HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1898-8-5, Page 2THE BB SSEL8 POST.
AUGUST 8, 1898
THE FATAL REPAST,
We had been nearly five weeks at sen
when the captain found, by nautica
observation, that we were within on
Hundred a,nd thirty miles of the nett
aide of damaioo. Favourable winds an
smooth seas had hitherto been our Don
scant attendants, and everything o
board conspired to render the sun
finement and monotony of along Vol
age less annoying than they ns11all
are, The cabin passengers oonsiste
of Major and Mrs, L—, a new -mar
riod couple; Miss P--, sister to tb
latter; Mr. D.--',: a, young Irishman
and myself. Our captain was a ma
of pleasing manners and liberal ideas
and formed an important acquisitio
to our party, by joining in all its re
creations, and affording every faoil
ity to the indulgence of them, Mut
of our time was silent in conversation
and in walking on deck and when th
dews of evening obliged us to descend
to the cabin, the captain would ofte
entertain us with a relation of tb
various dangers which he and abet.abet.Persons had encountered at sea, or
detail, with great gravity, some of the
prevailing superstitions of sailors.
Although he possessed more general
information than usually falls to the
lot of seafaring persons, bis mind was
tinctured with some of the weaknesses
and prejudices. The ladies of our par-
ty had a great taste for natural his-
tory, end wished to obtain specimens
of all the most interesting kinds of
sea -birds. They had several ;times
requested the captain to shoot one of
Mother Carey's chickens, that they
might take a drawing from it; howev-
er, he allays declined doing so, but
never gave any satisfactory reason for
his unwillingness to oblige them in
this respect. At last, err. D-- kill-
ed two of the birds, after having sev-
eral times missed whole flocks of them.
The captain seemed very much start-
led when he saw the animals drop on
the waves, "Will you have the good-
ness to let down the boat to pick up
the game?" said Mr. D--. "Yes, sir,"
replied he, "if you'll go off in her,
and never return on board this vessel.
Here is a serious business. Be assured
the have not seen the end of it" He
then walked away without offering
to give order's about lowering the boat;
and the seamen, who witnessed the
transaction, looked as if they would
not have obeyed bim had be even done
so.
Though we sate no lana, everything
that we were in the West India
Seas. The sky had, within a few days,
begun to assume a more dazzling as -
Peet, and long ranges of conical -shap-
ed clouds floated along the horizon.
Land birds, with beautiful plumage,
often hovered round the vessel, and
we sometimes fancied we could discover
e vegetable fragrance in the breezes
that swelled our sails.
One delightful clear morning, when
we were in hourly expectation of mak-
ing the land, some dolphin appeared
astern. As the weather was very mod-
erate, the captain proposed that we
should fish for them; and a great many
Books were immediately baited for that
purpose by the seamen. We caught
large quantities of dolphin, and of an-
other kind of fish, and put the whole
into the hands of the steward, with
orders that part should be dressed for
dinner, and part distributed among
the crew.
When the dinner -hour arrived, we all
assembled in the cabin, in high spirits,
and sat down to table. It being St.
George's day, the captain, who was an
Englishman, had ordered that every-
thing should be provided and set forth
in the most sumptuous style, and the
steward had done full justice to his
directions. We made the wines, which
were exquisite and abundant, circul-
ate rapidly, and every glass increased
our gaiety and good bumor, while the
influence of aur mirth rendered the
ladies additionally amusing and 811 -
mated, The captain remarked that, as -
there aro two clarnet
io-players
among the crew, we ought
to have a small dance upon the
quarter-deck at sunset. This pro-
posaI was received with much delight,
particularly by the females of our
party; and the captain had just told the
servant in welting to bid the musicians
Prepare themselves, when the mate
entered the cabin, and said that the
man at the helm had dropped down, al-
most senseless, and that another of the
crew was so ill that he could scarcely
speak,
The captain, on receiving this infor-
mation. grew very pale, and seemed at
a lose what to reply. At last he start-
ed from his chair, and hurried up the
gangway, Our mirth ceased in a mom-
ent, though none of us appeared to
know why ; but the minds of all were
evidently occupied by what they had
just heard, and Major L ---r'emar'ked,
with a faltering voice, that seamen were
very liable to be taken suddenly i11 in
hot climates,
After a little time, we sent the ser-
vant to inquire what was going for-
ward upon deck. He returned immed-
iately, and informed us that the two
sailors were worse, and that a third had
Just been attacked in the same way,
Ile had scarcely said those words. when
Mrs. L ---gave a shriek, and cried out
that her sister had fainted away. This
added to our confusion and alarm; and
the major and Mr. A ---trembled so
much, that they were hardly able to
convey the young lady to her state-
room.
All couversation was now at an end,
and no mora uttered a word tell Mrs,
L ---returned from her sister's ap-
artment. While we were inquiring
how the latter was, the captain enter-
ed the cabin in a state of great (wife -
tion. "This is a dreadful business,"
said be. "The fact Ie -it le my duty
to tell you -I fear we aro all pnieoned
by the fish wa bave ata, One of the
crew died a few minutes since, and five
others are clangorously ill,"
"Poisoned l myGod 1 Do you say so?
