Exeter Times, 1898-3-31, Page 10Th Morrow vitas the e'reat day. At
ele o'olock e aosee Mega open ear-
gne came to oonvey the gu.este to
ohurch. The coaohineu wore large
emsegays with streamers of white ribo
batn oe their chests, ana the horses
Were bedecked with favors and flowers
Ulm the sheep a the midsummer'day"a procession. The weether was
splendid; it seetned as if the sun it-
self wished, 'to partieinate la the re-
joicings. Groups of peasants were
waeting ail along the road, and the
Meet waved their hats and the women
their taadkerehiefs as the vehicles
passed befere them. The marriage
mass had. been eelehrated, and Ferdin-
and awl his youpg wife were standing
under the °Minh poreh, just aboat to
get into their carriage again, when
Hector approached and abruptly asked
his fleeted who was that pretty girl
with the golden heir.
"Oh, one of our neighbors," careless-
/st replied the happy bridegroona, and
stretching out bis arm toward the
horizon, Ise added: Her mother lives
in the little chateai you can see over
yonder, half -way up the slope, like a
white dot in the midst of the trees."
This did not tell Hector her name,
but it happened. that she VMS Mademoi-
selle Auaanel's bridesmaid, demoiselle
d'hotineur, so that 'custom made him
her cavalier serveate for the rest of
the day. Blithe and gay she hung on
his arm, chirruping like the birds in
the trees; and while they followed
their friends along the garden path-
ways, and throuerh the arbors, Hector
had to tell her the bistory of his
friendship for Ferdiaand, and how he
had clecidea to come. Her questions
fully revealed her girlish innocence,
and once or twice Hector was so sur-
prised that he could not conceal it.
Then her big tremulous eyes would
gaze at eine questioningly, but soon
She recovered her eareless serenity,
while he rejoiced thet she had furn-
ished him lyith such an easy topic of
conversation; for otherwise he would
warmly have knesvn what to say to
her. Addressed to her, the ordinary
platitudes of "society" conversation
would, indeed, have seemed singularly
out of place. A.t times, whilst listen-
ing to Hector, she stooped to pluck
a flower, and leant, in doing so, more
heavily on his arm; and then he paus-
ed. in tas talk to aeraire the exquisite
grace and. suppleness of her move-
ments. BY' and. by, her charming
toilette of white crepe de Chine caught
in a straggling briar, ancl with a
laugh she stooped. again to free hee-
self. though not without pricking her
, fingers. which she at onca carried to
bee.' mouth, and nibbled, as it were,
with her tiny pearly teeth. Surpris-
ed, entranced, elector abandoned him-
self to the irresistible charm of in-
nocence, without even thinking of an-
alyzing, the new sensation that pervad-
ed. him.. Seated near ber at dinner,
118 inwardedly cursed every one who
spoke to him. and compelled him to
reply, perlerring by far to watch her
Stealthily, while she daintly handled
her knife and fork or timidly dipped
her lips in. the ruby wine, served in
gossamer glasses.
Precisely at six o'clock, it; was still
broad daylight, a scraping, of violins
was heard. This was the signal far
the bell to begin in the arbor, and by
and by. it was to be continued in the
grass ing-roorn. A.t the first twang- of
the strings she rose, and. Hector fol-
lowed her on to the sward. He danced
all night, just like a youth fresh from
college, wiping the perspiration from
bis foreheacl after etieh quadrille, and
estretelang oat both hands toward the
refreshment trays. Waltzes, polkas
and rartztreeras always found him in the
front rank, and at last, old Madame
'Aubanel was fern to compliment him.;
He did not hear her- He was listen- !
bag at thee moment to the voice of 11
„--idenee, which 'Whispered, -..enne.•
,„nre
net properly dance with her more than
one dance out of every five." And
to secure that privilege, he determin-
ed to dance tn turn ith every WOMall
present- ft mattered little whether
they were young, or old, pretty or ugly,
he was full of attentions for them ell,'
wit and flattery falling from his lips
at every turn in the maety dance. He
had reeler felt so satisfied in his life,
• arid perhaps he imagined that the ball
would last till the day of judgment.
for be ha4 made engagements as far
• ahead, as the thirty-seventh quadrille!
Vitt suddenly, just as three o'clock in
the morning was striking it was notice
• ed that the bride earl disappeared, and
the guests at once tooli his as a signal
ta,c departure, all the old cousin's ef-
forts to organize a cotillon meeting
with no seeress. Heeler offered his
aren to the lovely gird with the gold -
et hair, conducted her back to her
mother, and. escorted them both to-
ward their carriage through tbe hell,
whieh was crowded with guests looking
eor shawls and wx•appers. ,
"How early we are leaving, marrima,"
be said, witb n lit tie pout.
"Oh. 'quick, quick, my dear," rejoin -
ea the olci lady, giving no direct re-
ply ; "cover your beek awl arms incl
ehouldere, it •is very cold outside,
and you mustn't be ireprudent. Quick,
vvrap ytoursel im in this gluey] and tele
cloak and this scare, and put this hood
oil your head."
