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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Gazette, 1893-07-06, Page 2., • NOT WiSELY. CHAPTER V.—(CoNniNuBD.) Her own birth and breeding were ir- reproachable' and she could be grande dame to the tips ofber toes when she pleased. But when the part did not suit, she varied it according to her own fancy. She was not a young woman now—that is to say, she was on the wrong side of thirty ; but she was handsome and dashing -looking, and had a host of admirers, and did pretty much as se liked with her husband,- who was a. dark, Jewish -looking man, rarely seen in ber drawing -rooms, but known to have car- ried many speculations to a successful issue, and to have so much money that even her wildest extravagances could be indulged without fear of consequences . Lady Jean was on the very highest pinn- acle of soeial success at present, and novelty amused her, though the fact of being con- stantly en grande tenue was rather a bore, and there was a dash of Bohemianism in her character,due to her Irish blood, which would have vent occasionally. The said element, however, was kept carefully out of sight of tbe very great and exclusive personages who received her as one of them- selves. She slipped into her two characters as occasion demanded, and played them so skilfully that her respective audiences ap- plauded each with rapture, and took each as the real thing. Those outside that magic pale of "exclus- iveness" signed enviously as they saw her leave their ranks from time to time, and soar upwards to that purer and rarer stratum of the social atmosphere whieh their lungs were deemed unfit to breathe: We are quite as good as she,'? they would murmur diseontentedly. And so they doubtless were, only they had not learnt her secret—the secret of keeping on good terms with Society, and yet indulging in a hundred little frolicsome escapades by way of variety, without offend- ing the strait-laced prejudices and high- toned morality of the one set, or debarring herself from the questionable amusements of the other. To -night Lady Jean is very gracious, very affable, very dignified; her rooms are throng- ed with great personages. A list of nothing but titles will fill the pages of the Court Journal that describes her " reception" to- morrow, and be feels that she is a person of mueh consequence. Lady Vavasour looks at her with more curiosity than she has yet evinced. Her husband's words have CHAPTER 'VI. aroused her interest. "BLOWN IN BETWEEN BY DEVIL'S WRANG- Lady Jean is attired in some wonderful BREATH.'' combination of deep ruby and old gold that LING snits her dark beauty to perfection. Lama "Lauraine is very much changed," eine gazes at her with a. sort of wonder. It laments Mrs. Douglas to a select coterie of friends, on one of those chilly spring after - has never struck her before that the woman is so marvellously handsome. noons when they have dropped in to sip souchong and talk scandal in her pretty They pass on with the rest of the crowd drawingiroom. after a few words. It is her "day." ing. Lauraine stands and listens. Some- In one of the rooms a great singer is sing It are heaps of women smattered about one comes up to her and oers his hand. —there are a few men. The lights are sub - She just glances up and smiles as she takes dued. There is a pleasant fragrance of tea, it. Neither of them speaks. Only two and the scents of flowers fill the air, and t eager blue eyes take in every detail of her the babble of many voices sounds cheerfully dress and appearance, and give so glad a amidst it all. welcome in their glance that perhaps it is i " Changed !" says one of the friends to as well she does not see it. whom she has addressed that remark; " in - The song is over. The crowd move about. what way ?" Keith Athelstoue bends close to Lauraine. "So quiet and cold and—odd," Mrs. "Let me find you a seat," he says. Douglas answers ; says she hates society, " These rooms are stifling." detests going out, takes up artists and sing- Lanraine nods and takes his arm. Her ers, and all Sorts of queer people. I really husband bas gone back to the staircase and expect to see her going about soon in a —Lady Jean. terra-cotta gown, and wearing no corsets, ." I hardly know anyone here," she says and looking as great a fool as Lady Et - at last. " It is the first time I have come wynde. So absurd, you know, for a young to the