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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1905-4-6, Page 6• � r jY A LIFE } •j FOR A LOVE 'M;YaN� 4.:Y1•Y:ftY:Y.OY:Y;Y:Y9Y;.4 �.� �.�• R �Y "Comrades, your earrst I hese news!" The elan pacing np and dawn the little apartment Like som° caged lion made a sudden halt. roe the hundredth time he seemed to bear the ringing words, to neo the Jong, low rr 1 n with its score et men, anti the leashing tire in old 130rovsey's eyes. "Too long hare tyranny and hate held sway; too long the workers have been crushed under the iron beel of the despot. It is time to strike another blow 111 the glorious cause of freedom!" Then, in Quick succession, those other few fateful words; the (Tim ballot that for an Instant held even the boldest rigidly quiet; and the Instant shout that went up as he, Cecil Andrews, withdrew his hand from the hat of destiny. Ho heard it new, "L'Anglais! L'Anglais! He has it the short straw! Halal" The wolfish eyes grew wilder -look- ing, the strident voices harsher. Few liked him, the Englishman, who was only half ones of themselves, and who cared not for vodka or the cup of "hrlce-blessed koumiss, Tho rest was but a dream -a series of patchy, smudged impressions that bore no semblance to reality. He bad lingered a few moments after the others, as he had been told; had heard dimly, only Bald comprehend- ing, the eouncil's brief instructions and the admonition to be wary, cou- pled with that final, fateful intima- tion, "Kirschofi will watch!" and then, like some tipsy reveller, lie had staggered through the streets home, Home: A miserable garret, half furnished, that knew little air and less sun -a fit corollary to the rest. Reaching it, he hung himself across the becl in that first wild frenzy of despair, and lay there beating out in shadowy silence the horror and the shame of it. Five years ago elignon and happi- ness: now -this. It was incredible, unthinkable, that so much could have happened in so short a time. Back over it all he went, from that drat faint creeping of the shadow in- to their lives, the cite word that merged into high. bitter recrimina- tion, to the blind. mad rage that urged hint at last to fly England and the whole of it, and seek ob- livion In the larger world outside. Forget! The mockery of the word! Forget! -with that pathetic little figure in the porch of the old Devonshere vicarage always before his vision; with those wistful grey eyes haunting hire at every turn! As well might he have tried. to for- get the sky was blue; that April fol- lowed March! Al! A knock on the door, a tim- id, inquiring summons, and he had sprung up hastily, trashed the suspi- cious moisture from his eyes, and when the woman entered was the calm, strong min she head always known. "Meal" She came towards him like some stately Royal queen, tall and proud of bearing, with the masses of 'rich', red hair falling in riotous profusion over ha white neck and shoulders. "Mv friend! My poor,Po or friend!" Only that; but for the second they stood on a higher plane than this of earth, their souls meeting in their eyes. "So you havehe said, " s id , niter e theu Y i uta se "es, the e o t has fallen to me: sooner or later it was bound to come. To -night, at two o'clock', it is to happen, outside his house. Till then we may make merry.'' "lint you will not wait?" She dreww 1 a ay with eyes that seemed to search hIln through and through. "You cannot-- Ah, no; it is im- pessible! You will escape. I have came to help!" "Escnpe!" The shrug was expree- sive, "How? Of what use to try? You know the rule: another is ap- pointed to watch until the thing is done, and Kirsch'o!I lifts been chosen. He will not forget." "Kirschol'!" The lustrous eyes blazed fortis in sudden fury. "Yes, 1 know! He hates you because he thinks that but for you I should— Bali! do not let us talk of it!" she broke off, suddenly. "Time is preci- ous; we have wasted too much al- ready. I have brought clothes, a wig -see! We are to change places, you and I. Ten minutes more and tinea Kralcenovntch is gone. Kirschoff will not think to follow her, for he is busy; a surly "good -night' is all the challenge he will give. And hove Cecil Andrews waits waits till mid- night Is far gone, and the real An- drews well beyond their reach!" She stopped abruptly -was refusal writ- 1.cm in that strange set face? "You '!o tot speak, my friend. Wiiyv. Is not the plan a good one?" "lima, no snore!" The man's voice trembled. "Yon tempt sae to fee:get-to Say the word that would unman me. I carrot accept. Think of yotn'scll"-1h'eir fury afterwards!" "Myeelf!" Proudly she drew her - Pelf to her full height. "Do you think that I Gilt afraid -I? Bah! Gladly Would I set' - the whole of them at beyl I am angry --angry 'with all of it. A father I have lost, a brother too; what of it? They were Ttussian; they fought tor free - done and paid the price. You!"