adds that the Bishop was on his knees in prayer when he was speared. a battle royal; the King of Onde s troops were besieging some refractory land owners who refused to pay rents. Heavy mama were booming around and musketry crack- ing ; the village swordsmen and feudal retainers, under cover of night, made many a daring sally and left the print of their teghars on Moslem limbs. I saw blood- stained bodies on rude cots being carried away to their homes. The unequalstruggle had already lasted three days, That tough and stubborn peasantry could boast that m long years they had never once been de- feated—no, not even by regular troops. Among some military trophies I once saw a very rude rusty tegliar—locally worth a shilling— which had cleanly decapitated a raw receruit, severing coat collar, brass buckle, and caste necklet of hard enamel beads. The nimblevillage rebel badsprung on the sepoy from ambush while trimming his flintlock after a Misfire. This and all the low-priced teghars and tulwars are of Very soft metal, capable of being bent and straightened across' the blade, while the arch or cutting portion, with razor edge, offers immense resistance in the hands of an expert, who, behind his shield, can watch and measure his opportunity. Only the straight thrust of British bayonets or dragoon blades on reach them. The metal and finish of cutting arms ins. prove when we enter North India. Hard steel of fine temper and high workman- ship used to be common until two Sikh wars and the great mutiny abolished the demand for such deadly wares. The Skilhli Mohammedan craftsman had to emigrate for a livelihood, or too often dwin- dled into a blacksmith of harmlees occu- pation. 1 remember in the good old thyme of the East India, Company itinerant sword peddlers, Persian :4 and .Afghans of great stature and big dirbane. "Do you want any swords ?" "Yes, but where are they ?" "Here," and the vendor's hands were lifted to his head cloth, where they groped awhile. Out sprang three or four shining steel snakes, elastic blades, unhandled a in triode, E20 to ,850 each in value, sometitnea more, then the dealer put them through various severe tests to satisfy his enstotner, peeking them away again in their hiding place should there be no sale, and going on his road. But there were many shapes and sizes and sorts of chnoters of great price, harder and less flatibles both plebe an fiaMaSCEX1d. The Meek steel of KhOras- On, very rare in the market, reputed to cut A Russian's Knowledge of Oavalry. aol. Sulehotin, who wants the Russian army to be turned into hordes of cavalry like those of Tamerlane and Genghis Khan, has contributed to a Russian military maga- zine an able paper ou the American cavalry during the war of secession. Therein we discover some of the motives which induced the recent transformation of the Russian cavalry hate dragoons. But as that war was waged between masses of uutrained horsemen, it is highly improbable that its lessons should apply to the conditioits of a European conflict. The Americans on both sides preferred the revolver in the melee to the sabre or lance; but why? Bemuse their troopers were not good enough horsemen to use the cold steel with effect. A Federal lancer regiment, 700 strong, being routed, rohught only twenty lances with them out obf te fray, and it is a patent fact that the sabre, in the hands of a tiro, is more danger- ous to his charger's ears than to his antago- nist. In addition( untrained soldiers sadly ill-use and neglect their horses. Experience taught the Federal Government that its cavalry, under an enterprising leader, had to be remounted throughout every four months! The cavalry belonging to the Army of the Potomac, averaging 12,000 strong, were supplied with 35,078 remounts within six months. Rigorous measures were taken to compel the men to spare their horses. A trooper ,,aalloping through al street of Washington, being called upon by a sentry to moderate his pace, was shot deed on refusing to obey. Whole rhements were turned into infantry for persistent negleet of their horses. Sheridan,s aosertion that 10,000 horses should be able to prevent the concentration of 100,000 men was based on the assumption that he could at the outset overwhelm the cavalrysof the enemy with the fire of dragoons or mounted infantry; and upon a belief in it Russia seems to have staked its existence as a leading military power. Salt brine is used in Sheffield, Eng., for hardening steel, says eia exchange. The mixture improvee with age. and use, and to such en extent that its value is largely in- creased. In some cases these tanks are fifty years old, and have is value in proportion to their age. It appears that the constant dip- ping of the hot metal into the same solution alters in some way its character. M, Wroblewski has made a successful ap- plication of the electric light to the magic - lantern projection of opaque objects. In the midst of darkness is strong light is con- centrated on the object, which becomes in- tensely illuminated, and its picture may be thrown upon the canvas with the colors lully brought out and even made more bril. ASSASSIN GUITZAIPS ANAT,REMA. Remarkable Succeasion otlibifortenee That Have VoiloWeil ills Withering Curse. After the assassin Guiteau hoxl been eort• victed and sentenced by the Court to be hanged for killiug President Garfield, he stood up in his place and pronounced a withering curse en evei y one connected with the trial. Little was thought of it at the time. It was regarded ass a fitting climax of his ravings throughout that re- markable case, Guiteau (Iceland that Mile. fortune would attend every one connected with his trial. Since then Guiteau's mese has inapressed itself upon the rnindsof super- stitious people by the singular manner in which it has apparently been fulfilled. The jury was composed of twelve stroll healthy men, The foreman was in ooreforf g able circumstances and was estimated to be worth $50,000. Within a year after the trial he lost his money and is now reduced to the level of a day laborer. Four rnemberp of the jury are dead, and nearly every one has been visited with schne kind of misfortune. Distript-Attorney George 13, Carkhill was removed from, °lace, his wife died and his own death followed. before the end of another year. Mn. Scoville, Guitean's brother-in-law, who witii Chailee H. 