house." woman, and a pretty woman. Of course, " Is it?" answers Keith, rather indiffer- Lady Etwynde is a duke's daughter, and ently. " There are heaps of big swells here, can do what she likes ; besides, she' a so I believe. Pity Mrs. Bradshaw Woollffe lovely nothing could make her a fright, can't be among them. How delighted she though she only tnrrs it to account by would be !" being the most eccentric woman in London. '• How long do yon stay with her ?" ask- I don't blame her. If you can't be remark- ed Lauraine. able in one way, it's just as well to be " I scareely know. I am looking out for it in another. But the people one meets a set of rooms; but I haven't found any- there—it really is too awful. Just the sort thing I like yet." of creatures that Punch takes off. And " Are you so hard to please ?li Lauraine is always there : so tiresome, be - "1 don't think so. But I must have lots cause Lady Etwynde's day is the same as of room and something green to look at. I mine, and so she can never come here." wonder if I dare ask your assistance in the "I thought it was odd never meeting her furnishing line. I'm afraid I shall make an at your house remarks one of the coterie. awful muddle of it. "Yes, that's how it is you never see her," Lauraine laughs. "Are you goitia in for resumes Mrs. Doug,las,somewhat hurriedly. the aesthetic style—peacock-blue, and sage. " She and Lady Etwynde are inseparable, green and yellow? Oh, yes—I shall be de. though I'm sure I can't imagine why." lighted to help you. We'll drive to Morris's " I met her—your daughter, Tmean—at and select things together." the Salomans' the other night," remarks a Together ! His heat gives a quick throb tall fair woman, leaning languidly back in as he hears that Word. He wonders her chair. whether she has forgotten. He feels a "Yes, I know she was there," says Mrs. little impatient of this calm friendliness Douglas, colouring slightly. "Charming with which she always treats him. -She woman, Lady Jean !" ignores the past so utterly that at times he "Very," answers her friend dryly. "1 feels impelled to say or do something des- ,--I suppose Lady Vavasour never heard perate, if only to waken her from that calm anything about—that." and know that she can feel still. " Oh, there was nothing—nothing ; he The attraction she bad had for hien is assured me so himself. I would not have potent as ever. All his rage and indigna- trusted my chile's happiness to his care had tion had not killed it—the barrier in his he not done so. The world is so censor - path seemed but to rouse it to fresh life ious, dear Mrs. Chetwynde." when they met again. Mrs. Chetwynde laughs. No woman in the world was to him what "True; but all the same there is no smoke Lauraine was. No woman ever would be, without fire, you know—and Lady Jean he felt assured. Had he been wise he would was awfully wild about his marriage." have shunned her presence so long as he Mrs. Douglas looks uncomfortable. " I knew it could exercise its old potent witch- don't know anything about her. But I am ery for him. quite sure she is all right. She is received But who is wise that loves? everywhere." "She is quite safe," he would tell himself "Of course," smiles her friend. "And restlessly. "And for myself—if it hurts the very openness of their friendship is me, it is my own fault. I must see her some- guarantee sufficient for its perfect harmless - times." ness ; just like Lauraine's with Keith Ath- He had grown to look upon Laarame as elstone." martyred to her mother's selfishness. He "Keith Athelstone !" - exclaimsMrs. knew she had never cared for her husband. Douglas, turning very _white. "Whatdo becanse Keith said so." He saw that even in this short space of time you mean ?" 'What rria.de Mr. Athelstone go to such they were drifting slowly—surely apart. , " They -are always together," says Mrs. a nonsensical affair ?" demands Mrs. Doug - "And I would have made her so happy !" Chetwynde, maliciously. "So they were las, frowning. he thought to himself in those hours of soli- in Rome, for the matter of that. But,f °- " Didn't ask him. 