Must we all die '1' exclaimed Sirs. L
dropping on h•' kntes, "What
is to be done?' cried the major, dis-
tractedly 'are there no means of caan-
teraetNthat ing it at f knee of,"
returned the captain. "All remedies
are vain, The poison in always fatal,
except -buts begin to feel Pte effoots-•
support me -can tete tic imagination?"
ataggertd to one side, and would
neve fallen upon the floor, had not 1
assisted' him. Mrs. L-- notwilli-
sten ding his apparent insensii,illt.y,
clungerne to his ar. crying one in a tone
of despair, "Is there no help -ao pity -
no ono to save us?" and then fainted
n
1
e
h
d
n
y
d
e
n
n
h
8
n
e
lips, "You are a happy man ; you have
nothing to embitter your last moments
-Oh, Providence was I permitted to
escape so many dangers, merely that
I might suffer this misery?"
lttrs. L-- soon regained ber senses,
and I endeavoured to palm her egita-
tioa by remarking, that we might pos-
sibly escape the fatal influence of the
poison., as some constitutions were not
so easily affected by it as others. "Is
there then a little hope?" she exclaim-
ed. "Oh 1 God grant it may be ea 1 Ilow
dreadful to die in the midst of the
ocean, far from friends and home, and
then to be thrown into the deep I" -
"There is one thing," said the captain
faintly, "I was going to tell you, that
-but this sensation -I mean a
remedy." -"Speak on," cried the major,
in breathless suspense. "It may have
a chance of saving you," continued the
former; "you must immediately" --
He gave a deep sigh, and dropped his
head upon his shoulder, apparently un-
able to utter a word more. "Oh, this
is the worst of all!" cried Mrs. L---,
in agony; "he was cm the point of tell-
ing us bow to counteract the affects
of the poison -Was it heavenly mercy
that deprived him of the power os
speech ? Can it be called mercy ?"-
Hush, hu -hl you rave," returned ber
husband, "We have only to be resign-
ed now -Let us at least die together."
The crew had dined about an hour
and a half before us, and consequent-
ly felt the effects of the poison much
earlier than we did. Every one, how-
ever, now began to exhibit alarming
symptoms. Mr. D--- became deliri-
ous; the major lay upon the cabin
floor in a state of torpidity; and the
captain had drowned all sense and re-,
collection by drinking a large quantity
of brandy. Mrs. L--- watched her
husband and her sister alternately, in
a state of quiet despair.
ITo Be Continued,)
SAILOR'S SUPERSTITIONS.
Peculiar Beliefs of the sten who Go Down
to the am h, Ships.
Spanish sailors on certain days of
the week or month lay aloft at sunset
and beat the sheaves and pins of the
blocks to drive the devil out of the
gear, and the noise they make is a
horrid din. This is said to beim origin-
ated be an order given which resulted
in disaster. A certain Spanish squadron
that bad been anchored some time was
surprised by the enemy and could not
make sail and escape, as all the blocks
were rusted and useless,
The Spanish sailor bas no prejudice
against starting out on a voyage on
Friday, that being the day on which
Columbus started on his voyage of dis-
covery. English and American sai.ors
will not sail on that day if they can
help it. They would consider the whole
trip hoodooed by such a beginning.
A sneeze at sea would hoodoo the
ship unless it happened to turn to the
I right, when it brings good look, Sail-
ors 'lave faith in odd numbers, and
naval gunners carry out this belief in
the number of times they fire a sal-
ute.
Whistling for wind is another fav-
orite superstition of the men before
the mast. This is a trick when ships
are becalmed, as "Whistles rash bid
tempests roar." A " capful of wind '
or a " bagful " usually defines the
quantity.
The phantom ship, so often seen by
navigators, is not purely the appari-
tion of romance, but n mirage, Some-
thing almost as wonaerful, but not of
the supernatural order.
The horseshoe is still a popular con-
tribution by sailors to the fetish of good
luck. A distinguished precedent is giv-
en for this. Lord Nelson believed in
the luck of the horseshoe, and had one
nailed to the mast of bis shill Victory.
A peculiar superstition Is that if wo-
men are taken on board a voyaging
ship some disaster will follow. This may
be the reason why no government ship
is allowed to carry women passengers.
Sailors, too, prefer a ship that has a
masculine name, or is called after some
man, or is geographical. A line of
steamers will often employ a certain
selection of names to the exclusion of
all others. The Cunard steamers and
all their names with to, d feminine
terminal, but -one that has been the
reverse of disastrous, since that line
has never lose a sbip. Captains are not
as superstitious es their nret'rs, being
of better education, and that may ac-
(gunt for the names of sailing vessels
being identical with that of wife or
sweetheart, Certain names ere knnwn
3.11 •the history of nautical nomencla-
ture as hoodoos. They have been paint-
ed over and other names substituted,
but bad lurk attended the ship, and
not 'even reconstruction sever! it. Then,
if the name must be feminine, the orew
want something they are familiar with,
Onetar ldc
a a who Was t >1 1 1 bo name of
a new ship was the Aurum said:
Why don't they leave poetry to the
navy folk and stick to the Susannahs
end d\Tary Anne nnrl ,Tamimns of my
day? Aurora I Haw is a plain able sea-
man to answer a hail with such a
mouthful as that behind his teeth1"
ANX101.'$ TO KNOW,
Old Gutrox-1 don't wish you for a
sou -in-law, sir.