The young brake/mad laeghingly al-
lowed Fleeter to assist ber in donning
the many thingher mother Tecate-
rnsatied, and then, swathed f Tenn head
to foot like a mammy, she could herdly
walk, so that he hut almost, to carry
er tothe carriage. tee apread
avy fur rug over both ladies, anti
fittingly meivect their thanks; the
(Merriman Leeched. up hie horees, and
rnoment afterward the vehiele was
deehing down the long avenue of
trileetnuf trees. There stood Hector
cm the nteps, sitteirised end saddened
Ike a eleepee abruptly awakened froM
Some hePPY dream. He had notteed
that her carriage had briehter lamps
than the other, and. as long as Poseible
he watched their light fishing along
the winding road. At times, it would
disappear belsitel the trees, and teen,
just" for . a moment, suddenly shine
forth again, aceoss some open space,
like a will-o'-the-wisp darting theatigh
the marshes. At last from weere he
stood he oould see the lamps no long-
er, bet .haping 'to Perceive them from
the drawing-eoom, he bastily went in-
doors, and with his foreheed against
the window -panes, looked out long and
anxiously into the night, The draw-
ing -mom WaS now void of guests; the
rumbling of the last departing vehicles
could be heard dying away in the dis-
tance, and. tbe tired servants dragged'
themselves through the house, turning
out the lamps and extinguishing the
tap,srs. Hector hail just decide& to
retire to his own quarters when Feeeti-
naia4 darted like a whirlwind aceoss
the apartment. Catching hold at him
by the arm, Hector eagerly eared:
"Har name, tell me. her name,"
"Her name?" ejaculated the bride-
groom.. "Whose name? My wife's ?-
Why, haven't I told you-Herminie."
"Oh, I don't mean your wife," re-
joined Hector, but he had no oppor-
tunity of insisting, for e'erdinand had
already freed himself, and was gone,
--
CHAPTER. IV,
Her name was Louise d'Amblecay,
and she was but seventeen years old.
Her mother, the Baroness d'Atublecay,
had suddenly become a widow titter a
brief but happy married life. Still
young, wealthy, and, derided not to
marry again, the baroness had not
found the courage to separate herself
from her only daughter, whom she pre-
ferred to educate at boine. She was
assisted in her task by a learned old
priest, and an able .English governess
a the Catholic. faith, both of whom.
still reside at the Chateau a'Amble-
cay, yhere they indeed will probably
spenit the remainder of their dapys.
Thanks to her mother's plan. Louise did.
not -go either to school or convent,
where the atmosphere is so often fatat
to young girls; and, brought up un-
der her mother's eyes, she bad thus re-
tained all that girlish innocence and
grace, which for many of us have even
greater charms than beauty itself.
IVIadame d'Amblecay lived in almost
complete retirement. On her hus-
band's heath she had shut herself up
in her chateau so as to allow her
grief full course; and later on, when
time had dried her tears, she hadsbeen
unwilling to change her mode of life.
o -
etre she receivea some of her relatives
who lived, at Tours, and who oanie once
e year to spend a .fortnight at the
chateau, aiad she was, moreover, on
visiting terms with four or five feni-
of the neighborhood belonging to
the aristocracy or landed gentry.
Girls marry very early in Touraine,
and for the past year gossips of the
• district had been asking eater other how
it happened that Madame d'Amblecay
did not occupy herself with finding et
husband for her daughter, and one or
Iwo indiscreet chatterers had even
spoken on the subject to the beroness
herself. Madame d'enablecay invari-
ably replied that there was no reason
to hurry, whereupon it aws charitably
reported that she was sacrificing Louise
to her materiat egotism., sequestrat-
ing her in fact, so as to make her an
, oid maid in spite of herself.
1 Hector learned all these particulars,
.and pia.ny others besides, from his
, friend's wife. Madame Anbanel was
precisely Louise's best, and indeed her
only friend, and Hector unconsciously
made her his confidante. Whenever
she was al ene he profited of the oppor-
tunity to oilir with her on the subject
nearest to his heart, andeven when
' Ferdinand was present he invariably
offerect her his ann, and monopolized
, the conversation to his own paetioulat
benefit. On all possible occasions, M-
I deed, he fairly robbed. his friend of
his wife, eonsidering that Ferdinand
; was most ridiculous with les "honey-
moon" gallantry. However, although
he always had 'Mademoiselle d'Arable-
, cay's name on his,. lips, he endeavored
in speaking to her to assume an air
of utter indifference, and he really
thought he succeeded in his efforts;
but if he had been less pre -occupied he
might Imes noticed the shy smile that
often played round Madame Aulia.nel's
lips. She thouget that she could read
his heart. But how could that be,
since he could net read it If -at
least clueing the earner days. He
simulatednen ail good faith and was
the fit to be deeeived. If be still
r lingered at La Fre,snaie it was because
he really contrt not do otherwise. He
peremptorily decided that point' and
indeed there was any number elpre-
texts and good reasons for eine to re-
main. In Touraine no marriage takes
place without "return" festivities. Re-
latives andt friends vie with each other
in entertaining the happy pair, end fer
e whole fortnight there is a perpetual
turning et spits end serapieg, of vio-
lins; dinners rind balls, picnics and ex-
cursiens, following eaCil other with be-
wildering rapidity, Now could Hec-
tor refuse the inventions AN -huh rain-
ed upon him? Weisel he riot have
offended his friend by doing so? Thus
he went everywhere, end on eater fresh
occasion he met Mademoiselle deeen-
bleca,y, whose mother, making, a great
excepticea in favor of the ree.ent mar-
riage-Ilerininie, be it remembered, had
been Lou ise's on ly freeM-en orn en ta
ly abandoned her life of retireMent.