'Spose he likes to tude when the maddening recollection oi course, they are very old friends—brought i -- yearn' a bit also. Perhaps it's refreshing that one face was always before him. up as children, and all that ?" to fix one's mind on an object and meditate He almost hated her at such times; hated " Of course," says Mrs. Douglas, loftily. upon it. Can't say myself. Don't think I her because -he could not forget her, and all "Why they were like brother and sister. e ever tried it." his riches seemed nothing in comparison Surely no one is so uneharitable, as-- " And didn't they do anything ?"inquires with just—her love. " My dear we are all uncharitable, more Mrs. Chetwynde. She was quite unsuspicious as yet. She or less. And Laraine is very, pretty, and "They talked an almighty queer jargon, thought he must have get over his boyish in Sir Francis not quite so devoted as he might if that was doing anything. A lot about fatuation long since, and that their friend- be, considering it was a love-match—so you 'disciples' and. 'searching after the un- ship Was as real to him as to her. He was said. I think I should give Lauraine a hint, known,' and the ' abstruseness of the bean- earefu enough not topindeceive her; -for if I were you.", tiful,' which was the religion of culture. he dreaded above all the :sentence of banish- a " Lauraine is quite cepable of managing Lauraine saw some snow*drops and violets rnent she -would inevitably premounce. She , - . h n affairs ' said Mrs. 'Douglas pettish- and admired them, and then someone burst had grown so much polder and prouder LY' - In her own mind the thinks she knows out about the fierce beauty of the sunflower how such a hint would be received. " Keith and the grand teachings of the tiger -lily. I s onlya boy. Latraine looks upon him confess I felt beat then, and said so, but i, • - Lady Etwynde only smiled that sad, pale fust as a brothereaaplWays did, She is ac- smile- of hers, and murmured: 'Ah, Na- eustomed to order him about, and have him ture has much to teach you. Her great beside her. Pray don't Eaten to such ill- natured gossip." ' marvels are yet a blank. To comprehend one else. Yet there is that about her which keeps all dangerous allusions in check, which sometimes awes the wild, hot, young heart beating so restlessly by her side. He tries a hundred times to speak, end yet— he dares not. " She Would never forgive," he thinks to himself. " It would seem almost an in- sult now." a For he knows that there is one tie which sanctifies her heart, and sets her far above the touch and fear of a selfish passion. It is her love for her child. " Your wife and her old playfellow seem devoted to each other," remarks Lady Jean, as she leans on Sir Francis Vavasour's arm, and makes the tour of her splendid roems. He looks carelessly at the couple in ques- tion. They are sitting in an alcove, the soft hues of the hangings and the rich tints of flowers framing them in with a glow of colour. Keith is bending over Laurame ; he holds her bouquet in his hand, and toys restlessly with the fragrant blossoms. Her face is softly flushed, the long dark lashes sweep her cheek, a little smile, half tender, half sad, plays about her lips. " What a handsome couple they would have made," continues Lady Jean blandly. " Just:seem suited for each other. You ought to feel flattered, mon ami, that you carried the day." " Pshew ! they are like brother and sis- ter," mutters Sir Francis impatiently. " Are they ? How very charming? Only brothers and sisters as a rule don't seem quite so devoted to each other. But, of course, the relationship and the 'seeming' it are two different things. Do you know, I think your wife is very beautiful." " You are very good to say so." Lady Jean laughs. "My flattery is quite sincere. I really admire ber very much. She .is a little too grave and serious, perhaps, but that is a fault on the right side. There is too much fastness and vulgarity in society nowadays. A quiet woman is quite refreshing." "Lauraine never used to be grave and serious," Sir Francis remarks somewhat moodily. " She vas one of the merriest and most amusing girls I ever met." " Ah !" observes his companion senten- tiously. " That was before she married you: Somehow marriage does alter some women amazingly." ory is rising iiipaTeeforts her. She sees a pale young face and the fiery wrath of two blue eyes, and hears the passionate re- proaches of Keith Athelstone's lips as he tells her ot his ruined life. Good heavens ! what does he mean ? Why does he stay by Lauraine's side now? She feels nervous and unsettled, and almost resolves she will speak to Lauraine, and give her that word of caution which her friend has suggested. The world is so wicked, and after