-- ehe drew a qutdk, deep breath -"ab. but it is different! You are tricked into joining the brotrerhood; yes, tricked. T know it, '1'Hey thought you had monay, knowledge that: Would be 1100(111 to then. Oh, Cecil, waste nn rinote time, I implore 370u1 Think of her of whom yen have told me! She le slid waiting, Weeping 'Chat 3'otf tee not Obit; I first stere of Trust me; one woman's heart can read another's. Think!" Think! He turned away suddenly, the blinding tears welling In his eyes. Aye, he had thought -often! His mind weat to the little lock of hair and the tiny glove with its still-lb:Ker'ing scent of lavender; he remembered how this majestic, glori- ous -eyed woman heal once seen them, read their story in a glaece, and given 11in1 a friendship all the nobler, all the higher, ever since because of them. Tbink! He took her !lands, drew the trembling figure closer. "lima, you aro good to me, but - but you ask the Impossible! I leave thought and thought; and there is no way out. My own folly has brought ane where 1 stand; my word is pledged, and 1 cannot go Pack. I do not approve; 1 condemn, abhor, despise; but I have promised, Yon 110deist and''" tinder%tont! Swiftly she tore her- self apart, the great shaking soba rising In ]ler throat till they were like to choke her. Heavens, how she ( loved hint, this big Englishman! She looked at him again -so calm, brave, inflexible. No. She had made her effort-faiic'tl; it was alt ended. Site stood just the moment like one daz- ed; then gathering herself together (she crept softly away with never an- other word, leaving hint alone once more with the shame and the horror of it, * * r * • r Twelve: The Hurn crouched awk- wardly in the shadow of the narrow doorway shifted his position for greater ease anti counted out the strokes with grim satisfaction, Soon it would be one o'clock, then two- ahl It was cold -so cold that the breath of hint struck white on the frosty air, and his limbs were stile and cramped; but of that he reeked little. In his heart was a fire that burned fiercely. Since nightfall he had waited and watched patiently under the twinkling stars for a sign, a movement Prom the house within; surely he would never stay to carry out the plan, this mad Englishman! H'e would try to slip away, to. elude his vigilance -his, KirschotT's; and then how sweet would 130 the rest! One swiftwsudden blow; and the past would be wiped out beyond. But there had been nothing, not even a whisper, only the rustle of a woman's dress, and a biting, scorn- ful glance ns she swept by that tli"iilee hire with tlie minute's desire to strike now -Here -unci kill the pair of them! P'ff how his fingers had tingled! It was absurd -child- ish; to wait would be to wound her far deeper. Of a surety this clean - faced Englislrnean was mad to stay! One! The big, deep boom of the bell rolled out into the night, rous- ing echoes of itself that leaped from wall to wall in dyiug; and then all was quiet again. Out there in the starry silence the man still crouch- ed -still waited and watched with eyes that never closed and ears pre- tm'naturt,lly sharp; but his heart throbbed faster now. Only another moment or so! The ghostly shoe dews trembled to his thinking;" the very eh: seemed quivering with ex- citement. Now the door had opened, tenta- tively at first, then wider. He had stepped out, a grey, emuffled 'figure that huddled up to the frost -crystal - led wales just the one hesitating in- stant. At last! The lust act in Cecil Andrew's dra- ma of life had begun; he had edged into the shadow and was sidling slowly onward, the cat -like figure in the rear following every step. Failure Y P was impossible if he carried out their kluns; it was all so simple, o dia- bolically exact. The Minister was at the Imperial Palace: doubtless even now he was gaily chatting with low -voiced women or drinking brim. - ming tempers tnthe health of the mighty Czar, all unconscious of the doom that waited for him, At two o'clock he would leave; his carriage would rumble heavily through the silent streets; and at the precise mo- ment•• door of reaching own on d there r would be- what? He shuddered. A deafening roar, a flash of wiiite, blinding flame, the sound of shiver- ing fragments of failing debris all round -chaos! And he, Cecil. An- drews, son of respectable, God-fear- ing English parents, would be that accursed thing, an assassin. 