If Hector bad still been in tee en-
joyment of his calm, sober senses, he
would certainly have noticed the singu-
lar Mange in ela,demoistille d'Ambles
say's character and ataheer. She, wee
oil the occasion ef their first meeting
had beeri So gay and expansive, now
grew more and mote •eeerved.- As
they became better acquaietea the
Mare it seemed as if he intitoidet ed her.
Still he did nee remark it, "Dot Seen"
tetottgb he was, With pretensions to
great knowledge se tee feminine heart,.
But then the most, expert gallant tosee
his ivies as :Moe as he is really in levet'
lleseever, days aod days elapsed„ and
eVery eight Hector strapped ert his
porlerientooei,' to unstrap it again on
the fa -Dolma Moaning, t He cursed
bimetal" foe being so weak, }le eonsitis
eyed hinmelf both obneeious and ride
citiotte ; foe what On eerie( was he dm
itt g al ree :terestraiet, tretibling his
feitittler honeymoon; and peevenring by
hie plaSeriee Imlay a elierMing: ieteeas
tete. At tiniest he felt reittorertful end
thought, "Poor Feetlitiand intlee bt
diegitsteci. With me. If 1 were itihie
ream eteteld liewe tanned ely retract
THE
Herter mit Of rimers long lige,"
Bet Ferdinand bad never had any
euch idea. On the dentaney his
friend's present* delighted him, and he
considered lemselt the haaPieet
earth to he eble to speed les life be-
tween Love aede frieridelem He was,
moreover, so wrapped up in hie own
bliss that a hundred years iiiieht have
elapsed without his aoticing }Mottoes
perplexity it his wife bad not apero-
,prtately wanted hire, It bappeeed 0110
morning white the' heppy patr. were
breakfasting togeteer, Hector had
gone of at daybreak, under the pre-
text of bagging a few partridges bet
in reality to roam around Madame des
Amblecay's chateau. In the course of
conversation Ferdinami began to sing
the praises of that frienti of his -a per-
fect phoeeix, he declared, who was. ne-
glectin' all hie own affairs to give
them Several weeks of his delightful
society.
"But are you sure, dear," asked
Madame Anbanel, "that it is only M.
Malestrat's friendship for us that till
keeps him et La Eresnale?" .
"Why, of course," replied Ferdinand,
with his mouth full "what other rea-
son?" ,
"Oh 1 who knows? Perhaps a very
pretty reason -very young and very
fair.'
"Bahl"
"Madetraolselle d'Ambleca,y,. for in-
stanee:*
'What, do you really think, dear?
Whet an idea I But after all, why
net? People say she is • very gbod-
Looking.'
"People say, indeed? Why, don't
you know her yourself ?" -
"Yes, no doubt, but tben for the last
two years I have never looked. at any
other woman but yourself."
'And I hope such will always be the
cas
"Oh I can swear that," gravely an-
swered Ferdinturd. "But to return to
your discovery. It seems incredible
that Hector ran be in love. Why has
be sairi nothing to rue? It \would be
the height of dissimulation, a perfeet
crime against friendship! However,
witl confess him and find out the
truth."
There was to be but little difficulty
about- the matter, for in point of fact
Rector's confession was quite ready.
After three weeks of the cruelest .and
yet most comicat perplexity that ever
troubled a. lever's heart and hea,d, he
had at last made up his mind. Ah.l he
had not done so without a struggle. He
loved. Louise d'Arablecasr; he felt it,
he knew it. All his thoughts were for
her, and he realized that on her de-
pended the happiness of his life. He
Mb asleep thinking of her. And then
all a a sudden in the midst of his
dreams a spectre rose before him. It
seemed as if be beheld Aurelia Blan-
aureau standing at the foot of his bed,
like a elatue of remorse, and, as if he
could hear her reproaching hira for
his treason, his perjured word! Alil
there was his father's promise, and:the
letter which he himseli had written
tut two months ago. Had he the right
to give his heart to any other woman?
What would M. Blandureau say? At
this thought Hector bowed his head.
But then day by day Lis love for Louise
d'Amblecay grew more intense, and he
realized that it would be impossible
Lor lam to forget her. And yet, still
and ever he was haunted by the
thought of Mademoiselle Illandureau,
He could never marry her, he felt it;
nay, he was determined never to do so.
But then, how coulct he recall his en-
gagement, his pledged word? His
fa.th.e.r's commercial instincts seemed to
rise within him, and. he was literally
horrified by the ehmight of being post-
ed as a defaulter on settling day. Still,
paradoxical as it may seem, this was
the only thing that could save him.
He tit nest began by dismissing such a,
contingency as unworthy ot his hon-
esty; but by ana by he had toneturn
to it. He set it aside once marc;
then be discussed the question at great
length in his own mince and. filially
after a terrible effort he decided that
he had no other alternative.
"My father," he said, "entered into
engagements which he hail no right to
take and. I acted wrongly in ratifying
them. But in reality, what have I
pro•mised? To love Mademoiselle
Blandureau. Now the charm of love
consists in its being involuntary, and
1 love another girl. If I kept my
word I should be e dishonorable man,
for I should not merely condemn my-
self to pelmet tine misery, but Medernoi-
selle Blandurean as well. So I must
eithdraw. It is a case of compulsion;
and besides, after all, it is scarcely
bank.ruptcy, but, rather liquidation;
and permission 'to wind up' is fairly
us."
eiteaeog come to this determination.