all— Her thoughts are interrupted by fresh arrivals. Into the exclusive circle in which Mrs. Douglas' soul delights, stride the massive proportions and gorgeous sweeping draper- ies of Mrs. Bradshaw B. Woollffe. Fol- lowing her is a dainty little figure—a sort of modern Dresden shepherdess in point of colouring and attire. She is introduced by Mrs. Woollffe as "My niece from New York, Miss Anastasia Jane Jefferson." Every one looks at her. Everyone won- ders whether it -is prettiness, or piquancy, or chic, that makes the radiant face so be- witching—the tiny figure so attractive, and one among the coterie, the Belgravian mat- ron, witirdemoiselles a marier, looks virtu- ously indignant and annoyed at the intru- sion. " She is sure to be fast and talk with that awful twang, that's one comfort," she thinks, as with the coldest and stiffest of bows she greets the new -comer. But Miss Jefferson is not fast or vulgar, and though her accent and expression are decidedly American, they have a piquant charm of their own that the younger mem- bers of that conclave listen to enviously, and the men seem to find irresistibly at- tractive. Mrs. Bradshaw B. Woollffe and her niece fairly break up the select groups and tete-a-tetes, and make themselves the cen- tre of attraction and attention. The loud voice and hearty laughter of the elder lady peal through the room, to the utter anni- hilation of softer voices and confidential whispers. "We have just come from LadyEtwynde's reception," she says, laughing immod- erately. "I reckon you people are having some fun out of your new craze. Guess she's gone pretty nigh out of her mind, at all events." "What was it like? Do tell us," chime in one or two voices—voices of outsiders to whom the Lady—or, as she loved to call herself, the "Ladye"—Etwynde Fitz -Her- bert is a sort of unknown wonder. Her sayings and doings are chronicled by soca , attention to," persists Mrs. Douglas, deter - and associates is very limited. They begin! minedly. Mrs. Bradshaw B. Woollffe looks' at her to wonder how Mrs. BradshawB. Woollf e with aroused curiosity, and a faint smile gained admittance. That lady now informs comes to her lips. "Oh yes, there is some - them. one he pays great attention to," she says, some - " Well," she cemmences, looking rou d slowly and distinctly, " but no girl as you at the attentive faces, "I was calling t say—she is a married woman." Lauraine's—beg pardon, I suppose I shot ld say Lady Vavasour's—and she took ire I (TO BE CONTINUED.) with her and. Keith. Keith is a great chum I of the 'Laalye Etwynde's. We got to ntr house—a real lovely place with a big garden, out Kensington wey ; all red brick, no windows to speak of but lots of frames, and a hall—my ! the queerest place—all done with matting, and so dark, and everywhere When flying from justice a criminal double doors and plush curtains, of a sad rarely escapes through a disguise. In many sage -green,' to use Keith's expression. cases the buying of the things selected by Such a silent place, not a sound anywhere. him as being most helpful to conceal his Well, we went into a room, also very dine identity, affords a cagy which insures- his and a great deal of green and yellow abcut capture. Id most cases shaving- off- the it, and huge pots of sunflowers in the win- beard or moustache is relied upon to hide dows, and the very queerest chairs, and on a likeness, but the police always recognize -every chair sat a woman, and behind every such a proceeding as probable, and an ex - chair stood a man. They were all quite pert thietataker is well able to identify his still, and had their eyes fixed on the sun- man minus such adornments. In some flowers and their bodies twisted into the cases, indeed, the wanted person's likeness queerest attitudes. I stared some, I can is put'in the detective's hands with the t 11 you. Lauraine went up to a tall, mustache and whiskers removed, showing beautiful woman dressed in a clinging gown what the man will be like without them. of terra-cotta stuff—such a gown ! My ! An absconding bank cashier a short time Worth never had anything to do with that ago attempted to leave the country dressed frock, I guess. She came forward and as a woman. His disguise was. seen spoke to me. You are not one of us, but through by a keen -eyed detective who was you are welcome,' she said. Her voice was watching outward-boand vessels, and al - very sad and very