1pixotic to carry it so far -yes, But it was the nature of the 1nan. An oath was art oath; he had pledg- ed himself, and this was punishment -just, inevitable, bitter punishment, The Fates grant one thing-th'ett he might be overwhelmed in the shock and not live to see the rest! And then, without his knowing holy it had Happened, she was beside him, her hand on his arta, that flood of wild, eager entreaty thrilling on her lips. "Cecil, this muss; end Here! Not another yard, another step, if you are my friend! I forbid it! Go back! Them is still time; I will guide you en f ely—" "Timm enough!" That queer little break in his voice, 'Chis is madness -ge ernes mad folly! It is you should go back, not h You do not, reatirei Lven I1O1V we 1110, he watched ---are watched. There is clanger--" • "T know!" came back the steady whisper, "'1 will share it!" The long, dark lashes quivered' she was clasping his Band in an intensity of feeling, And then those few words that meant so much failing from her lips like angel -whispers. "Cecil, for- give me! I could not see ,you sacri- ficed, 1' have been to the Pi'afea tune; they are arrested, a have a safe-conduet for you over the fron- tier if only you will be gena by morning! You will' For my sake!" Just 'for the Instant it seemed as if he could neVor accept as if honor cried ten timer; the more loudly now for the thing to go through. But with that dawning vista of freedom, that . swift transformation• from dreary, hopelese night to radians, day, came the other tend the trier uaolerstanctieg; he must, TO pe1'- 51013 would be absurd, "You have done that!" Only a Whisper; a reverent, awe-struck whls- per. Too wonderful fpr wordsl lona, what cam I say? You give nue more tllaln life -hope, the chance for atonement, salvation itself. One thing! Yourself'? What of you af- terwards?" '4 st!" Sho laid a firigcr to his lips. "Do not fosr! 1 have thought. of its 1 shall go away -to Switzer- land, perhaps. I am tired of this; the never-ending strife, the ceaseless swirl of rage and hate. I want peace. Do rot fear for 311e!" She had loosed his hand; they walked slowly, thrilled each with a happiness that was complete ab- sorbed, uncatculeting. Too soon, the awakening -yes. Only a few paces, with no 11in't, no suspicion of the lurking terror in the slim passage beyond; and then it came upon them like 80111e choking' nightmare, Kirs- e1,off! They had forgotten! "Trailer!" The solitary wort!, flung one man to the other, and the woman's whirr pered prayer; then they closed and the struggle of a lifetime begun. Side to side they swayed like wind-blown saplings. now this gaining an inch now that; each measuring the other's weak points and seeking warily a sourer grip. Andrews set his teeth in grim resolve; the memory of old, nigh -forgotten wrestling days cane back, Ile tried a feint, slipped, re- covered like lightning, add was (r3(85ing home the advantage in a flash. Fatal to a lighter man, the other only shifted ground just slight - 1y, taken by the suddenness of the thing; and a gleam. of savage teeth showed that the trick had no 113 01'0 worth. Now they were almost back to back, the straining muscles stan(ling up like whipcord and the beady fore- heads glistening in the ',lull light. A heart -beat's pause, and then a sud- den wrench, a twist of the thick -set trunk, showed what Kirschen' was trying to do. The -the bombl lie had felt the bulky package -divined the truth in an instant. 0110 hand free, and he would risk anything, everything, to grope wildly for it, press the spring that set In !notion the clockwork. Andrew's heart beat wildly. Come whatever else, that must, never happen! Ile straightened hieneelf-a supe' - human swerve. Suddenly, with no hint of warning, his right hand shot out -was gripping tlie knotty throat so tight that it seemed as if the staring eyeballs must start from their sockets, His knee pressed hard upon the other's chest ugh! Only an iestan•t, but it sufficed. Pru had managed to dig it out -to let it slide gently, harmlessly to the ground. "lima!" he jerked, "Ilmal That -the river!" She understood. It vanished into the black, inky waters, and he gasped a sigh of relief. But the effort had tired hixn;, the struggle seemed inter- minable. Two more minutes -three. His breath was' only a series of -jerks; the tired muscles seemed to crack with every change of poise. All at once he faltered -no feint this time; and quick as lightning Kiesclioef seized the chance. He saw the arm go up, the hot breath was on his face, there was a mocking smile, the gleam of a descending knife, and -no more. No, not the merest. scratch. Only a muffled little cry -the crash of the two falling to- gether, and him standing there with wonder and a growing, lg. 6aim' f g tea in itis heart. For she hast wrenched him suddenly free; her breast had gathered the thrust intended for bis. She was down there on the rough stones with the red stream trickling faster, faster every second. A sud- den blind tory seized him. "Curse you!" he hissed. "Curse you, you hound, you