Young Man --No? You haven't any
other gond p08il.ion you could give a
fellow, have you?
AN 'EASY CHOICE.
She-Whinh would you rather have,
wraith or the affection of the woman
yon truly loved ?
11' -Wealth ley all means. Then I
could have the other on the side.
USES Ota SOCIETY,
Malden -It seems to me eocIely is
useful only to people who want to get
married,
afatron-You mistake, my dear, It
s equally useful to people who are
Married and want to forget it,
way on her husband's 11050111, who,
tithing to mo, said, with quivering
ANTONIO DI CARARA.
Carara's Indignation mastered 111m;
he saw all going to ruin. A nighty
battle lost, perhaps as empire broken
down, by the formal atupidity of a
slave of office. He turned round to
the regiment, exclaiming, "Gentle-
man, sine the General sends us no-
thing but poltroons, let every brave
man follow me." The regiment ans-
wered their favourite officer with an
animating shout, and again rushed for-
ward. Nothing could withstand this
desperate charge. The leading bri-
gade was out through in all directions,
and the column totally paralyzed. In
the universal rout, Carara galloped in-
to the spot where the eagle -bearer was
retreating, protected by a confused
crowd of lancers and infantry. The
Count was for a moment alone, he gave
his charger the spur, and, 'with a bound,
was in the aentr•e of the throng. The
conflict was keen, but abort, A sabre
blow on the arm that held the stand-
ard, sbeared off arm and standard to-
gether. Another cut his way through
the confused mass 01 pikes and bayonets
that pushed at him in all quarters,
and with a lane -wound in his side and
a bullet in his shoulder, both equally
unfelt for the time, he darted, eagle
in hand, out of the melee, and rejoined
his regiment, who received him with
shouts of admiration.
But all was too late. From the em-
inence which the oavalryhad reached in
this victorious charge, the whole Aus-
trian infantry was seen in full retreat.
The French masses were again covering
the plain, and the long lines of smoke
continually advancing towards the
Damp of Metes, showed both that the
enemy was in overwhelming force, and
that the General had given up the day.
Night was falling, but the cannon
still roared far to the west, and the
Dashing of the infantry fire became
rapidly visible as the dusk thickened.
It was evident that the field was lost,
and the Hungarian Guard, now left al-
most alone, looked round for the tardy
commandant, who was so fond of wait-
ing for orders. Ile was nowhere to be
found. His ordain had not called him
to join in beating the French brigade,
and he had left the regiment to trans-
act that matter for themselves, and
galloped back to the camp. The only
thing now to be done was to reach the
camp, and endeavor to cover the re-
treat. As they moved off, Carara's
horse startled at something under bis
foot; it was a headless body in the uni-
term of the Austrian staff. The tardy
aide-de-camp hadbetter have taken his
chance even in the charge. A twelve -
pound shot from one of the french
guns had rolled across his gallop, and
carried his head to the foot of the next
tree, where the head and the ball now
lay quietly together,
As the regiment advanced, the signs
of defeat grew more frequent and fatal.
Horse, foot, and artillery. crossed each
other's way. Baggage -wagons were
overthrown, troops plundering, guns ly-
ing on the ground with their traces cut,
and their horses floundering to got
Inose, or running wild about the field,
Tho wounded were lying by hundreds,
scattered over the ground, crying vain-
ly to be carried all. Generals, that
seemed to have lost their senses; Staff
as senseless as their Generals; Colonels
looking for their regiments. And regi-
ments shouting out for their Colonels,
were hurrying in all directions; -fury,
folly, execration, frenzy, misery -a11
were let loose; and, in the mean time,
the whole MISS of 50,000 men were in-
sensibly pushed to the edge of the
Bormida. The confusion thickened.
There had been no lines of retreat ori-
ginally pointed out in the General's
plan, for he had looked on the victory
as certain. The Bormida was a deep
and rapid stream, impassable on foot
or horseback, and with but one crazy
bridge, that would have broken down
with the first baggage -wagon. The
army was inevitably ruined. The re-
port was, that the General -in -chief
was either drunk, or asleep, or dead.
General Zech, the second in command,
had been seen to fall into the
hands of the French dragoons. Elnitz,
the most gallant officer of the army,
and whose conduct of the cavalry had
entitled him to the highest praise, had
lost an arm by a cannon -shot, and
been carried off the field two hours
before, Ali was contusion beyond re-
medy.
But even In tbe routed army tbere
were bravo spirits still, and a few regi-
ments of hussars, encouraged by the
gallant discipline of the Hungarians,
stili covered the confusion from the
immediate sight of the enemy.