sweet. though he did not recognize the man he de - "'This is one of our contemplative after- tained him on suspicinn, and communicat- noons,' she said, when I had bowed—speak, ing with the head authorities the prisoner I really couldn't. We do nothing but sit was soon identified. In that case the disguise itself actually led to the detection still, and yearn." " What?" ejaculated the listeners. of the criminal. in two other recent cases " Guess you're through," laughs Mrs. men wearing false beards and mustaches Woollffe. " Well, so was I. were secured by the policemen anxious to "'Yes,' she went on. We yearn for all discover their reasons for assuming thena. that is most soul -uplifting. We each set a These afterward proved to be so unsatisfac- distinct object before our mind's eye, and tory that one of them received eight and absorb ourselves in its contemplation. the other eleven years' penal servitude. These moments are truly precious for those The thing which most stands a criminal in who can be brought to appreciate their in- good stead in rneking his escape is his tensity. We are most of us earnest students having a " common face," one with no of our faith—disciples of culture—worship- marked peculiarity, and iron nerve to Pers of the beautiful—the far-reaching— enable him to calmly himself like an inno- cent person few.' I felt uncommon near saying that she resembled Nature there, for I am bless- ed if I comprehended her." " And one hears such wonderful stories about this Lady Etwynde," murmurs a voice in the background. " Really, it seems quite disappointing." " She is real pretty," remarks Miss Anas- tasia Jefferson. • "Pretty ? But -then she dresses so oddly, and her hair—" "A club behind and a nimbus in front," laughs the pretty American. " Trying, but still seems to suit her. Real cunning she looked when she lay back in her chair with her eyes turned up—so." She imitates her so exactly that there is a well-bred ripple of laughter among the circle, but behind Miss Jefferson's back they will all denounce the vulgarity and bad taste of ridiculing anyone to whose beim she had just been. Of course, they themselv- es never do such things ! Mrs. Douglas draws a little nearer to Mrs. Bradshaw B. Woollfie. She wants to question her concerning Keith Athelstone. " You might have brought your young friend here,"she says affably. " Guess he didn't want tocome," answers Mrs. Woollffe, bluntly. " At least he said so." Mrs. Douglas colours faintly. " hese() many engagements ; money of course makes a young man immensely popular," she says, with a cold smile. " 'Tain't money that's got anything to do with Keith Athelstone's popularity," an- swers Mrs. Woollffe, sharply. "Hes just one of the nicest young fellows I've ever known, and people don't take long to find that out. His manners are perfect. He can dress like a a gentleman without looking a fop. He's plenty to say and says it well, and he's most uncommonly good-looking. If that ain't enough to make a young man ran after, what is ?" "Still," says Mrs Douglas, sweetly, " if he had no money, Society would turn its back on him to -morrow." "Society ?" echoes Mrs Bradshaw B. Woollffe. "I guess you mean the mothers in society. I've my own opinion about the gals." "Does he—does he seem to care about any woman in particular ?" asks Mrs. Doug- las. " I suppose he means to marry and settle down now." "Guess he don't," says Mrs. Woollffe, shrugging her shoulders. " Likes to be free, so he says and quite right too." " Then there is no one—no girl—he pays BRIEF AND INTERESTING. .,••••••••• The late Duke of Sutherland made and signed nintey-two wills. Ten thousand lead toy soldiers are turn- ed out in Nuremberg every day. One-eighth of New Xork city is owned by 117 individuals and estattia, The Island ot Ceylon ishe-most remark- able gem deposit in the maid. -Many of the Hindoo sapphires and other gems are carved into amulets and idols. The Sultan of Turkey has an, emerald. of 300 carats set in the handle of a dagger. Expedition Island, off the cost of Aintree ba, has mysteriously disappeared from view. John Roberts, the champion billiard - player, during a big break, frequently scores at the rate of 100 points per four minutes. The spy fever is just now raging War. saw end the neighbourhood. The police are more than useally vigilant, and arrests are being made almost daily. A curious snake in South Africa lives wholly upon