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The Brussels Post, 1899-3-10, Page 2TETE BRUSSELS POST. Diamond Gut Diamond OR, THE ROUT OF THE ENEMY. ' CHAPTER XVII:—Continued. fate, lowered his voice, and bent down "Is there not a dog in the rooter" here his face so that the others, who had dropped into conversation, were en- able to hear him—"our worthy host is a dear fellow, as wq all know -but he is rough; wants polish, don't you know —neve(' seen any good society at all to speak of -that always tells, don't itr" "'That is, no doubt, why we get on with him," answered Delete, with flame -angered cheeks, "You see, we asked Angel looking about. "Oh, Yes, there he is, under tba table, What is his name? Is he tim'd: Mr. Faulkner." "I am afraid not, Miss Halliday," re- plied Miles with a grim smile. "I wish he was. His name ie Trousers, Bags to his intimate friends. He is rather rum -tempered, I think you had bet- ter not antics atm. have never seen any good society, aith- d Mrs. a Dane growl was audible, er. Now, the society you have moved lyand Deno pemarked apprehensive- in must impart quite a superior is rapt Sia hoped h would not get hydrophobic(, of which she was much • amounC of varnish; I imagine--" afraid, end, kr her part, she always "Ahe pretty well for that, no doubt!" thought dogs were best kept in the pull.ng up his collet' with a mock -mod - stables. est air. "I certainly know my London, These remarks were not at all well ss they say—and, no doubt, a familiar - received by the individual for whom ity with London drawing -rooms does they were intended; he raised his up -give to the manners a certain indescrib per lip and glared vioiously at the able something, which is lacking in speaker, our good honest friend—eh? Ah! I see Angel held out a bit of sugar, and that dirty, ill -conditioned cur of his tried to decoy him out ot his fast- has got up on your lap. He is, really, ness. hardly suited to such a favoured posi- "Poor Trousers, come here, good tion—an ugly, lung -legged mongrel dog," with a sweet little kissing noise Like that! Now, if you are fond of of her red lips, which should have fill- dogs, I've got a little Yorkshire ter - ed the soul of any well-intentioned rier, ab olutely pure bred—weighs four dog with rupture, but Trousers only Pounds three ounces—that I shall be snarled at her. most happy to present to you if you "I am afraid it's no good, Miss Deli- will accept him. I'll send him round day," laughed Miles, 'Trousers is the to Cromwell Road to -night. He's a most unapproachable animal he is ab -;regular little beauty, good enough kr solutely insensible to blandishment; the Princess of Wales. Much more when he is in one of his bad tempers, Cit for your lap -dog than that brute the only plan is to let him alone, and of Faulkner's--" I am sorry to say he has one dread- During this speech, Trousers had fel failing — I am almost ashamed to mention it, but the fact is, he hes the most unaccountable prejudice against the fair sex." "Really?" ored Dulceit, hers joining in for the first time. "How exceed- ingly amusing! How murk I respect an animal of so much character and eccentricity. But do all women alike come in for this sweeping condemna- tion? Aro there no exceptions in his mind?" "None, I regret to say. Young and old, fair and plain, all that wears a petticoat is equally detestable in his eyes." "What a delightful animals" laugh- ed Delete merrily. "But oh! how much 1 should love to conquer his canine heart. What a triumph it would he to be the one woman who had power to gain his unapproachable affections!" She bent down till her sweet face was almost on a level with the quivering, angry little form in its shadowy cor- ner. "Ohl Trousers, won't yon come to me? I do so wish you would!" And then a miracle took place, yea, a very miracle! Trousers, who had snarled at the proffered sugar, reject- ing the advances of her fairer sister with scorn and contumely, now, at- tracted perhaps by some trick of voice, or possibly by a still greater refine- ment of instinct, towards the girl whom Miles loved, at the very first word that she spoke to him, came slinking, shamefacedly, out of his cor- ner, wriggling his body and wagging his tail, till he deposited himself hum- bly and cringingly against her skirts. Delete patted her knee invitingly, and straightway Trousers repented him of all the evil that he had laid to the charge of her much -maligned sex, and, springing boldly up upon her lap, de- posited the lick of amity upon her nose. It is impossible to; say which was the most delighted at this truly ex- traordinary turn of events. Miles, whose satisfaction was mingled with unbounded astonishment, or Delete, who was as triumphant asshe was pleased. As to the hero of the hour, he comported himself with muoh dignified self-po s asiou—coiled him/eh round at ease, upon the lady's lap and nest- led bis nose confidingly upon her arm. But