Hector aikee. himself how and when
be shouldask M. ft8Q,,reau to can-
cel the agreement, arid after eterreisple
of days of torturing perplexity he de-
cided to write to Paris when, every-
thing was finished -that, is, alter he
haa asked 1 or Mademoiselle d'semble-
cay's hand. As soon as this point was
settled, he himished care, dismissed alt
thoughts of Mademoiselle Blander -
eau, and, giving himself . up to his
love, waited for a favorable occasion
to declare bineselt. Be who bad once;
been all audacity had become, how-
ever, exceedingly timid, and no doubt
he would have waited_ a considerable
time longer if Madame Aabanel had
not ehosen to precipitate events, Von
the hundredth, or rather thousandth
time,• he had just clumsily turned the
conversation to Mademoiselle d'Amble-
ray. temo tering :
" am afraid my preseuce here must
be (lista-steal to her, for she. was yoar
best friend, madame, and since your
jer:ei jate
.ii.rieasgneell!, ha 's not, once celled. at
" Ale so yoa have remarked, that,"
said Madturre Auba,nel. "Dear me, it.
Palest. be serious,"
Ferclieeed began to laugh, while
• Hector leashed etaninaered, •grew con-
fused, and finally blarted out;
.1:Mesn't she think of niarryieg ?"
"OP, how do 1 know 9" lanswereal
Madame Auletnel, willies, smile, "You
otr?he td ,heve asked her,"
•, 1 did ehlek of it," rejoiried elector!
d. airlel,youllnnlieitiZg,li'ttInito ha,ed
ttividn'atrd6aZed"
Well,
"What ? Really? Do you. thiek?
Nrieciet1 110fie ? Has she spoken to you re
' Obi, don't go so fast !I don't thiok
anything, I doe't itrioW anything, Iliad
no one has told ree anything.," '
" Alt how tweet you MI.°, Madame,"
said Heotor, desporelently. " And Was
already thipkingee---" _
" Or askirig her to Marry you 9Wein
*by not? Only I rear -you, Will Med.
with tnrtain dif (Mel tieti-"
'It le true tetnot it troblextenne
that, ,wouid, not be the Write
EX4TER TIMES
"No9 Then name wirelie it be? Oh,
Madame,1 implore yen, telt me."
jihsga.0149t,(tuliiritalt1 lek.t:talooa o(lak re:halsaatt
tlttng. 110111 teen' coneloal side, could
Y" e1111°41:0nIat'iassiltar ;1;ws4eizalil
well, (11),Y1.a.tig
vi4eItesohualStaoseladeraees.
yt
to that ? Como, oh, if you could. wily,
:08emiecaOinearLif lioyort IelbanaN',tes.k.aneTevir e'414\ev
yoaz ao a/sniping before,"
shhisial'aire:ctellitli:rhdul'saria,wtlealdea:18allintaa rile:A-near rosbae°two"
NCaudWerelrillasje.ellae"e'Asainidhleehoey'. aci.h°4°dvoe
You tied. so comical eboet it?" And re-
ceiving no. reply, Ire continued; " Yes,
I love her and wish. to 'ale.her my
wife. Besides I ana determined to
Settle the matter et once. I can't
endure this suspense, So good -by,
asl'1.1:41.:nftdvetIoN,TSiiteanstdhh.:114a3r,00tnl,essasy." to her 9"
"I shall say, 'Madame, I love your
rlaurfflietteern, ta_a_d.1„think elle is not quite
tad
"Dear me, how-kunceited. you are 1"
tol“clatnitbiet anlY rePeat wlmt your
wifs
"101ha,dafmie,e Bleu, bfaonreethame !" int erruPt
ed. -
Hooter gave .the young wife a fere-
outs glance and..resumed.
" 1 may perhaps have cruelly raisin-
terpretecl certeen Nyords you said; and
Id that is the case, I won't say what
I intended. No; 111 say---- Well, never
miarl., I don't know as yet; what Cil
say. But at all eveats, I'll heve an'
explen,ation; I am determined not to
remain in this state of u.ncertaiate.
I can't bear uncertainty; it's like the
toothache and, when a tooth bothers
me and prevents me from sleeping,
I don't hesitate, I have it pulled out at
°aSeoa.s"aying, he walked. out of the room.,
leaving M. and Madame Apbanel
convulsed. with laughter.
(Ti• be Continued.)
FORTITUDE OF TURKISH SOLDIERS.
t Leg Amputated Witham Taking adore -
term and Never littered a Groan.
An English surgeon, Doctor Ryan,
while serving with the Turkish army
in the campaign of 1877-78, saw a mar -
venous exhibition of the fortitude that
resists pain and sustains with ,cheer-
fulness it violent physical shock.
The surgeon's first capital operation
was performed on a Turkish soldier
whose knee had been shattered by a
stheleneekRe re.fused to take chloroform,
and the surgeon took his leg off above.
he
ele never groaned nor uttered an ex-
clamation, but smoked a cigarette dur-
ing the operation. When the Turkisb
captain cam.e around, with his note-
book to take down the name, age and
regiment of each wounded man, this
patient answered quietly ell questions,
though the surgeon was stitching up
the flap of skin over the stump.
