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The Brussels Post, 1898-9-23, Page 2TRE BRUSSELS POST. pw...?(;. igfiA titczk.F47-51125,t,*Proczkf A HAPPY HOUSEHOLD. By MARGARET LEE, Anther of Dlroreo-A Brooklyn. Bannoror-.Lorimer and wife -Eta I " CHAPTER VII, The next marring Mr, Everett was 'jubilant. Ile had enjoyed a profound sleep, and was ready for any proposi- tion that suggested open air, and the :moiety of the Minturns. He was sur- prised to hear that Larry had break- fasted alone, and bed left the hotel at seven o'olook punctually. " The boy is thoroughly in earnest," he remarked to hie wire, who waited ra- ther impatiently for the wagon that was to take then, to Mr.Minturn's house. Mrs. Everett was feverish with annoy- ance, anxiety and disappointment, Her husband's state of mind added to her irritability. That he should find rest and satisfaction under the circum- stances was most provoking, " Did Larry speak of Miss Minturn last night? You said you met him and had a long talk with him." "Her name was never mentioned, I assure you," Really 1 I wish I could get rid of this impression." "He seems engrossed by his studies -determined to succeed in his under- taking." I hope you are right." Mrs. Everett used her eyes careful- ly upon reaching her destination, hat there was nothing to discover that could assist her curiosity. Miss Min - turn was clipping blossoms into a bas- ket from some of her choice garden plants, and came forward, with bas- ket, scissors, apron and shade hat, to welcome ber guests. She looked at Dir. Everett with an interest that attrac- ted and pleased him. Her grandmoth- er's recollections had excited her sym- pathy in his favor. This handsome, for-. mal man, with his reputation as a lead- er in the world of wealth and power, had once like herself been under the influence of her grandmother's care and affection. This fact bridged the distance between them. Underneath the calm exterior, -beneath the proud, strong head -there beat the honest, loving heart that her grandmother had known and sounded. She gave him a gentle, confidential smile that made his beart bound within him, and Ied the way to the shaded seats on' the broad porch. "The oreeze is cool here, and per-, haps you would prefer it to being in- doors. Grandma was here a moment ago." "And where are you going?" asked Mr, Everett. "To get more flowers and then in- to the dining -room to arrange them." "May I assist?" "Can you stand the sun in the gar- hien?" arden?" "Anything that you can put up with will suit me." Rose laughed merrily. "You shall have a big hat" 1 He followed her to the hall and found a very becoming one. "That belongs to your son." He laughed with her, and they wan -1 dered about the garden, taking their time in selecting pretty blossoms. The party on the porch had been re enforced by Mr. Minturn and young Everett, and the gayety became gen- eral. The girls, during the day, urged upon Rose the charms of the New- port sojourn; but she laughingly re- sisted all their appeals to enioy them. Larry found an opportunity to con- sult his mother regarding a country Arouse in the vicinity and a mode of living that would) enable his father to withdraw from active business. Mrs. 0 Everett was accustomed to listening to Quer son, She respected his ideas even when she did not assent to them. His earnestness surprised and impressed ber "You are mistaken if you suppose t that your father would consent to give up his work now. He is only fifty. A New York men stay in the swim, as they express it, until they are seventy s or more. Why, he would be miserable, m buried alive in a place like this." I "'But he should stop for his health's sake." Nonsense' He looks remarkably well," Be complains of bis head," "He stays up too late at those in- terminable clubs" at "Exactly. If you bad a nioe place c:a here, he could invite friends to stay with him; but the strain would be done h away with', I know he could be in- duced to turn country gentleman, and leave the struggle to those who must fight for daily bread. Ele has enough Money for all sensible needs." men are not responsible for. It is the result of their whole .edueatron. I want you to explain this to Mollie; you can talk to her more explicitly than I man, I want to tell yottl what Iknow from observation, from reading, and from conversation. These foreigners impress us with their manners. Well, mother, they acquire manners as la- boriously as we learn to spell. It is ' superficial. The human brute is al- ways there stronger than we Ameri- cans can ooneeive of it, Now, I'll tell Tau why. You know exactly bow to judge of the average American. We may be brusque or satin according to temperament, talkative or reserved ac- cording to our company, We may be highly educated or have but asmat- tering of book knowledge, We may be rich, moderately well off or poor, These are variable quantities, not vital, not essential to true happiness, I'll show you want we have that is the secret of all that makes life beautiful, that creates peace and joy -we believe in the chastity of woman" "Why, Larry 