miserable cur!" 1fe threw hr+t v himself at the man in a last desperate effort, a frenzied burst of strength that came he lcnew not whence, The brute lay suddenly still. "limn!" He was bending over her, an agony of fear now run- ning through him, "lima. speak! Open your eyes•! Only a word, a whisper, any brave ;•i•,•1, to tell me you are not hurt mach! Ah!" "Not mneela" it just reached hint, that tank, unsteady whisper, "Not much, Cecil -trial you are sate now!" She e essed his hand feebly, shrew him clean'. "Kiss me! The Pass- port! Take it, A life for a love! You mast be happy in England, ,you and your .11fienorn! Promise!" The whisper grew fainter; trailed off into noth if a * x * x An oblong, grass -grown mound; a. man and ar tvonlan, misty -eyed, look- ing at it. "This is her grave!" he hail whispered, humbly, ' 'A life for a love' wee(' he' words. Her Me- ant! your love!" Suddenly he beret down, took the sweotsneelling ',low- ers from his cont, and laid them ten- derly on the green turf; and the wo- man, stooping after him, kissed then rose with a little ery of pain. Then turned and walked silently towa',ts the1 weave sunset:—London Tit -faits, OFFICIAL SEALING WAX. The different important State doc- uments are sealed with different var- ieties of sealing wax, according to the ofllee from which they emanate. For instance, the wax used for the Great Seal of England is whitish in color, and is' compounded of oils old balCnlns from a recipe kept in the Lord Chancellors' uflice, The wax of the Great Seal and Privy Seal of Scotland is a eonn(Ound of rosin and beeswax, colored with vertnillion, which is a bright red sulphide of mercury. The Exchequer Seal is made of green wax, and le consider- a!bl'y softer than ordinary sealing wax, . keeeseeleeeife ilQ't@tQl46Q About the ....House leleeuleblealeaaleaaareleinlinliele ABOUT A.,RAM, It is not always an easy matter for an inexperienced cools to boil a ham so that, while perfectly well done, it is not in the least ragged or stringy, and will cut to excellent advantage, Neither is it possible to formulate an infallible rule for the cooking. Some cooks weigh the ham and putting it into cold water, wait until It boils, and then time it 111 - teen or twenty minutes for each Penn•(, But oven this rule sometimes fails, for the ham may cook more quickly under certain conditions than others, But In case the haul must be boil- ed, it is well to plunge it in cold water enough to cover it well, bring it gently to a boil, and then cook it slowly, being sure that it never gets off the boil, but being equally careful at no time to let it boil furiously. Twenty minutes for each pound, cooked according to these directions, should bring the hang out in good condition. Ent a housekeeper who has had trouble with boiling hams, say's she will never boil another. She has been experimenting and has come to the paradoxical conclusion that a boiled hang is best baked. She uses first of all caro In the selection of the Tram which rhe is going to cook. Next she trims off the outer skin and the back with a sharp knife. Then she Brakes a biscuit dough which will be large enough when rolled out to the thickness of about an inch completely to envelope the ham. This dough is rolled out, and the haat laid on it. The edges are wetted, folded over, and carefully pinched together, so that there Is not any possible way for the steam to escape. Then the haat is laid In a baking pan and put into a moderately !tot oven. It is baked for three boars, care being taken to keep the heat uniform, At the end of that time it is taken out, stripped of its cover of biscuit dough, which has become brown and hard, and set aside to cool. The woman who cooks her ham this ?'firm• says It is far and away better than a boiled ono, for the dough keeps in the fine flavor of the liana, some of which is bound to be lost in the boiling. I remember an old lady who kept a delicatessen store years ago, writes a correspondent, who invariably boiled her ham for two Hours took it from the pot, cut ofT the skin, sprinkled the fat part with grated bread crumbs, and then put the ham back into a moderately hot oven for an hour, It tasted and cut much better than a haul which had been boiled all the time. If you wish to use a. whole ham boiled for the table, and can put it on cold, it is nice to have it prettily decorated. You might bake the ham as described above. Then you must be sure that it is thoroughly cold before beginning to make it look pretty for the table. Beforehand you should have prepared a thick glaze by taking a pound of good, lean beef, putting it in an earthen jar 131111 a half cupful of water, put- ting the cower on the jar, and seal- ing up the hole, through which the steam is usually allowed to escape, w' nthi f bread bit o or