It was now dark, and tare retreat sues
still pushed by the France, evidently
with the design of throwing the whole
Austrin.n army into the Bormida. By
the flash of one of the batteries, which
had ,just commenced its fire, on the re-
treating cavalry, Carara saw the count-
enance of a man struggling his way
towards him througb the crowd. With
at mixture of grief and gladness he re-
cognized bis friend, the Colonel, who,
on hearing the tumult approach the
camp, had torn himself out of the sur-
geon's hands, mounted, and come to
share the fate of his regiment. There
was no time for further explanation ;
for a rush of the whole French cavalry
upon the broken battalions, drove them
like ono vast surge to the brink,. and
another rash dro•,a them in. Carara
felt himself helplessly whirled along
in this living earthquake, and the Col-
onel had only a moment to grasp his
friend's bridle, and lead him along with
him, when they were both plunged in
the centre of the Bormida.
The torrent wee covered with men,
screaming and struggling for life,
stabbing each other., and drowning. 11y
what fortune Carara escaped from this
scene of horror, he could not tell. But
he at last found himself sittipg steed -
less, 011 the opposite shore with the
Colonel by his side. "You Jiavo saved
my life, Colonel," said he, "but to what
purpose? It was ney wish to have flied
in that field, or in that stream, but I
your friendship was too active." -"I
feel that I am dying, Count Carara,' 1
said the Colonel ; "it was 1 who dire,
entangled you from your charger and
drew you upon the bank, No aoknow-
ledgments," said he, with it melan-
choly wave of his hand, "I am more
rewarded. If E have a consolation at
this hour, it is that I can disburden my 1
mind of the load 01 wretchedness that t
has bovved Inc for years. .Look upon n
me, Count t Have you 110 recollection '
of these features in earlier life1' Car- s
ara looked in vain. Have you 110 Fee i
anembranee then of the name of Count
Alexander. Terrtano 1" His hearer start-, e
ed, Ile had known him for one of the I
moat distinguished Of his rivals, anis a
one with whom ho had even dispute
the Lady Julia's hand at the point 0
the sword, "You knew ao muni thea'
said the Colonel, with a faint emflo
but you do not know all. 1 am n
Hungarian. 0 loved the ineomparabl
woman who is now your wife. 'You
risked your Me .for her, and you de-
served her; but the nurse of Italy was
upon me, and I swore revenge. 1 could
not hi honor eau to the field agate
a mau who had given me my life, But
my fiendish revenge must be fed. De
you remember the night when you were
attacked coming from the fete In Pa-
via? --the dagger that broke in your
silo? That dagger was millet" Carara
half sprang from the ground, but the
deep dejection of the oountonance that
now looked on him, disarm0d all re.
santment.
"You may well scorn the baseness
of the act," said the dying man; "but
no scorn of yours could equal my own.
The moment I gave the blow, I would
have given worlds to retreat it. Twos
frantic wi>on I saw you, fall, I cursed
myself in my agony, I would have
plunged the weapon into my own heart;
but I then thought I had deft it in
yours, T was overwhelmed with so bit-
ter a sense of the baseness of my
oiime, that I must have proclaimed my
Wanly to justice, but for the 105.8 of
my senses. f heeamo a lunatic. My
family, for the double purpose of my
recovery, and absence from scones
where every hour threatened insan-
ity again, sent me into Hungary,w'here
a noble branch of our house had been
long settled. I entered the Imperial
service, and in that servioo I was un-
happily compelled, in the course of a
diplomatic •mission, to visit Italy once
more. My revenge flamed again. It
was a canker in my heart; a devil that
possessed nee night and day. I deter-
mined on your destruction. To pre-
vent any compunctious change of mind
1 pledged myself by a vow at the a1bar`;
strange mockery 1 to accomplish your
destruction. But not by the pistol or
the dagger. Not by my own hand. I
had too fierce a consciousness of the
agony of my first attempt, the scor-
pion -sting of pelf -reproach was too
venomous still for me to hazard a now
torture. I salved my conscience by
determining to make you the instru-
ment of your own ruin. You remember
our studies in chemistry?"
d
f
0
0
Carara assented. He "even remem-
bered them with extraordinary admira-
tion for the various talent of his teach-
er."
"The time for compliment Is past,"
said his friend, "I found you a quick
solloiar; but all my science rues for the
purpose of tempting you into studies
that must bring you under the eye of
our jealous government. I succeeded,
But the government foiled me, and I
found that a temporary surveillance
would be your highest affliction. I
desired snore. I prompted you to seek
the Emperor at a season, and by a
route, which, to your habits, render-
ed death almost inevitable, Careless of
my life, if I could extinguish yours,
I led you into the very region of the
avalanches. We both escaped by mir-
acle; and I found that my work was
to be begun once more, I set to it
Subtilely. I involved you in the ob-
ligations of a service which abounded
in all the chances of ruin to a man of
spirit and ra5hion, .,f susceptibility
and genius. The hazard table or the
sword, the dissipations of a prodigal
regiment, and the vices of a profligate
city, the dagger of the bravo, or the
risks of the field, all lay in wait for
the man whom I honoured, esteemed,
and even loved, but whose death I
had sworn by all the solemn vows
that could pledge the resolution of a
human being."