At the first bettle of Plemaa, Doctor
Ryan worked all day among the
wounded. en his book, "Under the
Red Crescent," Ile records that in all
his surgical experience he has never
known men to exhibit.suen eortitude
Lusndesortidniteernsse agony as did these Turk-
hThe recovery of the wounded, consid-
ering the unfavorable conditions under
whioh they were teeeee.d, filled him',
with %veneer. Their injuries were ter-
rible, but their splendid physique, un-
impaired by intemperance, enabled
mans; of them, after a few weeks in the
hospital, to resume their peaces In the
ranks.
"I never saw a private soldier under
the influence of liquor during the
whole time that I was in the co'untry,"
writes Surgeon Ryan. "There were
many of these men whose lives I could
have saved. if I could have persuaded
them to take stimulants; but it was
impossible to get them to touch alcohol,
even as raedicine.
"The principles of their religion for-
bid. the use of a'lcohol, and the humble
Turk clings so tenaciously to his reli-
gion that he would rather meet death
itself than violate its precepts."
Many of the wounded lost their lives
owing to their religious belief that the
loss of a limb would prevent them from
entering Paradise. They refused to
submit to amputations, preferring to
die rather than to live maimed.
A DENTIST'S OPPORTUNITY.
I was particularly basy on last Tues -
dere said the dentist. My office was
crowded all day, tied (Inc of the last
patiente to be attended to was a big,
fat, middle-aged German wonatin. She
ha.d been waiting for nearly three
houre, but at last it was her turn end
she moved mr, to the chair with all the
airy grace of a steara roller. Appar-
e.nery tbe crowd. in the office had im-
pressed her deeply for the first thing
she said was:
Doctor, you vas doing a goat bees -
nese.
Yes, I eeid, T. keep pretty busy.
My, but you must be maiging a big
let of meneyl Sey,. doctor, vas you a
'single Men ?
Thilg Waa getting realer interesting,
but the question was eired point blank,
t short range, and 3 felt that Iliad
to answer, so 1 admitted that such was
the ease. By this time she had. hoisted
herself Into the chair, tend she gave me
a look that -well you reinember tee pic-
ture entitled The Arnorotte 13.11M0-
'r°,Sf;aaern,tisdore'tor, nhe Snide end I-erks. a
single VOCIlarl 1
• I?atient-Is the doctor in
NOT leriTHOUT PAIN,
Stinitor--No, bat 1 repreeent hini
What ran I do for you.?
Paelents-Do you pull teeth ,withoul
•venni tor -Well, that cap't peonaise
Only ti week ago pulled a patient's
tootle atid I twisted my 'INTISt SO badly
that the pate hase't left it, yet "and it
may hurt, rim a little, ,
•HIS WAY OF EIGITRING.
Teacher -How Much are three rind
leve
Smell Poe-Aboitt edety
TerteliereeNoneeese I now de yoU
Melte .that out ?
los*--Pe,p went. fiehiri" Sturdily
8,134 ealight tWO big fish end three
al,tftl,iiimia4nitlittlett7i)rir'le,4451bweiTIO'nfil'trrlintIC'itglitr;)11111.11)8141011
OOST OF ICEEPIFG- PEACE
MILLIONs SPENT HY THE NATIONS
QF THE WORLD,
great lerdittla Blends dike Litt er Expeadt-
t are9 Iler lattaaase Xavy Costs Nearly
eat4,0e0etee Ireeriye other countries of
Vetrope Snead Aliatott as Haab.
It wets more than a thouseed mulliou
of dollars a emir to maintain the peace
of Europe. The sum is diviaed tip am-
ong the different nation e in proportion
to thei'r' importance and necessities for
the support of thee: respective ttemies
and navies, the lergest amounb being
expended by ,Greae Brittle, While
the, army of Britaieis not nearly so
large as ehat of some of tIte other na-
Lione of Europe, it has an immense
navy, whieh overshadows thein all, re-
quiring an enorraous expense to keep
it afloat aed in proper fighting trine .
The amount annually appropriated by
Great Britain for axney and. navy pur-
poses is $218,575,480; Russia, comes next
with $180,355,492.95; France follows with
$18e 916,439.40; Germany spends el.28,-
269,512; Italy, §72,442,897,80; , Austria-
Hungary, e61,704,383.60; Spain, $26,185,-
491.52; Holland, $15,724,779.60; Belgium
$10,647,595; Sweden, $8,919,289.40; Rou-
mania. $8,620,713.20; Portugal, $8,064,-
678.60; Dennis/tee e4,532,418.05; Greece,
$e319,777; Switzerland, $4,637,364; Nor-
way, $3,434,18e, •
The 'regular army of Great liritien„
rank and file consists of 127,963 men,
of whom 7,534 ere commissioned °Moe
ers. Of these 11,396 are cavalry, 20,-
457 artillery, with 79,587 infantry, the
colonial and department corps making
up the balance The three divisions
of the United Kingdom respectively
furnish the following quotas of men;
England, 163076; Scotland, 15,800; Ire-
land 25,381;, been India and the cole
aeries; 3,078; foreigners, 154, and 1,072
not reported.
The number of officer, seamen and
marines for whom appropriations are
made is 93,750.
Tel E ENGLISH NAVY
Consists of thirty-three first-class bat-
tle ships five seemed class niue third
class and twenty-three poet defense
ships; 283 cruisers of all classes and
191 torpedo boats.
• The gross cost of the British army
for the year 1896-97 was $104„703,890,
and the gross cost of the navy for the
same time was $113„871,500.