yet more distinction lay that day, in store for Trousers. "Here comes Geoffrey, no doubt," ex- claimed Miles at this juncture, as a knock was beard at the street door. But a few minutes later, just as Mrs. Dane was breathing sighs of relief over his arrival, and Anger --t with a vague sense of consciousness, which, if it was not love, partook at least of the nature of those soothed and grati- fied sensations at the atentions of an agreeable man, and which) women oft- en mistake for love, was looking down intently at the bread and butter upon her plate, there entered, not Geoffrey Dane—but Albert Trichet. "Hallo, Trichetl" Even Miles' good - nature was scarcely equal to weloom- been regarding him attentively, with fixed and glittering eyes that should have warned him. No doubt Trousers understood perfectly what was being talked about, for he had raised him- self, slowly, into a sitting posture. When Trichet spoke in oontemptuous terms of his master's lack of polish, Trousers growled softly somewhere down in his throat; when he mention- ed his own mongrel extraction and called him a our, he elevated his lip, and showed every tooth in his head. But when he spoke of a rival, of that Yorkshire terrier of surpassing loveli- ness, whowato supplant him in Dal- lis upoiy the lap that 1015 for himself—to be nd, ands, in short, to s favou • was 50 caresee oust hi then t 1001her i`•neit4slioyn honors— users becti'ne suddenly lost to all sense of decorum; the anger in his oanine soul blazed up in a rush of blood to his brain, and all the duties of hospitality to the stranger within his doors became as nought unto him. With one shrill yell ot rage, he dash- ed at the offender's face—so conveni- ently bent towards him—and pinioned his teeth firmly and fixedly into his somewhat lengthy nose. And there he hung. Screams of agony from his victim, cries of dismay from the ladies, blows from Miles' stick upon his back — all were, for some minutes, in vain. In evident delight at bis proud posi- tion, he clung on like grim Death— regardless alike of the howls of the wretched Triohet, and of the angry remonstrances of his master. And only a grip of iron upon his tail induc- ed him at last to forego the blood- thirsty jaws of the con.luerer, and to reliniquish his hold of his enemy's n.oae. But what made the most awful fea- ture of that fateful afternoon to the unfortunate Trichet, was, that when, bleeding and dishevelled, yelling aloud with pain and anguish, he rushed fran- tically into Faulkner's bedroom, slam- ming the door upon him—the last vision that he beheld was Duthie, in convulsions of laughter, patting the in- furiated dog's bead, as he was held, struggling and breathless, and bark- ing himself nearly into a fit, in his master's arms. CHAPTER XVIII. Albert Leonel. did not appear in his place at the office for several days after Miles 1"'aulkner's lea -party. lie pleaded severe indtsposition, and re- mained away. When he did come back, his nose was oddly plastered tap with strips of diaohylon, whiob gave to that organ of his face a very cur- ious and ludicrous aspect. He scowled fiercely at his fellow -clerks, when he saw how they bent over their writing and strove to conceal their smiles at his entrance. Trichet laid his hands on the table, and bent across it in Miles' direction. "1 give you notice, Mr. 1'aulkner, that I intend to bring an notion Ing this self -invited guest with much against you.' cordiality, "This is, indeed, an hon- indeed, Trichet I" Miles slightly our!" raised his eyebrows, but not his eyes. Mrs. Dane gave him the tips of her And what for, might I enquire?" fingers, the young ladies bowed. , for keeping a ferocious dog in your "Well, you see, Miles, Geoffrey is a roof am not aware,that if surly sort of dog"—nobody made the1 chose to slightest response to this beginning— keep a hyena in mrooms, it could be "and when I found he was too lazy to considered an illegal proceeding." some out and have tea with you and "Do you mean to tell me that a man is to be allowed to invite innocent and your charming guests, I said to my- unsuspecting persons into his house, self—'By Jove, my boy„ it's too bad to and then set violent and dangerous leave three lovely ladies with only one g' man between the lot of them!" brutes upon them?" "We have been perfectly happy, Mr. 11 "Pardon me, lrichot," replied Miles, Trichet," said Mrs. Dano, frigidly. It ng his coo eyes, and regarding his t "And as I am not a 'lovely lady, I inacadverc uracy a ykin your is atementshere is a .ligho don't want to be called? one, Besides, begin with, I did not invite you to my I assure you that Mr. Faulkner is so rooms, ined fself, And al - or oan host, oter�masculineat we have compa ny at low Me Leutali vyou tited hatlyuur comp n Y A Y 1'1 most! unwelcome to some of My anS all."was not only unso is, ted, but it was '"Ah, well!" replied Albert airily, guests." drawing a chair up to the