His voice sank at the wor'as; a tear
broke down bis cheek,and he fell into
Centre's arms, "I have but a few
words more to say," said be, recover-
ing, "and I feel it something like a
sign of l'eaven's mercy, that I am
permitted thus to axone by my shame
for my crime. Angry at your con-
tinued escape, yet delighted at your
continued advance in honour; outrage-
ous with myself for my designs again-
st your life, but still desperately bound
by my vow, I entered the field this
day, with the determination that neith-
er of us should survive. But it was
to be otherwise. The sabre was al-
ready raised, in my hand to' strike the
blow, when the Frenchman's bullet
struok me, Thank Heaven for my
fall," Carara's countenance showed
the astonished feeling with which be
listened to this recital on the part of
his fellow -soldier. "I cannot die with-
out your forgiveness, Count," said the
Colonel weakly, encleavoring,to clasp
his hand, "f know, and abhor the whole
treachery of 'the deed, ' lieut. I was
born an Italian -I was tercel, as we
all are, in the midst of, treachery. Re-
venge w'es inoculated into my frame
from my first hour, as it is into us
all, The night which we passed toge-
ther in your palace, desolated as it was,
in the presence or. your admirable wife,
who did not know the changed fea-
tures of the irfon whom she ha.cl scorn-
ed; even that night was a new fount;
of fire in my soul -it roused the un-
dying worm again in ane -it shed
deadly poison in evexy vein; but; all
is at an end. And now let me do one
last act%of jestios to myself, While
I lay in the agony of a wound thio day,
which I knew to be mortal, I heard
that, the regiment 1058 retiring, and
that all was lost. My revenge was
gone. A brighter spirit had dawned
upon my mind, 80811 on that bed, I
roes, against 'all remonstrance, with a
determination to expend the last wreck
of a worthless and unhappy life in
rescuing yours, I forced my /feeble
)way through the route with that solo
purpose. I found you in a spot which 1
must have been your grave, At the
moment when the French battery were
preparing to throw in m fire '10111th
must have torn every man within
range to pieces, I turned, your horse's
head into the stream, There was but
the choice of hazards, and, thank Ilea- t
veil, I chose fortunately for my W-
ant and generous friend." His voice
faded away into a wbisper as he spoke
le attempted a few inarticulate words
mono, and lay clasping Cararees hand,
The tuna' of the ,J9ronch guns, as they
drove the last remnant of the unfor
t.unato army over the bridge of the
Idormida, were the requiem to the
warrior. Carara caught• itis last
menti', and born him in his arms to
he little aural, which stood Iiko en
steam of peace) In the midst of the
turbuleiee and horrors of war, The
eatery priest who remained, laid him
n an honouralyl.p armee
The French oratory instantly ebang-
d the fate of affairs in the north 01
taly. Buonaparte, eager to conciliate
Il parties, and fond o1' popularity am- p
0114 hie countrymen, commanded that •
all the injuries done by the preceding
av r ment l 1 thees
g e n should cease, al toss
be compensated, and all the exiles re- i
stored. Padua carne under the gen-
eral cliango, and the Count Ceram
saw himself once more a proud hus-
band, a bnppy father, and the lord of
an inheritance worthy of his trials
and his name,
(:Ch's End.)
REMEMBERED DUMB FRIENDS.
Dogs, trots and 5'8rret9 were not forgot
ter In Their eVllls.
The benevolent Philadelphian who re-
cently bequeathed a thousand a year to
his pet fox terrier is only one of quite
a number of animal lavers who in-
clude 1 their dumb friends in the list
of their legatees. Some four years ago
the wilt of the late Miss Raine, an
Englisbwoman was proved, the value
of her personal estate in the United
Kingdom amounting to upward of
$400,000. This was the lady who left
her lands and hereditaments in the
parish of Wolvercote, Oxfordshire, to
the last Lord Randolph Churchill, "in
recognition of his commanding politi-
cal genius," She had a great love for
animals, and had quite a number of
pets. One of the clauses in her will
was as follows:
" And as regards my pussies, Igloo
my dear old wbite puss Titions and her
pussies Tabby Rolla, Tabby Tennefee,
and black and white Ursula to Ann
Elizabeth Matthews, and I direct my
executors to pay ber LIS a year for
the maintenance of each oat so long
ss it shall live. My long haired white
puss, Louise, and ear black and white
puss, Dr. Clausman, to my handmaid-
en, Elizabeth Willoughby, and my
.Black Ebony and White Oscar to Miss
Lavinia Sophia Beck, and my execu-
tors are directed to pay them also £12
a year fox each of these pussies
SO LONG AS IT SHALL LIVE.