1" "I knew I would give you ash'ock. Let me finish and then you will see the neoessity of making Mollie realize the importance of this subject. We Americans are born with faith in our mothers, in our sisters, in all the niee women we meet as we grow to boyhood and manhood. We love those who are about us; we respect them; we are taught to reverence innocence, mo- desty, purity. We are reared in an at- mospbere that makes us the cham- pions and protectors of women the world over, Wo live in view of a home with love on its altar; but the corner- stone is purity. When we first go abroad and learn that there are in the world unhappy women who have lost their claim to respect, we are hurt, shocked at the revelation. We try to find excuses for them, and seek the causes of their condition in the pres- sure of circumstances which they can- not control. A lost woman is apiti- able sight." "Larry, you astonish one! The idea of expressing sympathy for such a creatural" Mother, this creature that you de- spise is to be found in alt classesbf the community. But to get at the main point -these foreign noblemen begin at the other end and never reach the holy ground that we stand upon. You have only to recall what you saw and heard abroad, 'l'he infant boy is suckled by a stranger, and left to servants until old enough to enter school. Hb is never under the influence of pure women. His sister and his possible wife are in convents. His marriage is a contract; be takes his bride a.s amere business matter. This man's experience makes it impossible for him to conceive of an innocent, good woman. It es tablishes his position toward all wo men. Hs does nut except his wife. Sh must be watched. Be is a jealous, su pieious husband from the first. No imagine our typical American girl petted, admired, strong in bier own be- lief in herself and in her motives, ac- customed to respect, and on friend terms with scores of- pleasant me whose theories of life are in harmony with her own, Suppose she marrL this foreigner. After the little exoit meat is over, and they are left t themselves and each other, what have they in comutorn ? A. title and a fo une don't include happiness." "You take the most practical vie f the subject, Larry." "Why not ? Take up a history; th s - w, e- ly n, es e- ra r - w French are described as brilliant, su- perficial, vain, and fickle. They have eliminated belief in God and faith in N, purity. The individual makes re nation. I tush Mollie could see an merman marquise that I met In Flor- ence. Her eyes bad but one expres- ion; that of a frightened, bunted ani - al -misery Incarnate. Yet she had all he things for which she sold berself• used to want to wring that brute's eek when I met him alone. The dev- il lurked ]n his eyes; his mouth was tigerish. Poor girl 1 He wouldn't let her speak English. He had a mistress within a few squares, ,whom he sup- ported with his wife's money. Fortun- ely, the property is trusteed - he a only waste her income, •%o is oung"and she has one child: I have eard that he struck her when in- rriatedl" "Why does she stay with him?" "I don't know. They were married ith three services. If she left him e could not have ber child, You see, other, I would rather put Mollie in er coffin than let her marry one of ese ruffians with their fine veneer manners," "Suppose you have a talk with her. le doesn't know anything about hat you are concerned with. She fight be influenced, as she has a eat idea of your ability, She is con- mplating social position, pretty lens for all occasions, having a Coro- t worked, and stamped on all her longings. She thinks, if she thinks all, that men are all alike, and judg- these foreigners by her experience Mr own countrymen." 'How is the introduotion to he had?" "That is the eaeiest part of it. '.!'here ars several of these ornamental speci- mens coming to Newport this month, and it is simple enough to get ac- quainted with them. You see, your feet of arural life is out of the esus'. Your father is 'devoted to oks, Mollie has her mind made up buy rank, and I am depending upon u to make me happy," Come, come, mother; I'll do what I can to please ,you; but Pll have atusele with the stooks and the nobleman." "Oh'; well, Larry, you are young and strong, and men are naturally com- bative and like something to fight. I believe it was it mistake for us to come here, You had enough to occupy your mind, and now you are worried about r father and excited over Mollie, P le fanny that tbe rich have no u111 es," Mother, we are manufacturing our about ea rapidly as possible, ere !s ld13Uie?" t left her packing her trunk, I Sup we won't see you until your is (bolded." CHAPTER VIII, tepoielble1 I shall have all Lean "OhLarry, you are looking at things , sh m in a new light, You are influenced by h the surroundings of this place. They th wouldn't suit you, Your sister has to of be considered. Mollie must marry wall," Sl "Fier admirers can come here." et. "She is ambitious. Ever smce her m friend married that French noble- gr man she bas felt like meeting these to titled people and marrying among go