table, close "I. came out of kindness—out of ure to Dulcie's elbow—"I only know that' p an extra man never cotnee amiss to gOOu nature young ladies—does he, Miss Duleie?" I no go on with, proceeded Miles, Dulcie lifted two cool, serious ayes without heeding the interruption, 1 did not -set my dog at you, you i upon him. She hated the man, and it l'i•L6 angered her that be should call her seed him by toning yourself fn where wee not, wanted." "Miss Delete." When Duleie those, yO Oh 1 I cried Trichet, with a sneer - she could be very repelling. She ing laugh. "If moved her chair just an inch or so you mean that I was paying ton much attention to away, and, enquired, with perfect grav- ity— 'that;�u , stuck-up little hussy, nubile He "What is an extra man, Mr. Tri-' say shat?" And her level guzo said, as Stash that!" shouted Miles, springs plainly as eyes 0001 speak, "If you ora icing to his feet, and dashing his band Dna, I dislike the artiste." own uponthe table \with a force that "Ha, hal" laughed the interloper— made (hat venerable pieoe of furni- "vere aged!—vary rood indeed! An ex- tura dump—and than Geoffrey, too, fru mail 81 caut0'ia (eight to be extra • with the keen fighting instinct of a polite, extra agreeable, extra conn- roan who scents a row, and dsoii:,'t plirnentney, and of course, he is always mean to be left out 0.. it, rose to his extra popular—es" ; frit feet, mitt came round and stood at ilia "Oh, indeedi 1 t.nd's elbow, a ""Oh an dear fe llo you needn't be Naw, as to our \y'ar;:hy host hat's y e e w, y -.," and here tea 'unfortunate man, i so violent. So Miss Dulcie is sacred, rushing uhweeee ly".neon his own is the I really had no idea you were sweat upon her—of course, that alters the case, and 1 have no desire to make yon jealous." "Look here," said Miles, cutting him short in a voice of concentrated anger. "1'11 have no lady's name brought in here. I forbid you to speak of a lady in this matter." "1 on forbid mei Ha, ba I" "Faulkner is quite right, Trlosat," here said Geoffrey, "it is very bud Lorin to mention a lady's name in a row be- tween men ; you must drop all that." ".Baster said than done, when the impudent little girl was at the bot- tom of the whole business. Of °ouces, if Dulcie Halliday is spoons on Faulk- ner—" '1f you don't slop, this very minute, I'll put you' out of the window," said Miles. And anybody who had known him well, would have seen, by the giit- tar in the gianeye, that he meant the threat in its t's literal sense.. "'Chat is mere bluster,! I've as much right to speak of the girl as you have. I suppose she doesn't belong to you, does she?" "Put him out, Miles!" cried Geoffrey, flying to the casement which he flung widely open. Now the window looked into a small, damp, stone -flagged court, contain- ing nothing of more interest than a coal -cellar and an empty bottle -rack, into whieh there opened a door from the back portion of the kitchen prom- isee. Tha window of the clerks' office was about eight feet off the ground. In the twinkling of an eye, the whole business was done. Miles seized Trichet firmly by the nape of his boat - collar, lifted him like a struggling rabbit from the ground, shoved him bodily through the open window, and dropped him, not particularly gently— with a little shake, just enough to warm him and not enough to injure him—into the little square yard be- low Then he shut down the window. "I don't think we'll hear any more of the action my friend talks of bringing against me 1" remarked Miles, with a short laugh of satisfaction. "Splendid, my dear boy I" cried Geof- frey, excitedly, slapping his friend approvingly on his broad back. "It was beautifully dons, so neat and ready! Let me congratulate you heartily on your victory. Serves the cad jolly well right for daring to mention a lady's name. I wish Trou- sers had bitten his head off 1" And then the friends sat down in the best of spirits, chuckling and laughing to- gether over the undignified rout of the enemy, with a great and unchris- tianlike glee. But thele are some triumphs that are dearly, perhaps too dearly purchased. Albert Trichet— who had been -forced to hammer against the door in the courtyard un- til he was admitted by the porter's niece, who was scrubbing the floor of the basement, and who looked perfectly flabbergasted at find- ing "one of the gentlemen" shut into the unfrequented yard—was at this very moment making his way thought- fully and slowly up the stone steps that led from the kitchens to the ground floor. It is uncertain whether Albert Trichet would ever in any circum- stances have made a "good friend"— but most assuredly he would make a very bad enemy. It was a dangerous thing to make an enemy of Albert Trichet, a thing so dangerous as to cause the objects of his enmity to regret their foolish- ness for the remainder of (heir lives. And that is what our two friends, chuckling together over Iris momen- tary