" A11 the remainder of my pussies I
give to the said Ann EIizabeth Mat-
thews, and I direct!: my executors to
pay her out of the balance of the div-
idends of my father's Lambeth Water
Works shares £150 a year for their
maintenance so long as any of them
shall live, but this is not to extend
to kittens afterward born."
There is arise a direction to Ann El-
izabeth Matthews to live out of this
annuliy in the village of Haylands, in
a cottage and garden for the mainten-•
ante of the same pussies. All live crea-
tures she left to the kindly disposal
of her executors, and " if her poor old
black mare Fenella should be alive she
authorizes them to take from her es-
tate a sum sufficient to pay for her
board and lodging as long as she shall
live."
,Another woman some time ago left
a large sum of money to the town in
which she died on condition that the
town authorities should spend $40 per
year on her favorite cat. Minute de-
tails were given in the will as to the
treatment the cat was to receive. It
was stipulated that every morning the
cat should have a quarter of a hint
of mills, which was to be served in a
Serves saucer. The mid-day meal was
to consist of liver or filleted fish, and
this meal was to be repeated at sup-
per time. The bed was to be a bas-
ket warmly lined with flannel, and ev-
ery Sundae, the cat was to be bathed
and adorned with a bow of blue rib-
bon.
One thousand dollars a year was be-
queathed by Mrs. Orby Hunter, of Up-
per Seymour street, London, to
A FAVORITE PARROT.
The bequest was drawn up to guard
against fraud or misappropriation, and
elaborate provisions were made for the
comfort and guardianship of the bird,
whom the lady in her will described
as her " faithful companion of twenty-
five years."
A big Newfoundland dog, Rover, was
recently matte heir to $1,500 by his
master, John Spooner, a seafaring man.
The will W58 duly drawn up by an at-
torney, and a guarantee company was
empowered to act as trustee. The man
did not wish that when he was gone
his dog should be looked and cuffed
about the world as ha had been, so
determined to make provision for him.
The will was drawn up in such a way
that the interest derived from his pro-
perty was to be used for the dog's sup-
port and the property itself, at the
dog's (teeth, with whatever remained,
of the income, wets to go to his sister
in England. The sailor said be found
the dtrg lvhen it was only a puppy,
while he was tramping in Southern
Illinois, and now Rover has sprung
from a dog of common degree to'a
dog tvi.th expectations,
Of the many considerate remote who
have left annuities to animals men -I
lion might to made of a Mrs. Harper, ;
who left 8500 a year to her black cat;
another widow who lett $250 a year 1
to her canaries; Dr. Christians, of Ven-;
Me, who left 0,000 florins for the main.:
of his three dogs, and t•l1e'
Count of Yiiralola, who made provision
in his will for a pet 000(1. A Mr, .Berk-
ely, of Knightsbridge, who died in 1850,
left $100 to four angel, wee wave des-
cended from 0138 Wbleb had saved his.
lee,
OI!'TF'ER ACCEPTED,
Nervous Passenger (to mother of
howling imp in parlor car) -Madan, is
there anything any of us can do to•'
o pacify your little boy?
,
thank, you, yes; you are very hind. You!
Pond Mother (of spoiled
Soo, the dear Iittto f011ochild)w w--anChts,
to throw his lunch at the passengers,
and ten afraid they wouldn't like it,
Just stead whore you are, please. Now
s1oP crying, 1113' pet. This kind gentle-
men wantsyou. to .play with him, j
HEAD OE THE FAMILY -AT TIMES.
Bilkine--I called at your house to
see you to -day, and I noticed that ,your
wife, referred to you as the head of the
family. i
Wilkins -Rah I out collecting MI's,'
weren't you?
Yes, said thovot0ran mind reader, i
I Con read a woman's mind, but I don't fi
retand t0 be able to understand it
VihrtiVreelklearliM-
An
he Horne
CANNING FRUIT,
She's canning fruit,
apron large-ull purple stained and
rad -
Almost envelops her from foot to head
Her sleeves cru rolled, her dainty wrists
are bare;
A pure white cap adorns her golden
hair,
Which, with the checks aflame -eyes,
bluely g11sy,
Completes apicture that -what shall I
say ?-
I That's simply cute!
She's conning fruit,
This week. She's making jam and jel-
ly, too,
And watermelon pioltle5, just a 1811'.
She stirs and tast08, and tastes and
stirs, to tall
When things sre done, and makes the
jelly " jell"
Just grand! And, all in all, it's quite
an art,
For, some things must he SWeet and
others tart -
Ail tastes to suit,
Site's canning fruit,
Preserves of almost every kind she's
made,
And now has started in on marmaladel
And as I watch her to my heart there
camas
A fragrance sweet -born not of cook-
ing plums,
But burning love I I've this regret,
you 080,
wt Dorothy's not canning fruit for
me
While canning 'fruit
SUGGESTIONS TO EIOIJSEKEEPERS.
Better thea oxalic acid to remove
fruit stains from the fingers are the
fumes of sulphur prepared in this way,
Put a tiny lump of sulphur in a patty
pan, pour on a little alcohol and set
it on Lire. Hold the stained fingers
over the flames, and the disooloratjons
will disappear.