The R,ussian army on a peace foot-
ing consists of 70e,000 men and 28,200
offrcere, of whom about 72,000 are cav-
aley,21060rta
0,m000 artillery, with 1,790 gana
amd3•
T.he teary of Russia, oonsists of eigh-
teen firsi class ea,ttle ships, one third.
Mess ship, fourteen first class, three
second clues and fifty-five third. class
cruisers, with ninety-seven torpedo
boats and sixteen port defense vessels.
The army of France consists of 493,-
555 effecteve men„ divided into 145 in-
fantry regiments of timeline, each reg-
iment consisting of 1,,591 men and sixty-
two Officers, ninety-six regiments of
cavaley and forty of artillery, the lat-
ter comprising 500 mounted batteries„
with sixteen battalions of foot artil-
lery.
The French niwy, with the exception
of •the British, is doubtless the most
efficient in the world, Et consists of
twenty-one first close, eight second
cless and six third class battle ship,
sevearteen first class, thirty-two second
cease and 109 third class cruisers and
220 torpedo boats, with fourteen port
defense ships. .One of their most pow-,
erf u I battle. ships in the Depuy de Lome.
The-. strength of the German army
on a peace footing is 562,207 men, rank
and file, wit,h 22,687 officers.. It is div-
ided into 383,314 infantry, besides 12,-
948 officers, 65,375 ciwalry, and 2,35e of-
ficers. There are forty-three regi-
ments of field artillery, consisting of
58,321 men, including 2,671 officers and
seventeen regiments of foot artillery
of 22,824 men, whieh, together, with a
number of speokil service corps make
up the complete retimber.
The navy of Germany oomprises fif-
teen battle ships of all classes, twenty
port; defense ships. forty -ons cruisers
and 114 t-TorpsITALIAN
boats.
THP
Aitary
Consists of 235,091 men, of whom 141,-
000160 tatrratillliefrTerY' 23'2,39 cavalry and.
While the navy of Italy is not se
large TLS that of some of the other na,--
atone of Eusope„ it has a number of
formidable vessels. It consists of sev-
en fleet elites; five secorid and tem third
clime battle ships, fifty-six cruisers, two
port defense ships and „ le7 torpedo
FoIl,oseing close in the seake of eltaly
comes Turkey, with 180,000 men as a
peece rmy, alericled into the propor-
tionatenumber of infantry, cavalry and
argeTlerY;telcisb navy is to a -great ex-
tent en obsolete fighting force, though
some aceivity has been recently revived
in marine tatter. It has two to -cell-
ed first elites battle ships, alma thirty
cruieers and thirty-seven torpedo boats.
Only •three of Turkey's shims tem be
counted as seagoing armor-olads of any
fightieg velue; the others ars all old,
oet of.. date aerates.
Little Switzerland comes up • with
125,000 men, of who 102,507 Me in -
tattle', 3,758 cavairy and 21,632 artil-
May with a number of auxiliary eorps.
AS it has rio sea (meet, Switmerienil hal
Smell hes on hewer as can be ascer-
taintel„ about 80,000 mein regularly in
the service. Tere fort*bit Ottbe for the
suppeessine of the ensiterectine aliment -
ed to 12e,230 men, eneltuding ferty gen-
• erals and 562 staff officers, This wee
the, estionake made a year and a hell
ego; 14,000 in tee Philippine Islafids end
11.000 in Porto Rico, T,ber natober hae
been ieereaSect in Cabe he cortacrip-
going and decreased by the insargefite
aria death Until it is impossible to ter-
fleAtete eee eeaet tnattne• ide ti.ow in the
•
SPAIN'S NAVY •
p:13exrtillaclattvaierleaile tt'etCliA the fl ri.tIgssCehl 41; 0111)6
8a8ti',111i6'.
tie seupe, eleteen firet 01.00 Cruiser:I, in-
,
Online thee* that were being built,
six seceed Muss and tevente-eight third
°friss oeuisere, with forty toopeito emits,
AIL the tint class cruisers are ()empire -
lively new, During 1895 Spain lost
four oruisers by wreaks.
4\31"rilegungeler ieee ebout 360,000
uteri under arms at all times, of 'Wham
187,759 are Meantry, Mel:ailing 10,017 of-
ficere, 47,380 cevalry ae4 30,000 artillery
with severtri corps 01 alssailierieS.
The lAu.strien nary ocoupies a law
rank artiong the names of tire world,
so feeas effeeteveness is concerned, It
eoosiste of eight battle ships, of which
eine is rankea as fleet class, thirty-one
cruisers, eight part defense ships and
sixtraseven torpedo beets.
Holland bas 45,000 Mfantey, 2,752 rev-
elry, 16,442 artillery end. 1,612 (main-
eere in the array.
The EaalVy consists of seventy cruis-
ers, twenty-eight port delouse ships and
thirty-se.ven torpedo boats. •
The army of Belgium comeriees 52,-
000 men of all arms-
• The other nations of EutroeS3 all have
small standing armies, Sweden haying
the largest, its army being 38,000
• serong.
The ,navy of Sweden is maintained
entirely for const defense purposes, and
consists of fifty vessels of all °lasses.
The army of Portugal ,is composed of
36,000 men of all arms, supplemented
by a navy'of thirty-four cruisers of all
classes and eighteen torpedo boats,
Denmark has an army of 10,000 men,
With a navy entirely for coast defense.