them," ne But how silly! You should be able be to show her the mistake she is mak- at es "I have tried to reason with her. Sbe of can see only the worldly side of it. She argues that she is rich enough, and these mon are abroad seeking Am- erican fortunes" "She doesn't know what she is risk- ing." No, she is dazzled by the externals, pro ;Why, Larry, that man who married 011Reseie Sanford teas fifty, and she was stn under twenty. ale was all made up, . to gore artificial teeth' and wig, and Yo could hardly raise his eyelids. I thought it was simply disgusting 1 The idea of a young, bright American girl accepting sash a future. I thought of her own honest young countrymen, who would have given her something inur retina for her youth and beauty... "Why, mother, it is disgraceful -- positively shocking 1 It is to me some- what ludicrous to watch the men Lonamassing wealth for these foreign 151- Peo em who take It, with sneers for the tro Meatier in which it is made, Could there- be a greater burlesque on re- 0110 publican principles? But the trans. 1Yh portal ion of American fortunes is the least of the evils. These girls ac- su ort eI men Who are utterly incapably of tato understanding or appreciating them,' And this is a misfortune that these "I do tof el p •epnisd For the eaanal ' now e r atlon, Still, I am glad that you s me here, and delighted that you ca to see me, If there are elands in t family aka, I ought to know tib them. f am no longer a boy, an m'tn may be doll in mathemalies sharp enough In other branobes knowledge. I am going to sound Ile on the matrlmoulal question. don't suppoaa t have any rights in Matter, but it would be jolly to 'h a brotber-in-law tbat one could respe e d tike for himself, 'Mollie may expect. a return con deuce,°' "When I have anything to cont she will be welcome to 11." Larry found his sister stuffing em articles into the corners of her tru "Can you 00105 for a walk?" "Yes; you are very good to think it. Shall I pall napb.no?" "I want to speak to you, Mollie% may not have another opportunity,,' They left the hotel and wands along the shaded road. "I am sorry we are going, Lar It is so nice and restful here; bub must bore you dreadfully, and Is pose we've turned the Minturn tam upside down," If you'll change your mind, a stay here, I'll promise you to avoid ing bored, and to prove beyond adnu tbat the Minturns have not even be shaken an their pedestal. See he Mollie, that is the proper thing for y to do, Father will not go to Newpo with you, but I think we could co flim to stop here and take a rest fro business." "Miss Minturn might persuade hi I fancy. But, Larry, Mise Van No expects to go to Newport ;tbe arrang meats ere all made; and I, too, ba agreed to be there. You are ve good to want us here. I am sure." "It makes it homelike, for me, Moll Ican't see much of you again until t Thanksgiving holidays. That is why want to talk to you. You see, Moll the Everett family is ridiculous small. You and I compose it. T way in which we live now tends keep us apart, and from present a pearancas the distance may increas Now, if we could put our heads toget er and work for a jolly, comfortab home -say here, for instance -we nig induce father to retire from busine and take comfort in the real pleasur and blessings of this life. I'll guars tee to introduce a lot of nice fellow so tbat you and your friends will n look companionship; and perhaps th happiness that we hear so much a.bou and seldom experience may take up i abode with us." Miss Everett watched her brother face, than looked ahead of her, an preserved silence. "Come, Mollie; out with it - what you think." "I was thinking that you have reach ed the land of pleasant dreams. Yo live In a paradise that imaginatio pictures. Oh, well, it is very ewes while it lasts." "Molly, what do you mean?" "Just what I say. A few years ag I would have accepted this offer wit enthusiasm. It is too late. I hav bad my little dream, and it is over.' "Why, Mollie 1 I never knew—" "I know that. How could you? Wb should you?" 'But I am your brother -older tba you. If you had confided in me—' "Oh, you were In Europe." "One can write—" "Larry, I never thought of you, was all so sudden -so soon over 1" "And this is why you have concoct, ed a plan to marry for rank?" "Precisely 1 1What's the use having a beart if you're forced to break it?" ' Nothing can wound your heart sd muoh as to be false to its promptings. If you feel for one man as you evident- ly do, how could you dare marry an- other?" Oh, psbaw 1 I'll marry some one who only wants my money -who lays no claim to my heart." Everett drew his sister's arm in his and spoke gently. "Let me understand this thing thoroughly. Had you a quarrel? Is pique at the bottom of it ?" No -what mother calls common sense. We met on the steamer going over and--" "Yes, I know. Go on." "It was all settled between us; but wben he came to see me, after we got home, mother sent him word that I was out. She had reasoned that be was nit rich and had no social position. He called several times; then he wrote telling me that he was always