discomfiture, had done. They had made a deadly enemy of him. Trichet never forgot an enemy, never gave up a grudge, never relinquished a scheme of revenge. When he made up his mind to do a thing, he worked it out to the bitter encl. "1'11 pay them both out for this in- sult," he was saying to himself as be cams up the kitchen stairs—for Geof- frey was as much in it in his mind as Miles, and he was glad to be able to Lnolude his natural rival in his plans of ?avenge. Then when he got to the door of the office—on the other side of which he could hear the two friends laughing together, at his expense of course, he told himself with an angry scowl—he did not go in, but stood meditating deeply for a few moments; then with a sudden briskness, as though his mind were made up, he walked straight off to the dour of Mr. Dane's room, and finding that he was disen- gaged, sant in a message xegnealing to speak to him. Mr. Dane laid down his pen at his entrunte—but his roception of his clerk was net altogether encouraging, for at the very first sight of his wounded countenance, Mr, Done burst out laughing. IIa11o, Triehet• 1 what'; tba matter with your nose?" Albert had for the moment forgot- ten his nose, and, crimsoning with an- ger, he clapped his handover the in- jured feature. "X hope you haven't been getting into a street row, young man," con- tinued his chief, more seriously. "No, sir, certainly not. I am very sorry to say that it is in your service that, I have met with this—this rough treatment " "inlclaed1 X am sorry to hear it— sit down, Trichet, and tell me about , it." Mr. Dane was all politeness and affa- habilityd. , Trichet took the chair he in- dicated to him with a wave of the nt Now tell me all about it," said the great men, encouragingly. When Matthew Dane had an object in view he could always afford to be ami- able. "All in good time sir. I wish first to tell you what I have done in your service." Mr. Dane bent his head approving- ly. (To be Continued) PLUMBERS GENERALLY GET RICH. Jinks-Iiave you selected a trade or profession for your boy ? Winks—I shall make a plumber of him. Hae ho a bent that way.? He's born for it, Tell him to do a thing immediately and he won't think of it again fpr a week, SIIOWHD )IIMSXt t li' TO BE A NOVICE You are the first girl X ever kissed, Ila said,. Your apology Is accepted, she repll- ail somewhat regretfully, for it is in- deed annoying to be always breaking people in. ..."^".."'""'^"..".^.^.^.^.-"---.,-...--.....*...{ HINTS FOR TI•IE FARMER. POULTRY NOTES. A fresh egg has a time -like surface to Lts shall. Too much soft 000kod food la not good for fowls. They need some em- Ploymont for the gizzard. i Overfeeding Is expensive. It not only costs more for the feed, but the hens get too fat and lay no eggs. If your space is limited, keep only a few fowls and let the few be very fine ones, as it posts no more to feed a prize winner than it does a scrub, If you wish to be successful with poultry, do 'not undertake too much at first. Begin with a few fowls and study their habits and wants and then gradually increase their number. If your hens do not lay, or lay dou- ble -yolked or soft-shelled eggs, they are too fat, and more wheat and oats, and no corn, should be fed; also re- qutre them to scratch for all the grain they eat. A small flock which receives the scraps from the table produces eggs when larger flocks are unprofitable. The fast is plain that the smaller Llook receives better feeding. Table scraps aro not grains. They contain a variety not found in the rations of a large flock. Bread, meat, potatoes, cooked vegetables of several kinds as well as the sour milk, and oven oaks and pie, are included, to say nothing of peas and beans. This variety not only pro- vides the hens with the elements need- ed for egg production, but it promotes digestion and prevents disease. This kind of food would be costly if it were not the waste of the table, for it re- quires labor to prepare it. But as the result of feeding scraps is a produc- tion of eggs it is safe to say that if the same food, labor and care should be bestowed on a thousand hens as a small flock receives the profits would bo proportionately larger. REGARDING TREE CULTURE, Every one likes good fruit, and but few gardens, however small, are thought complete without it. But not- withstanding the appreciation for good fruit, it is seldom found perfect in small gardens or orchards. The fault lies in too much dependence on the trees, or rather a lack of interest in cultural methods. Trees are planted out in perhaps the most careful man- ner, after which they are expected to care for themselves and produce good fruit abundantly. The fast is, they need continual attention just as much as we do. This need not develop Into a burden if regularly and properly at- tended to. Now, one of the most important con- ditions to ensure thrift is a soil mel- low and cool in hot and dry