'Peed defended the priestlier, wa,A divogeled from his wife and lost all of hissproperty. President Arther' who refused to grant a pardon or new trialto Guiteau, was defeat- ed for renomiation and slowly failed in health, and died last winter, Mr. Blaine, who was witness against Guiteau'was nominated for President, but defeated. John. A Logan, another witness, is now dead, stricken down in apparent health. Dr. D. W. Bias, Garfield's physician, has been in very poor health for twee years, and it is thought that he will never be a well man again. David Davis, who appeared as a witness, has also joined the great majority. Judge John L Porter, of New York, one of the Government counsel in the case, has practically retired from the practice of his profession. lahe Guards who kept watch over Guiteau in the jail have nearly all lost their poi- tio ns. Judge Cox, who presided over the trial, lost his wife. The downward career of Charles H. Reed's, of Guiteau's counsel, which culminated in New York by his attempting to take his own life, adds another name to the list of victims of Guiteau's anathema. The only conspicuous exception isd found in Walter Davidge, of the Government counsel in the case. Mr. Davidge, has ap- parently been snore prosperous since the trial than before. He stands at the head of the Washington bar. The defeat of the Republican party in 1884 recalls the fact that Guiteau predicted its defeat. .An Episode of a Dentist Chair. One of the familiar effects of either is to make the patient talk ramblingly of what- ever may he passing in the mind. Charley Smith has a dear little girl, whom he thinks the world of, and minor has it that the two will shortly be made one. Charley- had an errand to perform on Wednesday, about ten o'clock, and while coining down W—strett whom should he meet but Nelly. The poor little thing cut an awful appearance, though, and the woe -begone tear -stained face peep- ing out from the miufflers struck terror to his heart. She had been up most of the night with a terrible toothache, and wouldn't Charley go to the dentist with her 1 She prefered ether to gas ,and the accommodating dentist satur- ated a cloth with the stuff and held it under the little red nose. She gaspe,d a bit, but soon settleown quietly, her ruby lips parted, and she began at once prattling away like a sleeping baby. Charley was standing just beside the chair, when she murmured, "Oh, Charley, don't." Charley lookedeup at the dentist, down at himself, aud—" Mother will see,you, Charier ; please don't." The dentist smiled grimlyChar- , ley's eyes began to bulge, and—" Charley, you kissed my ear that time," murmured the sleeping maiden, "and—" The rest was lost on Charley, who had grabbed his hat and started down the stairs, two steps at a time. Charleyhad to pluck up a deal of courage to present himself at Nellie's house that night and explain his sudden departure, and money won't induce him to pass by that dentist's shop. Flog Them. Every now ana then the community is outraged and disgusted by violent and brutal assaults upon little girls who are some- times little more than absolutely infants, and generally if not always exceedingly young and utterly unable to offer any resist- ance. Now this sort c f work xnust not be allowed to continue. lf no other remedy such scoundrels must be lynched, and lynched in such a way as that they shall • never do anybody any more harm. But such lynching is not necessary. Let our judges do their duty and sentence such ruffians in every case to a good hearty series of floggings, and we are convince& the evil will be speedily abated. Flogging, of tours°, is no better than it is called, but in any case our girls, and especially our little girls, must be made safe fronreuch fellows. Even though some of them should die un- der the lash, what altho' ? The world would be none the poorer for their depart- ure and their decease might read a whole- some lesson to those inclined to folfow in their ways. In any case, whether for life or for death let them go threugh the mill. If they live they may profit by the discipline. If they die they will never be missed. Either way the advantage is clear- ly in favor of the cat and any number of tails. A Practical Bummer , They at on the upturned bottom of a broken heal... The silvered path of glory stretched across the,restless waters up near- ly to their feet. They had fallen into si- lence. 1•T o moment was it then to speak of baseball or of scandal. He was overcome with that tender passion which thrives in moonlight. That glorious moonlight that levels all domplexions and makes the freckl- ed girl as pretty as the rose-cheeked anai- den I The happy moonlight under whose mystic influence lovers take bliss in by the peres. He grew fervent. He clasped her hand. She gave him back a gentle pres. sure. "Tell me," he whispered, with the hoarseness of emotion, whispered as if he feared the murmuring surf might ceteh the question and bear it to some other ears. Tell me, have you ever loved ?" She trembled. She hesitated for a mo- ment, and he thought he felt her blushes glow into his eyes. She trembled, and in a still, soft 'Whieper, gentle as the Suirdner bl'eeze, answered Not this Summer."