inform- ed. that I was out or engaged. I didn't answer his letter, so he took offence and that ended it," "Why, you made no fight what- ever." ' I didn't know how. You were away; father seemed farther off than you. I was a fool, I suppose. If I had it all to do now, .I should act different- ly. It was my first experience, and I lost the battle." What has become of him?" "I don't know." "You ears, though. See here, Diol - lie, tell mo his mime, and let me find out something about him. Keep these foreigners at arm's-length, and perhaps you can return to the place of pleas- ant dreams with me." No. l have put it all away from me. He couldn't feel any respect for me. I treated him so shamefully, Don't mention it to anybody. You see, mother didn't credit me with real- ly loving him, She thought it was no, flirtation carried too far, and she wab d.etermiaed to get pie clear of the mat- ter. She said she would never consent to the marriage, that I bad nothing to live upon, and that be was not h a position to marry. These were facts." "True, but they are successfully dealt with every day. I am glad you told me of this affair. I never sus - 'meted that my demure little sister wes suffering with what, the French call an 'affair of the heart,' because with them it is an unusual thing. I shall regard you with very different feelings after this." "I am sorry you brought up this matter. You have excited emotions and recalled associations that I must Put away from me. It would be mis- ery to live them over periodically." It should be delight," "Oh, well, Larry, that is out of the question now." "Mollie, it cannot be possible that you would marry from worldly motives, The man who would exchange his title eor your money would always be con- ternptibie in your estimation," "No more se than I should be in hie."' I can hardly contemplate the idea of a girl of twenty coolly making ecia 1j- ent me the out d a; but of L41ot- I I the ave et l fi- I ide , n:LI nk. I of I, red ry we up-! ity nd be- y, lot. en re f 00 rt ax, m t re,�t f SS 5 0` 5 98 u rY f e le. 1 he h is, f lye e he 0 to t h- le h ht ss t es n- m s, of e a t is a say n 0 t im d be b a e ars re, y tar only a smattering; still, we gain n breadth if not depth. We go every- ' where, hear and see and read for our. selves. Necessarily we are precocious; we are developed too rapidly, perhaps; It but are we to blame? Now, then, when the natural result takes place, and we say that We love, that we want to marry, why, we are told that eve of know notbiug-that we are too young to judge of our own feelings, too ig- norant to deoide for ourselves Is not this all wrong? If you put a flower under glass and it opens, can you shut it again ?' To Be Continued. • herself ab future of such a nature. Where is your sense of moral recti- tude? Slow can you say to ourself that you will relinquish all the holy and lovely joys of existence? Why, my girl, you are cultivating a morbid condition of mind that unfits you for talking a sensible, healthy view of the situation. A loveless marriage won't 01106 your trouble. Just possess your soul in patience for a bit until I have time to devote to your inter•este, You can count upon me to help forward w.batevor is equare and calculated to make you really happy. Go back to dreamland; it is at least a sweeter atmosphere for a girl of our age. Bet- ter nurse illusions and finale of ideals than contemplate marriage on a worldly plan, At forty, such a the- ory might be excusable in a woman" "Why, Larry, you, too, have views and ideas about the subject." `Naturally. Otherwise f couldn't have so much to say to you."' "Perhaps I am practical -more so than you." "Praotioalness is all very well; but you don't want to carry it to the realms of insanity" "011, don't get beside yourself. That doesn't help conviction. You've said quite as much as is necessary. You see, mu think as I did a few years ago. Wait until you indulge in 'love's young dream,' and then find out that your amity objects to your plans, and that you haven't the money to act inde- pendently. Larry, young people are not worldly; they are not even prat. foal. The parents interfere, and seat- er their hopes, and sneer at their eelings, and ridicule what was sacred o them, When you experience all his you can sympathize with me and nderstand due. 1' am going to avoid uture suffering. The way is this; n,joy the bright things, occupy myself with light interests, and keep my east to myself. 1 see people doing this. They don't allow themselves to eel. They pursue pleasure, they find ntertainment, they don't care for there, and they don't want others o care for them." "A pretty philosophy for an Ameri- can girl of twenty with a father in Ring insanity in his efforts to give er all that she desires 1" "That's just it. My one desire was o marry for love. That was denied me. If I had been allowed to follow y feelings no doubt my best nature vould have expanded. I would have had interests and duties to develop lova nil all the motions that we read so uch about in books. I might have, had a little child to make me good and wise. But I was scoffed at. Why, I should like to know? Grandma was married when she was eighteen, and father was born before she was nine- teen. She was a happy, honorable wile and mother at twenty, with pro- per ideas and affections. I'm a cyni- cal, disappointed woman, not because am heartless, but because my good pulses have been crushed! What u would like me to be I never can The incentive is gone, Larry. I now lots of girls situated just as I m. 