weather, yet how frequently may trees be seen growing in sod or together with some Drop that doss not require cultivation, Such trees quickly outlive their use - fatness, and their stunted branches can only produce under sized and im- mature fruit. Then old trees are expected to live on a small allowance of food. It is forgotten that the roots of a tree have to get their food from nearly the same soil year after year, and in the case of sod land, even this food must be divided. To have good fruit, health and vigor must be encouraged—not rank growth, which might be induced by overfeed- ing, for this is opposed to fruit bear - 'nig. For the most moderate-sized or- chards or gardens it would be desir- able to commence cultivating by plow- ing between the rows in late fall; but in light soils summer harrowing is sufficient. Judgment must bo exer- cised as to the extort of outtivation, depending on the condition of the trees, po Lex rienea must teach how far from the tree trunk the roots extend, for care must be taken not to disturb them during the summer or feeding time. Good stable manure may be spread on Sha surface of the soil after the lat- ter is frozen, provided the ground is oomparatively level so the fertilizing constituents may not be washed away. As the feeding roots are principally on the outside, the manure need not be spread' at the base of large trees, but in a circle several feet therefrom. An- other, but more laborious method rs to dig shallow trenches running to- wards the base of the tree, and f111 in well -rotted or composted manure. leool'pruning, to make too vigorous trees more productive, and top prun- ing to thin out old wood, letting light and air amongst the branches, ate al- so good subjects for the amateur to look into. A HOME MARKET FOR STRAW- BERRIES. I find, writes C. O. Nash, that to get a good home market for etrawborries it is necessary to observe the follow- ing points: - 1. Never sell any except fresh ber- ries. 2. Give. honest measure. 3. Use good care in grading your berries. The kind of pickers you em- ploy will 'often decide whether you will keep or lose a customer. 4. Get around early in the morning. This is quite necessary, as other grow- ers will often take this advantage to get sante of your customers; the first Mari around gots the best chance, and be fact if a grower gots in the habit of not starting en his route until two or three hours after sunrise he will find his profits much lose, and Often a surplus left over. I find a good way is to have one wagon oe the mar- ket selling from house to house from early in the morning until 11 o'clock, and another wagon bringing the ber- ries from the patab. Then follow the same plan in another part of the town in the afternoon, beginning at '2 p.m., a.s a large trade for tea oan be worked up; I always notice that In the three hours before tea consumers are gener- ally anxious to get fresh borrise, 6. Do not depend on ono variety alone. Some customers like an acid berry, while others will not have any- thing but the sweeter kinds—like Haverland. 1 find the Warfield and llncilanee the best sellers for canning. If you have the tart and sweet varie- ties, there is no reason why you should not hold your customers' trade when you 0000 bavo it, providing you ob- serve the golden rule in dealing with them. 6. Neatness of one's olothes and gen- eral appearance, as well as a neat rig and a well-groomed horse, help to gall borriee as well as anything else. 7. I find courtesy to customers goes a great way ; if a man will not be a gentleman in business, he cannot hold all his customers. 8. If you glow berries that you are pleased to have people look at, place a small advertisement in the leading local papers during berry season. It does not cost much, and besides, the editor may even take his pay In ber- ries. 9. The grower should always be ready to make any mistake on his part perfectly right before he leaves the customer. It doesn't pay to be too close in dealing ; better give a penny to a customer in making change rather than appear as if you wanted to squeeze the penny too hard. A SUBSTITUTE FOR RUBBER. New Process for Oxldtetitg Voxetable Mie Said to Be successful. A new industry which has just been established upon an apparently firm basis in England uses for its raw ma- terial linseed oil or any of the other vegetable oils of similar properties. It promises to become of wide importance because its product partake of many of the qualities of India rubber and gutta percha, the supplies of which slim a constant teudeney to fall below the growing demands. That oils of this sort hem in them qualities of high usefulness was disoovered ages ago, when they were first hied for paints, and the new industry takes advantage of the same quality of hardening by oxidization. Linseed oil has been used for paints and varnishes for generations. it is well known that when the oil is spread out in