One of the most pouplar of the sum-
mer salads is that composed of crisp
white lettuce hearts, small, fine, whole
tomatoes, and mayonnaise. The toma-
toes should be sliced through with a
sharp knife, but left eutire. Arrange.,
for each plate, a bed of torn lettuce,
on whicb lay the tomatoes; pour on it
a spoonful of mayonnaise.
If you are going to use a can of sal-
mon open it some hours before you need
it, Empty it out of the can at once, and
let it stand uncovered. By this prac-
tice the close, airless odor imparted
by hermetical sealing will be dissipat-
ed, and also the disagreeable taste of
tin and solder. Carefully drain off the
oil, as it imparts a rancid taste.
Cocoa -nibs are the coarsely crushed
seed of the cocoa plant, and from them
the most healthful drink prepared from
the plant is made. Chocolate is such a
highly concentrated food that fete
stomachs can bea,.r its use constantly
without unfavorable results. Taken too
frequently it ceases to be nutritious
or beneficial to the individual ,
DOtcrlcSTIC .RECIPES,
Potted Salmon. -Free a can of sal-
mon from bones and skin and chop it
fine, then beat it to a smooth paste,
add the yolks of three bard -boiled eggs,
a half teaspoonful bf mustard, a tea-
spoonful salt, a pinch of cayenne ane!
a .small pinch of ground cloves, and
mace. Beat together, add two table-
spoonfuls of butter and press into small
pots. This is delicious for tea and for
lunches, and realms toothsome sand-
wiches. It will keep for same time if
kept covered with melted butter.
Plain Waters. -Mix one cup of fine
oatmeal, one cup of flour, one table-
spoonful powdered sugar, half tea8poon-
eul salt kind a pin0hi of soda. Rub into
this very thoroughly one tablespoonful
butter, mix to a stiff paste with one-
quarter of a cup of cream, roll as thin
as possible and bake on slightly but-
tered pans in a moderate oven.
Gooseberry Pooh -Top and tail one
quart of ripe gooseberries, put them
in an earthen jar with one cup of wa-
ter and set in the oven till the shins
burst. Add sufficient sugar to make
very sweet, press through a coarse
granite colander, not tin or wire, or
mash thoroughly with a potato lrlasb-
er, Let stand till cold, then stir in
slowly one pint of rich cream. The
word " fool" used here is derived from
the :French fouler, to crush 1 thus the
name means literally "crushed goose-
berries,"
•
COOKING FOR INVALIDS,
Bread, -One -quartos cupful milk, ono
teaspoonful butter, 1-1 teaspoonful salt,
1-4 teaspoonful sugar, 9-3 yeast cake,
flour to make dough. Beet the milk,
add the butter, salt and sugar. \Viten
lukewarm add the yeast, which has
been dissolved in lukewarm water. Add
the flour, then knead until smooth and
elastic. Put it bark in the bowl, cov-
er end lot it :rise until double its
bulk. Shape into a small loin£ and
place in a leaking pan, cover, and let
it rise again. until double its bulk.
Iicikein a. hat oven. the large amount
0f yeast allows the bread to be made
and baked in three hours.
Parker Home Ilolls.-One-ball cup -
fel milk, 1-2 tablespoonful butter, 1-2
tablespoonful sugar, 1-1 teaspoonful
atilt, 3-4 yeast cake, 3-4 oupful flour
for the sponge, flour to make dough.
Prepare the same as for bread, adding
the three-fourths cupful. of flour after
tiles yeast and then boating it w•itli a h
10001100 Spoon. Let. it rico until. light tv
and porous. Add sufficient flour to I1
make a dough and knead until smooth, 1
Let it rise again to doable it 11(1117,
Knead and roll one-half ineh thick,
Lift it (ram the board and let it sbrinlc.
Cut with tt round or oval cutter. Placa
a small pioe0 of butler near the edge a
and fold so that the edges are twee. 1
Press each roll 11 io prevent i rev nL iia of)sn
114 es it rises. When light bake en e,
hat oven, .Lhi,s clow. h nr
b us
g C 0
d for
siclrso
Y
t r sou hist i
n
u ts.
J3uats,-Ono-third cupful bot milk, 2
tabtespoonfals sugar, 1-3 egg, 1-2 tea-
spoonfal salt, 1-2 yeast oake, 2-3 cupful
flour. Make a sponge with the above•
ingredients. Beat it, Let it rise un-
til light, add flour to make a dough,
knead it and let it rise again to double
its bulk, then add one tablespoonful
0f softened butter, ono -eighth teaspoon-
chnnamon or nutmeg, and ono sixth
cupful currants, Let it rise again.
Shape intosmall round cakes and place
in muffin pans to rise. When ligbt,
bake in a moderate oven, \\'bon they
have baked for 111toen minutes, glaze
them with a mixture of milk and,
sugar•, one-fourth tablespoonful sugar,
one tablespoonful milk, and repeat
every five minutes until they are done.
Bake about forty minutes.