'You see, parents are very incon- tent. Let me show you Mw. They a ally farce us as regards education. ou know that we American girls are ught everything. Of course, it is ODD SEWING MACHINES. Borne or the Mere C1i1le119 of the rage to oThich They 006 rot. The buttonhole sewing machine is familiar, but it is probable that the button -sewing machine is less so. Such machines, however, have been used for years. The same button -sawing ma- chine might serve to sew on buttons, of a dozen styles and sizes, but they would all be buttons with the oyes at the some distances apart. There are many buttons of various sizes as to diameter whose eyes aro punched alike. .Button -sewing machines are most com- monly used to sew on buttons that are placed close down to the fabric, as on underwear, and many other things, They are not used to sew on buttons as they are often sewed on clothing, where, after sewing on the button, -the thread is drawn with a few tight turns around between the button and the cloth, thus raising the button upon a little column. Ordinarily in the use of sewing ma- chines, the material is fed to the ma- chine, In sewing carpets the machine travels along the carpet, The carpet with the edges to be sawed together is stretched and held between the sup- ports of a frame, The carpet -sewing machine is placed on the double edge of the carpet, along which it travels, as it is operated, sewing as it goes, There are carpet -sewing machines that are operated by hand, and also ma- chines that are operated by power. Sewing machines have long been used for a great variety of leather worlc, Some of the machines used for such purposes, es, for example, sewing ma- thine& used for stitching leather or rubber belting, are powerful machines that stitch through such materials half or three-quarters of an inch or more in thickness. Besides machines used for stitching leather there are also made waving machines that are used for stitching paper in blank books and oth- ers. GIVING THE BATH, Many a mother bas a most trying time evhen giving soma of her children their bath. The little ones commence to scream, and complain at the sight Of soap and water, and it seems that no amount et threatening or correc- tion helps the matter any. Naturally the mother loses temper and, of course, the child becamea very cross. It is a good plan to ehgrosa the little one's attention by telling some story -some- thing which mania be of interest to him. Ho will forget how disagreeable the water is, and, to l before he knows, fro is washed, and that without any struggle on either Ins part or his mother's, Vila plan has been tried and rA suecessfult , � t. , ... GOBBLING UP SHE GLOB .04 Agaa'n, jt wi11 bo remamber'ed iltal'� _®_♦_m-,v-�,-®_e-4-•9-0- O E, Icing Monelok, since that dale, boost' shaltcn the Italians out of Abyssloia • Young fy. H'1� A d. and stands at coed to shake out: hes- J i Ey A l G j thing else that comes along. Still, these T T are only natters of detail, A mere-o-e-a-e-e--e-o-e-♦-40--♦ transfer of title outs no figure when GRAN DMA. we are searching for une1aimed made, At the same time It may be said that, When grandma put, Mr glasses on in recent yeers, Britain has made Horne And looks at me -just so- 1 nominal enoroacbments on the Dutch If I hard dune a naughty thing possessions in Borneo and Sumatra, but SheLe sure, somehow, to know. 1 t'�h888 lil',ilo .mrltters don't effect gen- How 59 it she Call altvaty8 tell � I'. chat results. ' So very, very, very well s.? ,ei PACIFIO ISLANDS SEIZED. She says to ms; "'Yes, liable one,, 'r In this year of grace 1808, every inch ,,Tis written in our a el" : ! of habitable Asia, Europe and America, Y Y all at g of Atn'd if l look the other way, 11� , Australia and ten-elovenLhe And turn and nem'to try • To hunt for something on the floor, , She's sore to know it all the more. , ! Tit 1 should put the glasses oa ii1 Anel look in grandma's eyes, ; ii Do you suppose that I should be d ,i So vera', very wise? Now, what if f should find it true That grandma had been naughty, tool IBut ah I what ami I dreaming of ? To dream that grandma could lttl. 113e anything in all her life 1 `11 r ISut sweet and kind and goad I { I'd better try myself to be 1,1 So good, that when she looks at me 1 With eyes se loving all the day I'll never want Lo turn away. Al li1 -- ,G.,. THE ENGAGED GIRL. 