a thin layer exposed to the air is absorbs .oxygen and becomes very hard. When the oil is left in bulk exposed to the air it gradually be- becomes o-becomes "fatty," as it is called techni- cally, or of a gummy opnsis(oncy. Ex- posures of different periods will give any grade of hardness between these two. Other vegetable oils act in the same way, and many attempts have been made to take commercial advan- tage of these qualities. Some, like the manufacture of oil -cloths and lino- leum, have been very successful. The difficulty experienced heretofore in at- tempting to use the oxidized oils for other purposes has been the fact that it was mechanically impossible to ac- complish the perfect and graded com- bination of the oxygen with the oil, as might be needed for the different pur- poses. The general method adopted was to allow the oil to drip from the top to the bottom of a wide, suspend- ed sheet of scrim, an open -meshed tex- tile fabric, while a current of air was driven upon it. By this method the surface of the oil was solidified, but the action did not extend all through it and there was, therefore, a portion of unaffected oil held within, which was fatal to many of the uses which it was known might be made of a more perfect product. Mr. Charles Grist of England has perfected a system by which it is as- serted that this trouble is entirely overcome, and a large featory has been built where many articles are manu- factured from the oils solidified by his process. His method of treating the oil is to saturate a quantity of tow with it, and then, in a centrifugal ma- ohine, throw out every particle of the oil except that which clings to minute globules to the fibra of the tow it- self. The bunches of tow are then put on grids of metal in a chamber where warm ail is forced through them and in twenty-four hours the oil is thoroughly oxidized. The material is then ground up, mixed with any desired coloring matter and finally rolled oat Lnto sheets, in which condi- tion it resembles India rubber and possesses many of the qualities of rub- ber, and gutta pel'aha. It is as resili- ent es rubber, but not as elastic, is im- pervious to chemical action, and with- stands heat up to 240 deg. Fahrenheit, and it can be vulcanized by the same process used for rubber and gutta pereha. It has high electrical insulat- ing qualities and oan be used for cable wire coverings and other forma of elec- trum! insulators, and it is made into wheel area, which are said to be equal Lo those of rubber. It oan be dissolved in ethereal spirits of all kinds, and from these solutions it can be applied as waterproofing coverings for fabrics of any sort. REMARKABLE CLOCK. Wonderful as many famous clocks are in respect to ingenious mechan- ism, they can hardly be compared with the unique clock whiob has been About Beautiful Women. The young Countess of Dudley is one of the most beautiful women in Eur- opa, She has just celebrated her twen- ty-eighth birthday. Seven years ago she married ane of the wealthiest earls i0 England. Sho has boon cattail the Cin- derella of her family, which had once been wealthy and well planed, but when the rieheg of Charles Gurney disap- peared the future of his youngest daughter looked very dark indeed. So marked was the girl's cleverness and beauty, however, that after the father went to South America to seek fortune anew and her brave mother decided to open a dressmaking establishment in London, the Duchess of Bedford, a first cousin of Ms's, Gurney came for- ward with the offer of a home and an education for pretty Rachel, Mrs, Gur- ney was not long in deciding what wee best for the child, and so, amid the moist lavish wealth, the girl grew up to womanhood. The duchess proved a noble friend, and Rachel Gurney was brought out in London society with all the splendors that the duchess would have faviehed on a ebilcl of her own. After her presentation at court Rachel Gur'ney's beautiful face and gracious manners made her e. favorite in the highest sooiely, and after two seasons she accepted the offer of mar- riage made by the young Earl of Dud- ley. Mrs. Gurney could hardly have looked and chosen higher in the matri- monial etro-monial market, for, saving the Duke of Portland, no such eligible, amiable and nobly born a young bachelor could be found in England. At first, bowever. the course of true lova did not run very smoothly with Rachel Gurney and the Earl of Dudley. Though the earl was deeply in love and the Duchess of Bedford ready to bestow it magnificent trousseau upon the bride, maternal disapproval frowned upon lbs affair, The Dowager Countess of Dud- ley rebelled against the marriage of her only son to the daughter of a per- son who kept a dressmaker's establish- ment in Regent street. Tha dowager countess who was and yet is consider- ed one of the handsomest women in London society came of a fine old Scotch enmity. She was one of the six famous