biscuit dough, or by putting uttin a whole cover of the dough over the pot. Place this in the oven, which should not be too hot, and leave it four or five hours. Take it out, remove the meat, put the cover on the pot,and return it to the oven, leaving it till there is not over ball a coffee cupful of liquid. left in the pot. This is to be used as a glaze for the ham, and should be brushed all over the top of the 110111 while the glaze is warns. If the ham is quite cold theglaze az e will set quickly, and when it is dry a second coating should he put over it, re- peating till the ham is smooth, brown and glossy, 'A. small camel's Bair brush can be used to put the glaze on. Put the ham away till the glaze is quite cold. Then it is ready for de- coration. Professional Cooke use for. this butter which has been worked until white, but it must be kept cold during the process, .or it will got too soft. The butter can be used, white or colored with the harmless vegetable colorings, pink and green, Combinations cef all three Colors are sometimes effectively used. :fake stout, white paper, and roll It into o cornucopia, closed entirely at the small end, A. little bit can be clipped off the end, and the corn- ucopia filled with the butter, and the top folded down. By gently squeezing tho butter can be made to run out in a thin stream, and this is oases! to make all ]rinds of fanciful designs on the glazed surface of the ham. Very pretty work can be ac- hieved by practicing on a piece of clean, thin board before beginning work on the ham, A grape -vine, with clusters of grapes, borders of lattice work anti dots, clots of all sizes, circles, stars, and many other designs, tome easily, even to the novice, When the work is complete the ham is put covey in a cold place to give the butte' a chance to harden, 1t is usually sent to the table with a del- icate tissue paper frill around the shank end. 1f you have boiled a ham to make eandwlehes, be careful not tocut it until it is stone cold. Then you meet, have the sharpest knives, and for ideal results, the ham should be shaved ratite'' than . cut in slices, There are tome people who like ttvo thick slices of -bread with a good Oh, tradesman, in thine hour of 0 0 0, slice of !ram between, but there are If on this paper you should e00, ethers who appreciate a dainty sand - Take our advice and now bo y y 31, With carefully made. The bread for Go straight ahead anti advert 111. 5uc13 an one should be home-made, You'll rind Hie project of Mlle u tr u; • baked in small, long tins, and about Ncgleet ran offer ne ex a [11, twenty -fon' hours' o111. It sheltie be Ile wise tie once, prolong your era a a, cert Very thin, SO that the whole A 111rnt 11315in(58 smell do k lc 1c, bread, butter and hale, together ill not thicker than an ordinory slice al bread, Then It should be carefully spread with good buttar, wbici3 must not be hard, but should not be ac- tually melting, Cover ono slice of the bread with the ham, lay another over it, and press down. Cut the slice across, corn0rw'ays. It le not necessary to remove the crusts, if the bread is home-made, not stale, and cut thin, If the sandwiches are going on a plonk:, or for a lunch, where they will have to be ]sept some time before eating, wrap each one In a bit of waxed paper, and put them In a tin or air -tight box. You can vary these by putting a thin crisp lettuce leaf in with the ham, and adding to ea0h a half a teaspoon- ful of mayonnaise dressing, or you can rase the dressing without the let- tuce, EXPERIENCE, EXTRACTS, Here are a number of valuable suggestions for keeping the air of the house pure: Plenty of sunlight. Ar d y cellar at all times. Frepuent inspection of plumbing. Open war against the feather dus- ter. A thorough daily airing of each room. Shaking and brushing clothing out-of-doors. Opening windows at night; dis- carding weather-strips. The use of stained floors and rugs in preference to carpets. Daily airing and occasional beat- ing of mattreslles and blankets. Removal from the bedroom at night of clothing worn during the day, - Little furniture and no uncovered vessels containing soiled water in the bedroom, WORLD'S TALLEST MAN 9 FEET S; INCHES TALL, AND WEIGHS OVER 448 LBS. Something About the Russian Giant Now on Exhibition in London. There is at the present time on ex- hibition at the London Hippodrome e, giant who, for height, weight, and bulk, has, 3311311out question, beaten all known records. His name is Ustus Machnow, and twenty-four years ago, at which time he was horn at Charkale, in Russia, it was never expected that he would grow uP at all, still less that he would rise in the world to the extent that he has done. His present height is 9ft. 81in., and he is stated to be still growing, and to have gained half an inch