'f' • ' The custom of a purely sentimental engagement frequently discourages all consideration of the everyday needs and conditions of life that young peo- ple must meet after marriage. The mention of finances is too frequently, ignored. After the betrothal the young womare finds herself an idol in the eyes of her fiance, and unless she has n firm men- tal equipoise and great common-sense there is danger that this aduletiom will turn her bead and that she will become affected and conceited. The re- sult, if she is a weak woman will be that all the selfishness that lies with- in her will come to the surface, and that in the wedded life she will be un- willing to assume the energetic house- wifely duties, and in all probability will sink into a complaining, petulant woman. who missing the constantly ex - MOTHER 'EARTH AS NI013E, ' pressed adoration of her engagement By way of illustrating the splendors days, secretly blames her husband of these Pacific possessions and the ease for the result. of government, as it were, the enro- llees contain 052 islands and the Pelew g group 200. Another group, part of the the unhappiness o1 married life is a re - Caroline Chain, goes by the name of suit of the selfish pathos of sentiment Ruk, Within a lagoon 190 miles in and self -adulation into which the wom- eiroumfereucs lie seventy islets, chief- an allows herself to sink duringthe en- ly coral reefs, and each has its own breech -clout rajah or chief. Nearly gagement. If she is naturally inclined' all these Ides ere big enough to ek- to indolence., this ton lenay will be bird" scomodachooner a genre of geld. The "black- greatly fostered, for she will see her bird" schooner man who trades in these regions gots a wife for a. case of gin life smoothly mapped out before her by, or a bolt of calico print, while the di- another and. herself delivered from the vorce courts would make Chicago blush necessity of exertion -her entirefuturo with jealous rage. There may be a painted in the attractive but arenas - few of these delectable vest-pocket is- cent "couleur de rose." Q3eoause she is lets telt: for somebody to walk up and able to sink into a state of inaction ' govern," but it takes so many of she does so, and thus lets herself drift them to make a decent bite, and their toward the saddest and most hopeless morals are so iaeurahly loose, that the of lots -an empty life. ' game isn't worth the candle. Sfother Much of this misery might be spared Earth, so the territorial wolves ,say, if women would understand that an en - is welcome to hug these remaining oho- gagearent, though not as sacred or in- colat'e bantlings to her breast, like Ni- violate as marriage, has its Own dut- obe, for all the rest of her brood has fes, which should be as inviolably and been kidnaped and devoured. sacredly kept. Our great-grandmoth- ers, in this, as in all phases of d.omestio life, can instruct us by their examples in which they were guided by practical common-sense. When Priscilla became engaged all the spinning -wheels were put into im- mediate requisition, and the hum of the wheels never ceased until a store of fine linen, mainly the product of her - own hands, was laid away carefully in the family presses to await the wed- ding day. (She fulfilled literally the Scriptures describing a virtuous wo- LITTLE GROUND LEFT FOR THE HUNGRY NATIONS TO DEVOUR. Teno-Eleventals or ,t,a'Ic#y meed Up among the rowere—Sprint Sete titan a In a t,rab.lrsg-AreUe Mee gardens. The change in ownership in several largo slices of land on the globe, as a result of the Spanieb war, makes it interesting to take a birdsoye squint at the earth and see what a precious small fraction of it is not covered by somebody's mortgage. 13y long odds the most stupendous acquisition, at one fell swoop, came when the discoveries of Columbus veeted the title deeds to the new world in Spain. Gradually, by writs of ejectment, based on revolu- tion, all this superb domain has pass- ed out of her bands, till, at the and of four centuries, Spain now finds her- self driven, bag and baggage, from her venerable possessions in America. Next in point of magnitude was the English conquest of India, Australia, New Zealand and Britieh North Amer- ica. Good government in all these vast regions has tended to quiet title so far that John Bull may be looked up- as as their permanent landlord. Rus- sia's absorption of Siberia, the Dutch acquisitions in the East Indies and the territorial seizures of Germany and France left but little of the earth's surface in the open market. About a generation ago, after a ser- ies of discoveries in Afroa, the powers opened ibeir eyes to the wisdom of slicing up the Dark Continent. With- in a single generation, and chiefly within the past decade, that vast area has been practically gobbled. Nearly the whole of South Africa and a huge part of North Africa have witnessed a rapidity of conquest comparable only to that of the Spanish captains after the discovery of the new world, but it has not, like the latter, been attended by blood -shed, rapine and widespread ruin. It was a commercial garb, pure and simple, with the philauthropic an- nex, called the destruction of the stave trade, that oldest and direst plague spot on the continent. PARTITION OF AFRICA. It had, perforce, to bo conducted on very different principles from the Span- ish seizures in America, because there wane too