birds' egg. It has no teeth or signs of teeth in the mouth, its whole dental array being located in the stomach. The leaves of the life -tree, which is found only in Jamaica., grow after they have been severed from the plant. Wax came into use for candles in the lilth century, and wax candles were esteem- ed luxury in 1300, being but little used. A traveller who has been as far south as Patagonise and ae far north as Iceland, says that mosquitoes are to be met with every- where. Equal parts of tartar emetic and sugar, mixed with water to make a thin syrup, if spread where ants abound, will drive them away. Fire insurance companies contribute year- ly to the support of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade on a basis of £35 for every 1.,000,- 000 insured. The average length of life is greater in Norway than in any other country on the globe. This is attributed to the fact that the temperature is cool and uniform throughout the year. Chinese women are beginning to rebel seriously against the fashion of compressing their feet, which has for so long limited their energies. It appears thatfa missionary has been preaching to them on the subjeot. VAIN DISGUISES OP CitIMINALS. The Best Friend of a Fugitive from Jus- tice Is a "Common" Face. the subtle—the sublime 1' "'And don't you ever speak?' I asked her; for of all the vacant -eyed, sleepy idiots in creation I never came across such a set as were 'yearning' there. ' Speak—oh yes— in season and at prop- er times,' she says. But thought is often more beautiful than words, and language is deficient in much that might clothe and dignify our ideas.' "Keith chimed in here. Yes,' he said ; they are apt to sound ridiculous when it comes to clothing them in common -place speech.' The listeners exchange glances. " And this was really how they went on —how idiotic !" murmurs Mrs. Douglas. " I 'knew Lady Etwynde was always very eccentric, but I think she is quite going out of her mind now. I hope she won't imbue Lauraine with any of her absurd ideas. How was she dressed—Lauraine, I mean " Oh 1 quite aesthetic 1" exclaims Mrs. Woollffe. "Indian silk, creamy coldared, big puffs, and very clinging about theekirt and an 'intense' hat. I know it was intense A new scheme is being tried in Australia, with good results, for the extermination of rabbits. Cartridges generating poisons gas are put in the burrows, the holes are cloeed, and the rabbits killed by the poison m the smoke. Sir John D. Astley, who is so highly ad- mired by all lovers of sport, was in his earlier days a splendid sprint runner, and his love of pedestrianism is as strong now as when he ran races on the track. He is writing a book of his reminiseences. A camellia tree 50 feet high, and now in full bloom, with 40,000 blossoms, can be seen in Plenitz, near Dresden. It was brought from Japan in 1840. Bismarck is what in Germany they call a " chain smoker"—that is, he smokes from morning till night without a break, light- ing one cigar with the end of the other. In order to discover an enemy s movement at night an Italian artillery offieer has in- vented a mechanical candle, which, when sent from a cannon, will shed'a light equal to 100,000 candles. The soil of Hayti is so fertile that three crops of corn are often raised in a year. The natives, however, are too indolent to avail themselves of these advantages, and they only work for enough to enable them to live. Snake -Eating in Paris. Italians, as it is wpll known are partial to harmless snakes, aini have no objection to eat them cooked. ,.A. frittura composed of the common woodterpent's flesh is even re- garded as a dainty by the lower orders in Rome, Florence, sad Naples, and is often served up to themln their dingy restaur- ants.iParisians o the inferior classes are also great eaters o fried snakes, but unwit- tingly so, for the eptiles are palmed off on them as eels. Thos the apparently appetis- ing dishes known it matelette d'a nguille and angdille a la tartai'e are often in low eating harmless snakes, caught of the Vincennes Wood, a special market near publique. It is proba.ble, if the members of the who occasionally indulge eels, *ere apprised of wive her marriage, he thought. _ - The seat is found, -and side -by side they sit talking_ of a hundred different things -that for them have a common interest. To Lauraine it is the most natural thing in the she can always talk to him as she can to no But