in the last year. His head measures three-quarters of a yard round, he is 5ft. round the chest, and each hand, from wrist to finger-tips, measures 311. His weight is a little over 448 lbs. His legs are nearly the length of an ordinary mat's height, and ifs boots are 2ft. 9in. in length. FIis clothes are necessarily enormous; 111s frock -coat would al- most carpet a room, and a child of six or seven years old disappears entirely when put into his overcoat pocket. On the fingers of one of his immense hands he wears a gold ring, through which a large lieu's egg will Pass. It weighs nearly half a pound. At the Hippodrome the giant makes many friends. He is so tall that a he stands on the ground d floor among tite stalls and shakes hands with the per5ons up IN THE DRESS CIRCLE. "'That' nothing s not a wonderful 101' me ' g he remarked afterwards writ- er. cels h •i a c s to town e•, "I have an extensive reach,' for each of my arms measures clearly 6 feet, and I have often, when walking along the street, shaken hands with peo le at the first -floor windows. This, of course was inP laces where 1 was not exhibiting; in fact, before 1: began doing so. "Also, 1 have often lighted my cigar at street lamp -posts, which 1 can reach .easily. At lawn tennis 1 can stand in the hook courts and la' all play thestrokes that are .close up et the net. At 000 lime I used to play- football a little. I couldn't run very well, as 1 weigh over 448 ahs„ so 1 was invariably made goal- keeper, arnd I can assure you no football ever got past my, hands or feet. My brothers used to say that C filled up all the space between the goal -posts. "1 require about twelve flours' 510e]1, and eat ravenously. For breakfast I have two quartern loaves 11b, of butter, two quarts of mills, and a dozen eggs; and the same for rapper, When I limppeo to he stay- ing where I can got them I intend to have a couple of ostrich eggs, which would be less trouble than a lot of little eggs, 1 lunch on 91b'. of meat and bread and vegetables and a quart of beer, and for dinner I have 5113. of meat, 7111 of potatoes, a large-sized apple pie, and HALF A GALLON OF BEER, So it costs me a lot to live, and no- body invites me to come and Stay with them for a week, "1 can't suggest what made me the size I am, nor can I give your treaders the recipe My father and mother and brothe's were only of normal height. I always had lofty ideas, though, even as a child, and, like most youngsters, I was very anxious to be tali. I used to swing by my hands from the ?'nags of a ladder and from beans in the stable, hoping to lengthen tnyself, o,id I always lay at full length in bed, so as to grow. And after all, you .see I needn't have bothered. "Curiously etiotrgh, however, I 'PISS rather small at first. In fact, for 111e first few years, though I had a big head, I grow so little that some- times my mother was rather wore clod about it. " 'I do believe that boy's going to be a dwarf, Cho said. My father's only reply was, 'I wish he'd eat like one, diet,' for 01y appetite was even at that time very large. After o. while, however, I bogalt to grow so rapidly that my mother became et111 1110re uneasy.,:. "'I do behove that boy's going to be a gin tee tem exclaimed. My father said, 'There le no pleasing you, anyway,' but 0137 ntother'e anxe iety was not to bo wondered at, for cu my ninth birthday I WAS lilt- lain. HIGH, and I had to lift her up to pencil My height on the wall, which for many years had been her prneliee as we children grow taller. "I am harried now and have one child, a baby of three months, who, like my wife, hi of merely normal size. 1 could have married scores of times, for In various cities where I Have exhibited 1 have had quite an abated number of letters from ladles of all ages containing proposals of marriage, and often enclosing poetry and flowers. "People often ask nut if 1 wouldn't prefer to be of the normal size. Well, no I wouldn't. For one thing, I should be a mere nobody instead of a soft of celebrity, and should probably be earning 510 a weelc in- stead of 51,000, which is my salary in most cities, And It's a useful thing to bo tall sometimes -in an orchard at apple -gathering time for insn "Severtace, al years ago when skating it enabled me to save three or four persons' lives. The ice broke --I don't ]snow whether it was my fault -and several of us went into the water, which was 711. standing on the bottom with the water only about up to my chest, but everybody else was submerged. I pulled four people mot one after another without much difficulty, but when I tried to get out myself I found it was hope- less, as the ice kept breaking away at each attempt. So ultimately - 1 broke it all up in front of me, mak- ing a channel through which I WALKED TO THE BANK, "In many ways