Monereiff sisters, who. like the Cunnings from Ireland, came down from their highland homes and took society by storm. All of these girls married rich and well-born man, and the countess at first vigorously pro- tested against her son's matrimonial venture. However, in time, the coun- tess was brought around, graced the wedding with her presence, and is fund enough of her little 4-year-olcl grand- son, the Viscount Ednam. The young countess has ever remained popular in society. She enjoys the friendship of the Princess of Wales, and although her mother stills owns the prosperous establishment in Regent street, and her father never found his fortunes in South America, she is counted, in spite of these things, one of the greatest ladies of smart British society. The Prince of Wales is certainly the champion godfather of Groat Britain. He has officiated seventy-five times in that capacity. He also holds another unique record in this respect in having stood as godfather to the Duke of Marlborough's infant heir—that is god- father to both the father and the son. The ceremony in connection with tbo baptism of the son took place at the chapel royal, St. lames' place, in 1897, when the Prince of Wales, who had been one of the godfathers at the duke's christening, twenty-five years earlier, in the same chapel, noted in a similar capacity for the duke's heir, the other eponsers being the Marchioness of Blandford and William K. Vanderbilt. The Emperor of Germany stands god- father to all seventh sons in Prussia. Empress Eugenie in one year acted as godmother to 9,834 children who were born in France on March 16, 1856, the same day as the prinee imperial, Cecil Rhodes is godfather to about forty young scions of the aristocracy. It is his custom to transfer to moll ot the godchildren fifty shares of the De Beers mines, Heirs to thrones seam inohnecl now- adays to prolong their bachelorhood, instead of starting in quest of the fairy princes as soon as they are out of their teens. The present czar, the Prince of Naples, Prince Christian of Denmark, the late Duke of Clarence, the Duke of York, all lingered on the way ss though something was not quite to their minds, The Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria is yet unwed. Prince Alfred of Coburg and Prince Albert of Belgium, each in his twenty- fourth year, are still bachelors, though the death of either might bring about tiresome dynastic complications. It is possible that their highnesses enjoy the attention they receive from the mothers of marriageable princesses, and the anxiety of their own families op to their future ; and it is a well- known fact that many of them re- fuse to marry until their debtsaropaid and, they are promised a handsome al- lowp.nce. completed at Brussels after Iva year's uninterrupted. woric. This time -re- corder, which weighs about 10,000 pounds, is built to represent aohnrch, and indicates the seconds, minutes, flours, days, weeks, months, seasons and the year. Among the mechanical curiosities are forty-six figures, winch perform various evolutions. Every hour, for example, the twelve apostles make their appearance, march! past and bow before a figure representing the Saviour;there is Death with his scythe, a bell-ringer oalling to vesper's, six Capuchin monks, who enter the church; the seasons, a cuckoo, ashrill- throated code, a night 'Watchman sounding a trumpet or beating a drum. So finely adjusted is the mechanism of this cheek that each of the movements appears at the appointed time, and they can all be set in motion at any Mo- ment without disturbing the working of the cloak. BALLOONS FOR THP.`, DEAD. In his capacity of high priest the Emperor of China has to offer et least forty-six saor!l oe,s to different gods in the, course of a year, and as to cacti sacrifice is dedicated one or more holidays, which must be passed by him in complete solitude, the miserable monereh's time must be peel ty well -taken up, It is also n. very stria re- ligious rule that. His Majesty shad of- fer in the course oe every year many )sundreila of, sills balloons before the tablets oe his ancestor's, the unbroken line of whom extends bade beton! the lifetime of Jesus Christ, These bal- loons are made of the richest silk ob- tainable, and several of the imperial silk mantifaci:ories a,ra occupied the whole year through with the fabrica- tion of the material. MARCH 10, 1899 NI EJNCI1F sA ITE/IIS OF INTERES'r ABOUT TtIE, BUSY YANKEE. 