all the tate an uncomfortable mem- her is a power given only to the chosen sia,'s dominions world that Keith should be beside her, and houses nothing in the wilder pari and brought'up t the Place de la R however, that ev poorer classes her in fried owstewe the fraud prectis d at their expense they would evince no 1 athing, nor even lack of appetite, seeing t -Your not only ho donkey, and dog The women of Hungary are erect, vigor- ous, with fine figures, small feet, pretty hands, rich complexions, and are said to be am -ng the most beautiful women in the world. They are fond of athletic sports, and are especially graceful walker. At Monte Carlo the bank mut always win in the long run, and it is just the same in Capel Court, where the stoek-jobbers may be said to constitute the bark. There is no more regular attendant at the sitting of the House of Lords than the Arch- bishop of Canterbury, who makes it a rule to be in his place punctually at four o'clock. His Grace considers it a duty, as head of the Church, to be always prepared to an- swer questions which may be put to him as Primate. The Japanese show their appreciation of an actor's playing in a more substantial manner than by freely applauding. They throw various portions of their dress on the stage, and at the end of the perform- ance the favoured person claims the money -that the donors repurchase them with, the prices for the various articles being at fixed rates. In the strange little country of Holland the three principal cities are Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and the Hague. These cities are a peculiar medley of canals and streets, trees and masts, bridges and boats. Amid their apparent disorder there is more or less symmetry. Amsterdam is a semi -circle, Rotterdam an equilateral triangle, and the Hague a square. The difference between the three cities socially has been aptly put: " At Rotterdam, fortunes are made ; at Amsterdam, they are consolidated ; at the Hague, they are spent." The number of persons who find their way into gaol is rapidly diminishing. In Britain the figures for 1892 were 12,663, a decrease at they are ready to de - of 413 on the previous year. The olimin- e flesh, but meat of mule, ution would appear even greater were it not any day in the week. that now military prisoners are kept in the civic gaols instead of special prisons, as was formerly the case. Siuce 1880, when the number was 19,818, the returns have shown a steady decline, notwithstanding that the population has enormously increased. Two prisons have had at one time of the year only seven prisoners within their walls. Queer Impracticality. , Neandei, professor of theology in Berlin. was one day ove$taken by a thunderstorm, He jumped intd a cab, but could not give t either the numb Tof his house or the name of the street. e driyer thought the man King George of Greece enjoyed extremely Was Riad, and wait about to tell him to get out, when the Piofessor, espying a student, the visit of his sister, the Princess of Wales, called out to hinand said: "Just tell the to whom be is much atteched. He is a very man where Iliv " Neander's sister, who busy man, but contrived tospend a con - kept house for hire took fresh apartments siderable portion of his day with her. He for him near the uiiversity, as she thought manages to extend his working hall of the the distance too teat for her brother. A twenty-four hours by rising very early few days after th ir removal he complained winter and summer, but in the former of the long -and iring walk, and it then season he repairs at once to his study, and turned out that e had always gone first to tries how many documents he can put away, the old lodging nd so round to the univer- signed and sealed before breakfast; while shy. in summer he wanders beyond the gates of the palace, and will frequently cover half a The estimated i area of the Shah of Per- score of miles before his morning chat with 600,000 square miles. --- Queen Olga and his children. ereame • . Valst A fin G-ranite f.".I." every style. BEST NE\ We are there Monuments an LY REDUCED Pr' It Will pay y your circler. VA WHAT YOU Carpets Stair C Windo Windo Lace C per Art Mu colo Tabling Cr Saheb Verona Printed Wool D Pink -an and Nuns' V Net Ve- Neory an Lawn Lawn ch Blouse Flannel Shaker Carpet- • Black 1, Bleck 5, Velvets Brown valises. Lunch Churns. 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