being a giant is decidedly inconvenient, If I sit on an ordinary chair it breaks, and if I tread on a friend's toe he is my friend no longer. I hate going up or down stairs, for the steps aro so small that I can scarcely get any foothold, and they creak under my weight. I should sink or capsize any rowing boat, and a cab is an im- possibility. So is the 'Twopenny Tube.' When I travel by train I have a saloon carriage all to my- self, with the tables and chairs re- moved, and in the streets, as you know, I ride in a pantechnicon, and on hoard ship, as I cannot get into any of the berths, I sleep on :deck like an elephant. Here in London I manage as best I can, I sleep In five beds at once, placed side by side, and I lie across them, and I general- ly sit on two chafes with a.- board placed across and a cushion on it, When I am shaved or have my hair cut I sit on the door, "I have the greatest difficulty in getting• anything big enough for me. For instance, my, eyes are too wide apart for me to look through ordin- ary field or opera glasses, which I use when at sea, ate., and they had to bo specially made. So were my cigarettes, which are the size of or- dinary tallow candles. My tobacco - pipe holds one ounce. I can play the piano pretty web, though some people say I thump, but that also had to bo specially made, with the keyboard about three times: the usual length, and EVERY KEY Sin. WIDE. On an ordinary sized piano it would be impossible for me to put my fin- gers on the ke3•s without striking two notes at once, "At !tome in Russia 1 have had an ordinary dwelling -house enlarged 6cd f r my use. The ceilings are now 2011, high and doors 12ft., and so on. At first, as I didn't know holy long I might stay there, I tried to live in it with u o t alteration. a wt. Eut I found i ' t impossible, impussable, and as the ceiling of my sitting -room wee a very low one I couldn't stand up in it. So I ask- ed the landlord to have it removed, At first he refused, but on my as - b surin'• him I would the e la rent Place p permanently for years he said he would meet me half -way; and so he dict "He was rather en eccentric man, and I fancy he did it for a joke; but, anyhow, what he did was this. He removed exactly half the ceiling, but nothing would fdUCe him t0 1 e - move the other half. He said I could use it as a shelf, So I tried it for about a week, and found it more comfortable than before, but it was rather queer, When I stood up my feet were downstairs in the sitting - room and my head was upstairs in the bedroom, 1n fact, I could stand on' the ground floor and look out of the bedroom window. "'Tho landlord suggested that I 81013111 have inn dinner laid w1 the remaining half of tete bedroom floor, and 3380 it as a 1(110, and stand up to my meals; but I thought the ser- vant would probably object to carry- agreeing meals upstairs for a man who dIownstnh's, so I didn't adopt his suggcsllon. After a week, on 1137 agreeing to a higher cont, lie remov- ed the rest of the ceiling (or floor), and then 7 was quite cmnforeable. I think now I've given you some idea of what we giants have to put up with." -London Tit -Bits. TO WHAT PURPOSE? Some years ago a young but am- bitious M.P., having longresolved upon attempting 50nne speech which should nstonidh the Mese, at last rose solemnly, an'l after three loud "Aherne l ' epok0 as follows:- "Mr. Speaker, have we laws, or Have we not latae? If .160 have laws, and they aro not observed, to what end were those laws made?" So saying, he sat down, his Memel, 50011ng high with conscious import- ance. The Mese woe somewhat n0npluseed at this novel address, when another member, whose reputa- tion as a wag eto0d hitn in good stead, rose, and 'delivered his thoughts in thole) w0r'det- "Mr. Speaker, 'did the honorable gentleman who spoke last speak to the purpose, or not, to the pnrlf0sea If ho did net speak to the purpose, to what purpose did he speak?" "'Nino carne out ahead in that street i'ety between lliolely and Mule fly?" "Tlluflly did, but he had nears 137 hall a street fm' a Wart." FINGER PRINT IN BANKS WILL BE USED AS MEANS OF IDENTIFICATION, One Chicago Institution Will Adopt It -Marks Will be Kept on Ledgers, The finger print as a means: of identification is 111 a fair way to be adopted by at least one Chicago bank, which, after a thorough inves- tigation of Ole system, oonslders it the most dependable method of iden- tification, says the Chicago Inter- 0cean, The new syetem will create a revolution i11 J)ooldectopinsg, for in- stead of an alphabetical classification of signatures, such as the banks now have, they )rust adopt a scientiflo classification of finger prints. And here a new field opens up for the man with sharp eyes. The finger marks, or rather thumb marks, the key to the Chicago