many strong powers who wanted a piece o4: the African pork, and no single ogre would be allowed to swallow it all. So they resorted to dip- lomacy. All the powers were called to the inquest, and each had his surgeon on hand with his knife. The autopsy was managed on business principles by the conventions entered into by Great Britain with France, Germany, Italy and Portugal during the year 1890-4, They called it " delimiting the pre- sent and future spheres of action," and the results were reasonably final. Ex- tent of the territories assigned to each of the contracting powers woe defin- itely settled by those important in- ternational treaties. Of course, the na- tives had no vote. It was division witb- out representation. There was one snag, however, and they've not got it out of tbe channel yet. The Germans introduced a diplo- matic novelty oalled "Hinterland." It means blacklnnds, or the regions ex- tending inland from any sLrip of oc- cupied seaboard, much like tbe oom- monlaw claim that a man who owns property, owns to the sky-" usque ad coetum," The first clash under this the- ory came when Portugal ran her claims inland till they hutted into a oheice reservation of John Bull. This was actually settled by a compromise, but there has been continual friction ever since over the Hinterland prin- ciple between England, Prance and Germany in the Central Sudan and the South African dominion. It may lead yet to a warlike matinee. In this way, Africa, which, fifty years ago, was largely the property of con- fiding black cannibals, without ward- robes, is now actually occupied, or ad- ministered by the powers, or claimed as under their protection, or within their respective spheres of influence, Largo sections of the proteoLed lands are really "administered" by trading companies which enjoy almost sover- eign rights and are responsible to the home governments. Other regions, such as the Cape and Natal, constitute self-governing colonies, in the enjoy- ment of representative institutions, while others are crown colonies, The vast Kongo basin has hitherto been administered under international guar- antees by the king of the Belgians, DART{ CONTINENT GOBBLED. So the African autopsy now stands follows, according to the latest au- horiiies, The total area of the con- nect is 11,080,000 square miles, and re is the result of the (Resection in mare miles up to date; reat Britain . .. .. ..2,818,000 anee, .. .. .. .9,074,000 ortugatl. . . . . . 88.1,000 rmany. . ,. , . . 828,000 sly . .. . , 800,000 sin . . 203,000 ,key, .. .1,072,000 bongo Free State. , . , , , , 000,000 Total European African pos- sessions. , „ .. ..10,080,000 This leaves the black gentleman and dies in the proud position to call air own just one million square miles lliair cr.glnal homestead claim, This gatallo of earth is put down in the rplomatie column as " independent. and appropriated," and lies chiefly in the gene south of Morocco, in Wadai <l in ,.regions around the Dar-Baadn, awe of the continent, where the in - strives ivory peddler is still an hn- nown quantity. Ar few changes must' bo made in the Se figures, which are taken from nford's "Compendium," date of 08, For instance, with oharacteristio lush modesty, Stanford claims for queen the two Dutch territories the Tsa,usvaal and the Orange Froe te, "because, while nominally en - ems, they practically term apart to the British South Alriaan system, th which their (battles are insepar- y linked,' i i I I . ; as t ti he sq r G P Gla It Sp Tu la th cf ba un ex an or du mho Ste the 855 ton of bi Africa are claimed or occupied lands, Nothing is left for the nations to gam- ble for now, except the winsome ice gardens at the poles, the alluring ao- reage of Patagonia and a few petty islets in the South Patric, where, in the immortal words of Sunset Cox, "the men don't have uo politics and the wo- man don't wear n0 clothes." For centuries the nations of Europe bale boon singing the " Gobble Song" all over those tropical island groups of the South Pacific. These are divided into Polynesia and Micronesia. The first name is applied to all the islands, north and south of the Equator, lying between the Philippines, Papua, or New Guinea, New Britain, and the neigh- boring islands, Solomon Islands, New Hebrides nncl New Zealand, trod the meridian of 100 degrees west, The principal of these are the Hawaiian, Marquesas, Paumoti, Society, Samoan, Friendly, New Caledonia, Fiji, Caroline, Ladrone, Marshall and Gilbert groups, These are 1111 very muoh alike in trop- ical products, and morals tougher than a boarding house steak. But they are all gobbled up either in whole or on a copartnership basis, Uncle Som has Ilawaii, Franca has New Caledonia, the Society, Marquesas and New Hebrides; Great Britain has New Zealand, the GIlberts and the Fijis; Germany has the Dfarshalls; Spain, for the time at least, has the enrollees and Ladrones; the Dutch, English and German have sliced up Now Guinea; Germany and .England have divided the Solomons, while the beautiful and fer- tile Paumotu is under the nominal rule of France as part of the