7letgliboriy Interest le lila Doings—Matters of Moment and earth (lathered from Itll Daily Record.. Massachusetts ie oaring for 500 epi•• leplios, of alt ages from 4 to 70. The Lieut, -Governor of South Cara lino wears a purple robe of office when Presiding over the Serrate. The average monthly wage of mals leachers in Illinois in 1808 was $00,87, and of female teachers $51.84. Mussell Sage has had over 200 chile dren named for him„ and to each child has given between $25 and 3100. ,By a vote of the California, Sonata no wine, beer, or other spirituous liquor, was served at the inaugural ball During the past twelve months there has been a marked improvement in business throughout the Southern States. The merchant ebips now building in Amerioan shipyards for tllo Amerioan merchant marine are ab the value of $10,716,000. Senator Mason, of Illinois, has es- poused the cause of the postal clerks and wants to sea them granted fifteen cloys vacation. '1'he capitol in Hartford is to be closed at night, in order to prevent the clerks from using the offices as bed chambers. Frederick R. Coudert, the New York financier, got his title of "The Lion of Wall Street" because of his expres- sion and whiskers. E. Stowe, known half a century age as "Lige" Stowe, is dead. He owned ono of the first travelling circuses in the United States. Addison C. Harris, the naw Minister to Austria, besides many other accom- plishments, is quite a musician, and aviolinlst of considerable ability. Senator Proctor, who bas taken his family to Cuba, says he believes the ahmate of that country is perfectly healthyprovided one lives regularly and quietly, Geronimo, the famous Apache, is liv- ing on the Wichita, Kansas, reserva- tion. His mind isgraduaily faiing,but it is feared he will be more danger- ous mad than sane, Mrs. George P. Greeley, of Vermont, is a sister of Admiral Dewey, from whom she has .received, during the tat- ter's entire service, a letter wrilan at each post al which he touched. Admiral Dewey has a numuer of autograph letters from Aguinaldo, all worded in the most elaborate fashion and referring to the American as "me honourable and illustrious friend. Henry G. Hilton, who was a mem- ber of the bankrupt house of Hilton, Hughes & Co., New Yoik, though he owes $2,535,007, says his only assets are his clothes and 3200 in money. When Mrs, Frances S. Lee, a mem- ber of the Colorado Legislature, pre- sided over. alit House recently, she was vitrious.y addressed as "Mr, Speaker,' "Mrs. Speaker," and "Mme. Speaker." G. Clunies Ross, an American who owns and practically rules the Keel- ing -Cocos Islands, near Sava, Is in San Francisco. He says his possessions, though thickly populated, have no prisons nor police, and crime is almost unknown. William M. Chase, the successful ar- tist, was at one time so poor as to be able to eat only bread and cheese "Oven my canvas and colours," he says, "were supplied by my fellow -students: A plan is on foot to consolidate els, yea of the national banks of Pittsburg into one moderately large institution The banks are not paying on account of excessive expenses and very 108 rates for money, Tha distance from Philadelphia is San Francisco is 3,177 miles; from San Francisco to Honoluilu 2,080 ratios from Honolulu to Hong Hong 4,061 miles; from Hong Kong to Manila about 620 miles. When the President of the United States site at a dinner table., even as the host, and there aro ladies present, he ie always served first, as with all other rulers. It is an old custom ob- served in all countries, Col. Lee, chief quartermaster of the lakes, has asked for proposals for the building of a large refrigerating plant at Manila for the use of the Commis- eaty Department of the United States army in the Philippines. The estate of Paul Bauer, the Coney Island manager, has finally been set- tled after a series of snits lasting five years. The expenses of the trial, have been 340,000, and there is left for the widow just about $14,000, Senator Davis, of Minnesota, owns one of the best private libraries in the country. ,Ills taste for good reading 110 inherits from his father, a man now well on in the eighties, who has writ- ten histories of England and Scotland. S. Rennick Hogg, it trustee of the Preslyterian Botpitel of Philadelphia, lis to resent, o. the c p t instliuti n a building leo be used as a home for nurses, '1'lle gift is to bo made in me- mory of his father, atomiser trustee of the hospital. In very oloar water sunlight may penetrate to a depth of over 1,500 feet. A CLOCK THAT GOST $100,000. le the list of artistic treasures own- ed by the late Baron) Rothschild men- tion is made of e. "i!itewilli,am clock." This is the famous Louis XIV. clock, which for gennratiorts wee one of the Moet valued heirlooms at htittnn Ilnll, tiler Peterbm°ugh. It is anted i.ohewn been sold to Barna linthschild by Mr. G, 0, W. 'h'itzwillinm, the I)rc ,ante retain of Milton, foil 540,0110, An itx•« nal: foo simile, however, which is said to have coot 11,000, now stands in Mil' ton Hall in theposition where the origins oleok sln od. h f r. 8 t• is et it sl ei st at n• d+ vi ly ft In do Z7 bo oc td ba go of H, 1 Ili: ch pe m hi sn yo oe St ba tie we h.. e' tin 0 hot rot j rte rot lot cru sel up hitt tint lain wit vet At wa' 1510 wit are mit, i shr hes :the fell. fl t had he the stn, glia Ia his utlt set Y, Oar vole heti' Tho Sit° gho