eystom, of the bank's 'depositors, which number many thousands, must bo. arranged in a scientific clasaifioation, and it will require an expert to do 1't. GOOD SAFEGUARD. This new system of identification, while not an altogether simple thing for the bank employes who must ar- range and keep it, is for the deposi- tor ono of the surest safeguards. At present, when a man opens an ac- count with a 'bank, he signts his name in a book or upon a card, and this foams not only his means of identi- fication, but is as well the bank's only safeguard against the forger. With the thumb marl: ovate= of iden- tification, the depositor will leave his thumb marl: upon a card or a Page of the depositor's ledger. If there is any question as to his iden- tity at any time he appears at the bank, lie has only to make a new thumb mark, which an expert will compare with the mark of identifica- tion. 11 the two are identical the man is identified. 11(]W MARK IS MADE. The method of securing the thumb mark is simple. The receiving tel- ler and the paying tellers at the bank are provided with a piece of tin, 501110 Printers' Mk, and a roller. The ink is thinly spread upon the tin, the depositor places the ball of his thumb upon this and rolls it backward and forward, pressing heavily, until the ball of the thumb is thoroughly "inked." The deposi- tor then presses the thumb firmly upon the ledger page opposite his name, whicll he has himself written,. The, 'depositor is then given a number and this ntunber, with the signature and thumb mark, is classified. The expert then examines the thumb mark and decides to which classifica- tion it belongs. If it is a "whorl" or an "arch," it is placed in that classification. In this manner the bank would be enabled to tell what depositor had signed a cheque if it bore a thumb mark, even if the name could not be deciphered. BASIS OF THEORY. The whole system of thumb mark) identification is based upon the theory that from infancy to old agq the lines of the thuinb and finger tips never change. A photographic syse tom of identification ie unreliable, for a man may greatly alter his ap- pearance in a few hours. The signa- ture is not en infallible means of identification, for Often sickness or an accident causes a great change in a man's chirography. Systems of measurement, like the Bertillon Byer tem, which has in timesast be til. p bee e. by some banks, are not fir fallible for there an allowance of two millimeters must be made. Young depositors are constantly grotvint, The Bertillon system is not infallible for men of a1 age. THINGS GO BY CONTRARIES. Human Nature is Easily the Most Inconsistent. Heiman m u • an naL 1 i funny e s a f un• min -u p The average man and woman seem to be made ufee for a good part, of complaints -"kicks" --and inks" -and when. they travel they especially enjoy turning themselves loose. The man who is accustomed to wood -bottomed chairs at home is the men who complains most about the hard seats on the train. The wonan who finds the most fault if she ever does have to stand is the one who, when the opportun- ity comes, expects to occupy two or three seats with parcels. The man tvho loafs away three- quarters of his time is the one who is the most unreasonably impatient if the train is a few minutes late The woman who hates children is the one who thing's it bretal that she isn't permitted to take her dog into the chair car. The 121011 who "eats around" at the twenty -five -cent restaurants is the surest "kicker" in the difiieg car. The man who is in a Meditate that donside's 200 per cent. profit legiti- mateis the one who wails loudest ' about extortionate fares. The woman who, lives in a four - room flat is the one who finds most fault with the close quarters of the sleeping car. L1GIHPNI.NG 110leS GO. Lightning rods are not. ,made to the same extent as fermarle., and there are signs that the Meer: eon of 11'rankein has seen its best clayn; :it is. vanishing from larger towns and from cities, while in country districts it is lees largely employed. The tea - Son for this disappearance of a fam- iliar apparatus is giver by an elec- trical expert; the great etenbe• of overhead what to be fotnid in all large centres, ee1•ve to make the lightening rod superfluous, as they at- tract the lightning) and take the sting out of it. llobbie--'"Didn't you say yesterday that it Was wrong to Strike an- other'?" Bobbie's banter• -"Yee, Pobbi0,"- 1lnbbieee"Weil , I wish you'd toll my teat ole so," f tl a ei 8 81 al re c. al be re 1i tie A of 1n 113 to th 011 is •sig e1 Inc On de stc eel go] '1 'chi col 1111 tin in 1110 .5W dut 11'll b )1i Will 0 •re ei ed of •run and F'• to clic] oav s gob ing mel and tic, F prof art! whit wit hist of t cost colo 8ubj prc'c then t0 a With sevel as 0. strip rs. tion..