Low Arehipcl- ago. Samoa has autonomy under a na- tive king, guaranteed by the United States, England end Germany, but there are plenty of loose joints in this armor, and Samoa may be counted as among the possible geese to be pluck- ed. CARP OF TILE .EYES. This is a day when the delusioneto which one has held for years are gradu- ally being swept away by those "who know." One such delusion in which we all once believed was that to read while in a recumbent' position eves injurious to the eyes. Oculists now tell us that if the light be !good and the type of the printed page clear 'we may safely indulge in the luxury of lying down and reading at the same Lime. But while our oculist tells us this, he also warns us that we may not ase our eyes before breakfast, as the strain on the optic nerve will seri- ously affect the sight. So she who would read before she rises in the morning must have her cup of coffee and a roll or slice of toast brought to her bedside. Unless one has unusually strong eyes one must not read when ane is extreme- ly weary. Exhaustion and fatigue af- fect all the nerves of the body, and the optic nerve is so sensitive that it should receive particular considera- tion. Nor should one ever be guilty of the oarelessuess of reacting or writ- ing fading a window. This, too, is a cruel strain on the sight. Washing the eyes morning and night ill water as hot as it can be borne is a wonderful tonin for those useful ser- vants which are so easily injured. When we consider how we neglect their welfare by using them by fading day- light and insufficientartificial tight by forcing them to do work when bhey'are weary, and by denying them the rest for which they long, we have cause to wonder not that they sometimes be- comemutinous u nous and refuse to fulfil our demands, but that they aro ever faith- ful in our service. '.I'hey will, as a rule, be. as good to 00 as we are to them, USELESS FORBODINGS. What a vast proportion of our lives is spent in anxious and useless fore- bodings concerning the future -either our own or that of our clear ones! Present joys, present blessings slip by, anti we miss half their sweet Him - ox for want of faith in Him who pro- vides for the tiniest insect in the sun- beam. Oh, when will we learn the sweetest trust in God that our children Math us -we, who are so mutable, so faulty, so irritable, so unjust, and He who is so watchful, so pitiful, so loving, so forgiving1 Why cannot we, slip- ping ourhandinto His each day, walk ust ng y over that day's appointed path, thorny or flowery, crooked or straight, knowing that evening will bring as sleep, peace and home ? HOW IT AFFECTED 1I3M, I didn't write letters when I was in vs. • You were sensible. Not much, I wish I had the money I spent nn telegrams. ! Fria - man. "She seoke.th wool and flax and work: gagement time is the time for eth willingly with her hands -she lay- eth her hands to the spindle and her !rands hold the distaff," In the Pris• milia days the betrothed girl took apo• alai mare to learn perfection in cooking and to'be instructed by her elders in all the housewifely arts in which she must be versed, in order to manage her husband's home efficiently. 1f bar bilk, did not always turn out success- fully she practiced baking until hag loaves 15810 the lightest and brownest; she practiced jelly -making until her jetties were as clear as crystals. And, while bar hands were thus occupied sire was being instructed daily in the sacredness of the life she was to enter -a lesson often left nowadays • to the unguided intuition of the unexperienc- edgol. Tiro en preparation, and it ought to bo the busiest time of a woman's life, No matter how skilled she may be in cook- ing and housework, she should strive now to became yet more efficient in them, That her husband will be a man of affluence, incl will have a number of servants does not exonerate her from these duties ; for if a woman knows nothing of houselreeping, she cannot ex- poet respect and obedience from her savants, One of the great mistakes incident to an engagement is that of leaving the question of the bride's outfit until late and having the worry of preparing the trousseau in the last month or two. Those garments over which fashion has little or no control can be made up. early, and ample time will then be left for the dainty trimmings 08 laces and embroideries, so dear to at woman's heart. If she is at leisure and Ms no- thing more important to do, the bride- elect could make pretty soft cushions, dainty window curtains and all the lit- tle trifles that make it home attractive. Above all, let her in her May mo - manta and in her home's of relaxation come to a gradual and complete under- standing of the importance of the life she is toenter, andan understanding • of the part she must play in it; not that of a dependent to give nothing or that of a worshiped goddess to avail's all, but the part of n co-worker with her husband to gi,a and weoeiye equally, DIVETIS.LON, • .What makes ,you so noxious to intro. duce Diggs and Higgs? 'Fliggs always tells conundrums and Diggs hates thorn.