Roumania has 47,000, Greece 25,000 air&
Servii 20,000 men in their 'respective
armies. Grecs.* has a small nav-y, con-
sisting of Eve armored. clad • vessels.
Servile has tealy one vessel that. is used
exclusively or military purposes. lieu -
mania has ene protected cruiser of 1,320
tone and, A.. number of smaller vessels.
THE RETIRED BURGrLAR.
Impedintral Placed la is isursimass 'way
'1'hat, llelped Imilead or Illuderlag.
"When I SoNS7 the gate, at the top
of the stairs," said the retired bur-
glar, "of , course I knew there was
young children be the house, It wee
put there to keep 'am from falling-
,
down stairs. It was low -I guess
about two feet and, a half high,and it
swung, when closed, from the post; at
the top of the stairs actress to a strip
nailed to the wall opposite.
"I noticed this gate when I went up,
particular, because a man in my bus-
iness notioes everything, and because
I thy -tight that thie would be it handy
thing to shut in case anybody should
get after me in the house; that shut-
ting that gate in front of'ern might
stop 'ern long enough to let me get
invey coraforteble. It wasna more'n it
year before I had a chance to try, it.
"There was a long hall on the second
floor of this house, with this stairway
pretty near at the front end, of it. I
went into a, rocen. way back at the oth-
er end, and while I was lookin' around
there I upset something on the bureau
and woke up a ,man in the bed.
'"Welle he says, 'what's the mat-
ter now?', And I didn't wait to hear
any more. 1 didn't even turn the light
on him.. I didn't need to; you could
tell all you wanted to know about hint
by his voice. He was a resolute, able-
bodied citizen that I could hear getting
out of bed.
"I made a break for the -door and
sprintedalong the hall throwing any
light and catching siglat of that gate
again and stuilin.g to myself as I saw it.
I swung it aro-end shut after me as I
passed, and went; on down tire stairs,
leaving the man upstairs coming along,
the hail overhead with it ruah.
• "'But it's all right," 3'haysto my-
self, 'the gate'll stop him. long enough
for me toget out easy.' But, by
snakes, it didn't stop him tit all. On
the contrary,' it helped him. ;lust as I
wile stepping down from the last step
onto the floor , of the ,hall below elle
man fell on my back. Heeebeen com-
ing along the, hall above's° fast 'that
he coeldn't stop himself and he fell
over the gate, turned a summerset itt.
the air mathstairease, and came down
a heap faster'e I did endlantled on me;
insteaa of breaking his own back he
pretty neat: broke mine.'
"We rolled over and over on the
fleor in the hall, the man laughin' fit
to kill. That's the sort of a man he
was., It was the ,funniest thing he'd
run up against - in it, long tittle.
"He never once thought of stopping
nee, not once, but he says, when,
was letting me out, 'Uf yon eamele
come again don't ehut the gate.'"
THE TRUE AND ME, FALSE.
The different* between men is in
their principle of association. Some
men classify objects by color and size
and ether aocidents of appearance;
Genera by intrinsic likeness, or by the
relation of cause and effect. The pro-
grese ,of the intellece consists in the
clearer vision of causes, which over-
looks surface differences. To the poet?
to the philosopher, to the saint, all
things are friendly and sacred, all
evetits profitable, all days holy, all men
divine. For the eye is fastetted to the
life and slights the circumstance, Ilse
ery chenectil substance, every ploni,,
every animal in its growth teaches the
unity of Miuse, the variety of lappear-
a nce,-lemerson.
• HAPPY LANGUOROUS TAKLA.
Of all fascinating places lender tbe
sera the esland of Tahiti, one of the
Soeiety Islands is said to be the most
fascinating. 3n that eountry-a litilit
earth lo,st in a vtiet ocean-neture lum
done everything to make indoleet soule
happy. 'The one -Late is temperate, and
even all the year round, the vegetation
is luxuriant, the women beautiful and
the nights, full of per:time tied, mysti-
cal light, *stir the most practiced miud
• to love of meditit tion and dreatning.
The inthience of this dreamy, laze life
is very Mealtime. Et ie not neoessary
to week, as the islandfurnishes food
witheet labor of tillage. A numeet
of Americans and, IPeench who beve
germ there fax it visit have beeonle so,
enreptared with the laeguoroun eels-
berice that, like the visitore to Lathe
Land, they lie down arid forget friende,
home, ambilien and everythitig,
gEtr,rrNG IILM °VT.
•Young Papley (ths auntie poet) -
usually epees' 8 notebtiole to jet down
mer idetie, lett • forgot it to -day, '
Ste,- Weal d •Ord be toe
ST. PETERSBURG AND ITS PEOPLE.
Some Churacteristl es or the Itusglau Civenui
01 0411 thealeitoloseinstirriiolualboittilounie.
ss60aow 004
by Peter the Great-exid • they were
not
it eesr-the founding of et. Petere-
burg cleserves to event cantina the Core -
meet. He Wanted., he seed, -a window
loo
1, 17: imrlithbieliu:r°,87:: :20:te‘sniutell.
seotie inconsisteecy he fixed. upou one,
elmile, • frosted half the year, and,
we',13goesee.,e.f is'et.,rannSegleerss tf pue4ol'e.,
lecbed for his buildieg operabiene 'was
nothing 'but it vast quegmere.