Crumpets.- One-quarter tablespoon-
ful
ablespoon
ful butter, 1-3 teaspoonful salt, 1-4 cup-
ful hot milk, 1-4 egg, 1.-4 yeast cake,
1-2 cupful flour. Pour the hot milk
over the salt and butter. When luke-
warm add the beaten eggs and the
yeast,which has been dissolved in luke-
warm water, Add the flour and beat
the mixture until smooth, Let it
rise until light, then bake on a hot
griddle in buttered muffin rings for
twenty niinu'tes.
A FLY TRAP THAT WORKS
I have a friend who, after finisbing
the dinner work, darkens the rooms to
the lower part of the house and leaves,
the doors open between the front rooms.
and kitchen, leaving one window shade
up in tbe kitchen, with a plate of fly
paper in tee sunlight, When she comae.
down stairs after a short rest ready
for the afternoon, there is seldom efly
left to disturb her or her callers. As
may be inferred, there are no children
in her bows and nothing to Interrupt
or interfere with bar plan of work.
Driving flies out regularly every
morning is one of the best things I
know of, and a fly brush; made of long
strips of heavy tough paper fastened
at the cud of a light, stiff stick is far
better for the purpose than branches•
of trees, towels, aprons, or any chance
object one may catch up,
Any room temporarily unoccupied -
the sitting room or bedrooms while you
are at work in the kitchen, and the
dining room and kitchen after dinner,
-m0y be darkened except one screen,
and the flies driven out tee this as of-
ten as they settle in the sunshine.
This makes a great difference. if kept
up, in our war with the little intrud-
ers. Milling them as they light upon
the wells with a folded newspaper, a
whisk broom is better, is another good
way.
The best thing, however, that 'have
ever trier] is a homemade fly trap;
Take an old broom handle sawed off
straight and nail or screw a small can
firmly upon the end- lye can or one
from potted hem is the best size. This
is simply to hold a tumbler nearly fill-;
ed with suds. Once' ready all you have,
to do is to raise the glass steadily by.
the handle to the telling wherever you:
see a fly, one the work is done. I da
not know whether it is the suction or
the fright that causes every fly thus
covered to drop immediately into the
suds. The first evening, bolding my
head in a position to see the flies Dns
1118 ceiling directly overhead and at
the same time balancing the glass so
that it would not spill, was very tire-
some arid gave me a touch of stiff neck,
but' did not mind it at all afterward.
My husband Immune interested and fre-
quently took my place, enjoying it
something as a sportsman does spear-
ing fish. If the flies are inclined 'to
settle upon the walls or pictures they
can be driven off and caught when
they light upon the ceiling. There are
no dead Dies about, no poison and no
marks on the walls, We were simply de-
lighted with this novel fly catcher, and
after showing it to all our neighbors
we still feel like passing it along.
CURIOUS TURKISH PROVERBS.
The Turkish peasants in their own
country have plenty of homely ivit.
Thus they say: "Aryk ultyusa 11i.t-
oh'nk 01maz," or " Far the team ox there
is no knife," meaning that the poor,
hardworking peasant is too poor to be
persecuted,
There is genuine poetry in the say-•
[tugs: ":Troy divided the flowers and'
the rose fell to the lot of the thorn,"1
and, " Tsvo nightingales do not penis. i
on one bough." Pathetic is the picture:
conveyed in, " They put the nightin-
gale in a cage and he only sang, "Oh„
my rosebush!"
.(elle profound and submissive piety
of the Turk shows in stiob sayings as
"It may be six or it mayabe seven, but
1.1 will be tvhat number Allab ordains,"
and. 1(4atn, " When Allah gives He cloth
not: asst whose son art: 1Ixous," 01 a
like character is the saying, ' Thebead
that bends is never out off,"
Of course the poor, beaten donkey is
the hero of a whole list of proverbs,
"The donkey is little.," it is Bald, "yet:
he leads camels, 'Tbey invited the
donkey to 'e wedding," gays atnot'.horl
maxim, ," and he said: "Is it wood or
water that. is wanted?"
Of religious proverbs, ICornnio titer -
Aare ie as full as Christian. Do what:
is kind and good," says ono, "and east
it into the sea; if the fish do not re-
cognize it thy Creator will."
Worldly prudence, however, inspires
inch maxims es these: " .l'he wound by
til', hand ]teals; the wound by the
tongue. is incurable," "Out of the
tripe seller's cauldron ocenet 1 no silk.
limeade." " Don't always expecte the'
peppery part of 111e :derv,' "['113y who
h undle. honey will lick their finger's"
rhdnll is mora -true of '.Turkey than
1 other places, probably. "'lire father.
gave a vineyard to the son, hut: the'
Aon never gave it bunch of grapes t0
he father," is a sermon 00 ingratitude.
Short, pithy prcvorhe are, aA clan
should nnlylisten with one of his ears,er
1u1 1:4131.0 18 110 1111.11)1 1:0 anfnnn dike
lig 11101138r.
ar
T11. Cbilian Government has siren
Argentina until August let 11 - to de -
!do the boundary question