As you stand in the geilery that
rings the vast golden dome of Steletialea
Cathedral, this caseate vvith so strange
an origin is spread like a map before
you, As some N‘-aitex-loggea bark it
lies, wallowing in the midst of the
streams of 'the many-ehannelled Neva.
The black waiters rue almost level with
it:irrefirr-god
ttlemobaa.,:rr vein:lee talia,gtheaoticiatrunim
from the Baltic, stretching up to the •
lower city in a broad exeanse of roll-
ing waves, seems ever to threaten is
'terrible inundation, Fortunately, the
Baltic, like the Mediterranean, is a
tideless sea, But as it is, matters look
black miough when the river, swollen
by heavy rains, roars foaming through
the creaking wooden bridges, and a gale
,fromvarthde, A
soutthsueriaxisteisme.
thse short Bettie
swell. to checkm
the flow of the strea
sev,
A WARNING GUN
Will thunder forth from the gloomy
eaaenatleanoofthPeertearnegnudiePkaeuresuacnedessanioonther
as
the danger grows apace. The dwellere
iti cellars seek shelter in attics; the
police look to their, boats; the sentries'
are relieved. Despite its natural dis-
advantages, the feet remains that this
is the capital of the great Russian na-
tion -a nation, which, at the present
time, holds the pea,ce of .Europe in its
hands. Within its wells a million bUr
man beings live, and, with some fre-
quency, die. It has a, ruler more au-
tocratic, a court more gorgeous, a so-
ebety more dissipated, a garrison more
vast, and a populace more ignorant
tban any other city of civilization,
Amusements these people will have, --
each to his taster
Tbere are two Sb. Petersburgs, be-
tween the pleasthres and amusements,
of wheal there is a, great gulf fixed
-one is the St. Petersburg of sum-
mer, another is the St. Petersbure of
winter. The very nature of the peo-
ple seems to change with the seasons.
In summer they are a nation of the
open air, They drive through the
green elm a -venues of the sunny Neva
islands; they throng the pleasant parks
and cluster round • ths landstands itt
the gardens; they dine with no other
roof than the darkening- heavens; their
very theatrical perfoleneaces are out
of doors. They yeohl, they !donee Bet
with Oetobee• the scene it eleinged; the
oity is a polar region. Vest plains of
a. whiteness that enemies and exhausts
the eye etreteb to the horizon. It is
an Eastern desert, with
• SNO \V FOR SAND.
Between night and day the line may
scarcely be drawn. The people acetate
moditte themselves to their environ-
ments like their own foxes that change
tbsi color of their coats with the sea-
sons. The air ,is shunned as a deadly
fos. Their homes are heated to a
temperature almost unbeerable to a
dweller in the south. Yet it is a time
of great gayety -a time, of concerts
and operas, of belle and receptions in-
numerable. If folk venture forth it
is to whirl madly along in sleighs muf-
fled to the eyes in furs. The poor shud-
der 'beneath their paadecl cotton cloaks.
is it surprising teat they try to find
warmth oblivion, and even death in
the fiery vodka, a spirit the moet pole -
mums itt Eerope, absinthe perhaps ex-
cepted?
"Englishmen," so the proverb rens,
etake their pleasures sally" ROSS1111/S,.
1 heve no hesitation in saying, take
their pleasures "madly." They are a
nation of. extremes; it is the '.1'artar
blood feet runs in their veins. Watch ,
the faces in the streets as youedrive
elongSFroin, the peeshed noleeman to
the miserable moreek they all wear it.
sullen. hopeless look, as if life and ifs
burdens were too bea,ve to bear. You
wouell as little expect to hear one of
them break into a hearty froglieh
laugh as to hear a Spaniard, let us sae,
give vent to a beerte- English theist.
Yet, send one of these melan"bole gen-
tlemen on a sleigh-11de at file gallop,
or seed; him whirling in the dant*, or
set him, dosser to 'upper with a inerry
Parte', ahd bit e few ;emit miuutee he
will eecome ae svildly excited as it
sehoollioy off. for his ho'itlays. pea
ItIsti Magazine.
VICTORIA'S. LETTERS:
About' 20,000 'let tees 'tire and yeseed
Queen Vietoria yearly from her ',sub-,
Mete.. Those that are not, at:peeped 0474
eat forwarded by the offaitils, The ,
Queen's lettere have erected:mice' of 'ell -
°filets, and tire foewerdert to . ISeindsor
by spatial roessengee from ,the' g0 -11e 1.
pOstoffice..,-, '
_ ,
A P R 0131:0 kaLEN
.Teaeher--Tortitriy, tireow that gnat
into the lidelott, '
'Twenty - Roo he'egt-o-o l Teacher, flee
10.8 briedder-ainanY'R. He'll rno 1.1
floret give 11; ter. lain beck.,
13 NATITNL THE MA.11.1S leee
e3riliblese-See here; 'Sehat
are
you doing ort tlsstrsst with
linen 'dueler :anti a Atn ete.s. time or
AVOlabie,Y,,-1. alit io gette'order... seine.
cool,
8,ti) 1 dotel, went,I,I* dealer' te
seep up'.. erecter me Pete',
IN Telt esA lel Peres '13USIIN iPqq
• ,
What 'rrotes.;ien dip yort, follow.9 telki
ed the attorney foe the deferteee
.3'11,tty:e .10114)wod,' ttv nio$4; deery attire,
of 'been:lees 51 te .11:4,, reply,
. Abe1lnd at' 1-t ra e:%; .oh 1
001otor„: