Indianapolis Journal, Indianapolis, Marion County, 30 January 1887 — Page 2

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THE IKDIANAPOIiIS JOURNAL, SUNDAY, JANUARY 30, 1887 TWEIiVB PAGES.

Yiufoi by Special Arrangement. Copyrighted. 18S7.

A VALUABLE NEWS-I BY CLAIM J. CLING AN. In a Urge dingy room piled tip with papers, Charles Norway sat before an open desk looking over a voluminous heap of proofs. lie was a good looking young man of the blonde type, having a countenance fnll of blended keenness and good nature, while hia smoothly shaven face and premature baldness gave him a certain distingue air that was at times of practical lenefit to him. Norway had been in the newspapsr business ever since he could remember. As long ago as when he had worn long curU and knee pants he had been office boy in the employ of Horace Greeley; and once, when an irate asststant on the paper had, in a moment of wrath at some misdemeanor, rubbed a bottle of blue ink into the sunny brown of Norway's curls, Mr. Greeley had shown his disapproval by a sharp rebuke to the perpetrator of the rash act, and, taking the boy by the hand, himself conducted him to a barber and superintended the removal of the ink. Later in 1.13, Norway grew, by process of assimilation, into a full-fledged reporter. He had a way of persuasion which wormed secrets out of people before they knew it; and he also had a nice discrimination, enabling him to make good any deficiencies even better than the narrator of the facts himself could have done it. Whan he was, in the regular course of his profession, ejected from a place, he had a way of reappearing quietly, modestly, and with a sort of sweet, inoffen sive dignity, not once only, but with constant , regularity, until the stoutest heart quailed under the petsi3tent visitations, and he gained his desired point. These qualities combined made him a successful news-gatherer; and as he also possessed eoxne literary ability, he gradually rose in hia profeBsion. A few. months before the opnin;r of onr story, he hai accepted a position as night editor of tho "Pro and Cou," an enterprising Chicago daily. Norway had come to Chicago before the fire, just in time, in fact, to be caught in an adventure in the great conflagration. It was' not much of an adventure, after nil, and only that it concerned a remarkably pretty girl Norway would have probably remembered it, if at all, as a mere incident. Iu the confusion of escape from a burning building, the young lady, who was a mere school-girl of about fifteen years of age, had become separated from her friends, and finding her alone and tenified, ho did ju6t what he" would have done had sho been a beggar ou'the streets helped her to a place of safety as soon &3 ha could. The young ladv was only half drersed, and her thick, silky black hair hung below her '.vaist in one wind blown, tangled braid, while her small, bare feet were hastily thrust into slippers. She had thrown a dark mantle over herself, and this, being without sleeves, compelled her to put forth a bare, whit9 arm as she clung to her protector in the wild confusion cf that terrible night. At one time, when they came to a formidable pilfl of scorching bricks directly in their path, he had taken her in his arms a3 though she were a child and carried her across, while she, frightened at the falling walls which seemed ready to crush them as. they fled, instinctively clasped her soft bare arms around hia neck.. Norway, from his earliest years had been alone in the world, without the endearing influences of mother or sister; and the child-like trust and confidence of the young stranger aroused a new and strange feeling within him. Though a favorite in a general way, with all woman, hp had never been in love; but he lost his hrtirr, somehow, to the beautiful f'oung girl that eventful night, which, as he ooked back upon it, seemed like a happy episode of another world. In after years, whenever Norway heard any one descant on the horrors of the Chicago fire, he always said he rather enjoyed conflagrations of that kind, and wouldn't mind going through with another. No; nor would he have objected to living in continual alarms, anywhere, if he could but see again the face that had so persistently haunted his imagination, ever since. For Norway, with all his jolly, happy go-lucky disposition, had one of those very rare natures, upon which a strong impression is indelible for all time. So Norway, at twenty-nine, was a bachelor, and likely to remain so. He never knew who bis companion was, for just a3 they reached a place of safety on tho border of the lake, chance led thera right to some of her missing relatives, who were wildly lamenting her loss, while her lather was yet searching for her. Norway did . not wait to be thand; and he had never seen ihe young lady again. As he sat that afternoon, engrossed with tho proofs, a boy entered. "Chief wants to see you, Mr. Norway," he iftid. Norway said very well, and presently betook limself to where the editor-in-chief. Mr. Thorne, i lat in a large leathern chair, smoking, and absenty folding up sheets of paper which, ever and anon, te tore into infinitesimal bits, scattering them ver the floor at his fet. Thi3 was a confirmed tabit of Mr. Thome's when meditating; it assistid his thoughts to flow easily, and aiso imparted t distinct individuality to the room. It wa3 .onceded by every or.o who had ever been in it v .hat this apartment exceeded in wild and hidous disorder any other given number of square feet ever inclosed, within four walls. As Norway approached, Mr. Thorne looked calmly at aim over a vase accumulation of unanswered letters and spoke: "You've heard of this Berthold affair!" he isked. ; " "A very little. Tho people concerned are "iretty close-mouthed anil won't say a word. There's a good deal of curiosity about it all over .own. Old family, you know." "Yes; the facts, if we can eet at them, will nake a good lay-out for the Monday paper, eh" "Yes; if we can get at them."', "You can." said Mr. Thorne, in his thin, cold roice. "There is not another man on the paper, aowever, that I think can manage the case. So, t you will consider yourself off duty with regard ;o everything eke and make the next twentyfour hours tell in that direction, you will place we under an obligation which I shall remember." Norway laughed and departed on his mission, fie went home and dressed aa carefully a3 possible, and then took a car to the West Side. Here, on one of tho pleasantest streets, in a large, magnificent mansion, with corresponding grounds, lived Mr. Amos Berthold. a wealthy retired merchant, formerly in the India trade. In another Eection of tho town lived a brother and former partner, and tho two brothers had juarreld bitterly, there being some little , domestic scandal involved in the affair. The aigh standing of both parties had called particular attention to the matter, and public curiosity had risen to a high pitch, the latter of which many of the daily papers had attempted to ssuage by hints and conjectures; but, as yet, aothing was definitely known. It requires a certain degree of nerve power to :oolly peek admission to a man's house with the ivowed intention of learning, if possible.. what that man distinctly desires to conceal, and Norway felt the truth of this more forcibly than he bad in any former experience of the kind, as he walked uo the granite steps and rang the bell. A colored man answered the summons, and promptly replied to Norway's inquiry if Mr. Berthold was in, that he was, but would 6ee no ane. Thus delayed but not discouraged, Nort way took a brisk walk and returned in half an hour with the same errand. This time a very Dretty waitress opened the door. She gave the lame rport as had her predecessor. "But I think he will see me; my business is very important," said Norway, persuasively. "At least, be so kind as to take up my card." lie gave her a plain visiting card. "And 6ee for your trouble, allow mo to present you with few bangles." . S Jle dropped tWft Utile, shining gold dollars IXt9 girl's hand; and whether it was the atjr stroke or the bangles, or the wiming

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smile that accompanied the gift, the girl, after a moment's hesitation, allowed him to enter, and seated bim in a small reception-room. After a few moments of waiting a pottly, apoplectic-looking gentleman in dressing-gown and slippers entered, studying the card with a bored expression.

"I don't remember yoy, Mr. Norway, he began, unceremoniously. "But I'm told your business is very important. What can l co ror your "I have the honor, sir," said Norway, seriously and gently, "of representing the Pro and Con. I have called for the purpose of taking, if such is your pleasure, a statement from you ia regard to " "Statement! I say statement!" burst forth the irate old' gentleman, forgetting in hi3 wrath to be grammatical. "Do you take me for a natural idiot? Let me tell you, young man, for your own benefit, that I've had sixteen reporters kicked down the stnps; yes, sir, and into the street, within three days. The longer it takes you to get out of the house the more help you will ba likely to receive on the way. James!" The black servant appeared. Norway walked quietly into the hall, took his hat from the rack, and, with his hand on the door-knob, said, with that firm but courteous manner so hard for even the most violent to interrupt: "Mr. Berthold, I came here in your own interest, and in about (he consulted his watch) an hour and a half I shall return with the same object in view, when I shall receive from your own hands a written statement for publication in the Pro and Con. Good-day, sir." Without waitine to note the effect of his parting words, he closed the door behind him, and, hailing a cab, was driven to the residence of Mr. Hezekiah JjJerthold, in another part of the town. Here, through chance, admission was easy, for as Mr. Berthold was expecting a lawyer the maid took it for granted that Norway was he, and admitted him without question. Mr. Berthold, a tall, thin, stately gentleman, sitting in a cosy library before a bright grate fire, observed hia visitor with surprise, but no visible gratification. "Mr. Berthold," said Norway, "I, as .a representative of the Pro and Con, have called to solicit from you a statement in regard to the little matter, hints of which are now floating about town. The Pro and Con desires to publish nothing but truth, and it is for this reason that I have intruded upon you in person." : "I have nothing whatever to say to you," said Mr. Berthold, with a cold glare. "I do not consider it necessary that my private affairs shall be made the subject of public discussion. I desire you to leave immediately; and, as for the Pro and ('on, to which I am a subscriber, I shall stop the paper. "Very we'll, sir," said Norwar, courteously. He bowed, aud -seemed about to leave the room, when a second thought presented itself. He paused, and added incidentally: "I called in the hope that you might leave with me some slight expression, at least, of your views in the case, m order that our article may be as fair as possible. I have just left the rest dence of your brother, Mr. Amos Berthold, and am going back in half an hour to receive his statement, and " "What! What! My brother writing a state ment, did you say?" cried Mr. Berthold, rising excitedly. "Aha! Sit down, young man, sit down." Norway sat dowp. As he did so he saw, half concealed by the heavy curtains before the window, a young lady standing in the shadow of the heavy draperies, who had evidently been listen ing with much interest to the proceedings. Her profile was turned toward him, but even at that point of view Norway perceived that she looked disturbed, if not angry. But it was not that which most attracted his attention. There was something straneeiy familiar in the poise of the head, the fluffy waves of drk hair, the contour of the pretty mouth and chin. Why did it bring so vividly to his mind a certain night seven years ago, with a sound of roaring flames, .falling walls, and the clasp of a pair of soft white arms? At that moment Mr. Berthold excused himself in order to look up soma important papers that had been mislaid; and as he left the room the curtains parted, and the young lady advanced into tho room. As she faced him Norway doubted no' longer. It was his protego of the fire. Changed, certainly; for instead of a timid, frightened school girl, hero was a stately, beautiful woman. Norway bad heard of Miss Ber thold, who would have been a decided belle, only ior a certain t'iciuaiveuess mas iieupeu nern, or rather hedged others out, but he never met her formally. Bufa sense of guilt stole over him, depriving him of the pleasure which the occasion would otherwise have brought him. Miss Berthold was attired in a dark wine-colored velvet, made plain and closely-fitting, which seemed to add to her height and to render her more imposing. As she confronted him, sho transfixed the unhappy young man with a magnificent look of mingled scorn and indignation. "Sir," she said, "have you a mother?" "No," said Norway, who had arisen at her approach, "I have no mother." "Have you a sister?" - 4VTa. via eiatA. W "Have you a wife, then?" persisted the young lady, with growing resentment. "No," said Norway, and his own voice sounded strangely to him. "I have no wife." "Well, have you a heart?" she .sked at last, in desperation. Tr-.e young man was silent. He looked at her, but for once he found it impossible to speak. Of course, she bad utterly forgotten him. He had expected that. But it seemed to bim, now they were onco more face to face, that the night of the fire was but yesterday, instead of seven years past. Something in his face, grave, earnest and almost appr-aling, touched the young lady with a Blight wonder. . "What 1 mean is, how can you do such things?" she went on, for, having gone so far, she was unable to stop. "What things?" "Why, pry into other people's secrets. Papa said it would kill him if it should get out.- Arrd to-moirow it will be all over town, and in the paper. Oh! Oh! You are cruel. You are heartless. You cannot be a gentleman." Words fail to describe Norway's sensations as he listened. He bad sometimes been guilty of indulging in romantic dreams of the time when ho might, perchance, meet his unknown protege, out tney nna never pictured the event under conditions like these. Iu his roieery and humiliation he was f&iti to put the burden of responsibility on Mr. Thorne; and if thoughts could kill, it is probable that the Pro and Con would have been suddenly deprived of its able and enterprising editor. But at that moment Norway took a desperate res:lve. "Miss Berthold," he said, "have you ever heard the story of the wisa foe and the foolish friend?" "No, sir," said tho young lady, coldly. "Will you kindly allow me to relate it. while I am waiting? Thank you. A certain king who lived in ancient times had a favorite ape. Tho animal was very fond of him, and was with him night an 1 day. One night a robber eL jtcd an entrance into the royal chamber, in tho hope that he might escape with some of the court jewels. As he entered, a huge spider descended from the ceiling on its invisible web and dropped upon tho forehead of the sleeping king. The ape, enraged that so vile a thing 'should touch his beloved master, seized a stout staff which lay near, and raising it above his head, would have killed the unconscious monarch, but that the robber sprang forward and arrested the blow. The king awakening and learning the cause of the confusion, commanded that the ape should be killed, but rewarded the robber. 'For, said he, 'mr petted favorite, with good intentions, would have put me to death, but thou, coming with bad intentions, hath saved my life. Better is a wise foe than a foolish friend."' Norway related this simple story in a low, impressive voice, that was in itself a work of art. Miss Berthold listened, first with polite toleration, then with some slight interest "That is a very good story. And the moral is that you are a wise foe?" "If I .may not be considered in a friendly light, I certainlv would covet that distinction. But let me add, that rather thau bring unfavorable notoriety upon your family, I will cut off my right hand. If you positively desire it, I will give you my word of honor that not a syllable relating to this affair shall ever fiad its way into the columns of the Pro and Con." "Are you in earnest?" asked Miss Berthold in surprise. "Quite so. But you should look at the question from all stand-points. There are other papers which will not take the same stand, but by false representations wilt give a much worse coloring to the affair than it deserves. I, at least, will secure justice for you. They will not" "I never thought of that," said Hiss Berthold, thoughtfully. She reflected a moment, then aid: - "I think, then, perhaps It is tetter as it is. We

will trust to your generosity. I owe you an apol1, ogy for my hasty and rude words. Poor papa has had a great deal of trouble of late, and In thinking of him I forgot myself." She bowed an adieu and was gone. At that moment Mr. Berthold re-entered the room with a handful of manuscripts as an aid to the pronosed work, and began writing his statement.

This, however, he found much more difficult than he had anticipated, ana tt finally ended in his stating the facts to Norway, who, at his option, wrote them out Under the skillful manipulation of his thoughts the whole affair was so gracefully presented that the old gentleman was delighted. "I wonder if Amos will get ahead of 'thatr he said, rubbing his hands in agreeable reflection. If I mav offer a suggestion," said Norway, 1 will propose that yon allow me to submit this paper to Mr. Amo3 Berthold for his inspection. What fori' said Mr. Jtserthold, sharply ana suspiciously. He looked at Norway a moment, and finding nothing but frankness and truth in the gaze he met, reflected a moment, then said: "Well, vou may. 1 think I can trust him. A Berthold never was known to do a mean act. You're a good fellow," he added, holding out his hand to Norway, as the latter rose to go. "I am glad you came. Let me have your card. I shall hope to meet you again." . Half an hour later, rsorway stood agam oerore Mr. Amos Berthold s door, but under what dif ferent auspices than fermerlvl Now he came n conqueror. This time Mr. Berthold did not refuse to see him, partly from curiosity, aroused by his strange, prophetic speech as he had talten his departure on his termer visit, ana parny from a sense of uneasiness therefrom. "So you are here again, he said, testily. Yes, sir. I have come from your brother, who ha9 written a statement, which he instructed me to submit to you for your approval. "He said that, did her' sail the old gentleman, with a gasp of surprise. He mechanically took the paper held out to him, and perused it care fully, ilia lace soiteneu as he read, ana as ne finished he admitted that it was fairly written, and, except a few minor details, just to both bides. Hezekiah always was a good square fellow," Norway heard him say half under his breath, "1 11 go and see him." The old gentleman shook hands very heartily with Norway at parting, and even apologized for his former harsh treatment; though he declared that it was hard lines when a man had to tell, of his own accord, his own secrets, against his will. The Berthold affair, after the publication of the statement, faded out of people's minds, there being no further food for curiosity. People reading it and finding nothing sensational, as they had expected, said. "In that all?' with a yawn, and straightway forgot all about it; and about that time the brothers were reconciled. As for Norway, he became more and more valuable to the Pro and Con as time passed, especial ly as Mr. Thorne s health failed, and ne was obliged to take a year's travel abroad. Norway filled the vacancy caused by his absence, and scraps of able and facetious editorials began to be extensively quoted and misquoted throughout the country from his pen. Society, too, smiled upon the young journalist; and one day he received an invitation to dine at Mr. Hezekiah Berthold's. Miss gerthold was, of course, present, and it chanced that he was appointed to take her in to dinner. Afterward they strolled into the conservatory to look at a new variety of cactus which was then in blossom; but, by" the time they reached that charming retreat, they had forgotten the cactus They even laughed over the circumstances of their former meeting, when Norway had called in the guise of a wise enemy; though Miss Berthold frankly confessed that the subject was a painful one to her. "I can never forget the unceremonious way I addressed you that day," she said. "Of course it was rude, you were an utter stranger to me, and when I think of that ridiculous dialogue, which I was the instigator of " "Do not think of it," said Norway. "Impossible. I have to think of it," said Miss Berthold peevishly. "But,"8ald Norway, "if I could prove to yon that I was not an utter stranger, and that we were, or should' have been, old acquaintances, having met seven years ago, would that make any difference?" "It might. But, then, it isn't soT "Yes, tt is quite true. Have you no recollection of me? I did not find it difficult to remember you, although I think yon have changed more than 1 have." "Seven years ago!" said Miss Eertho&, in a tone of wonder. Why, I wa3 a mere school girl; and let me see I was at home for a vacation when " A flush swift and deep caused her face Jto outrival the red roses at her side, as she paused with a sudden recollection. She looked np shyly, and something in her face told Norway that" they would heroafter be friends. She held out her hand, saying softly: "It was on the night of the fire." PARIS DURING THE SIEGE. Interesting Extracts from Kx-Minister Wasliburne' Diaries. February Scribner. . "Pakis, Thursday Night, Nov. 20, 1870. ? 1 "Sixty-seventh Day of the Siege. "And Thanksgiving at that! Visions of beefsteak, broiled chicken, hot rolls and waffles for breakfast; roast beef rare, turkey and cranberry sauce, roast goose and apple sauce, plum pudding, mince pie, pumpkin pie and Livermore cheese for dinner; but not as bad perhaps as it might be; we make the best of the cruel situation. Oar thoughts go out warm'y to the great unbesieged world. A few gather at the Episcopal Church at 11 o'clock; "apparent rari nantes in gurgite vasto." The Episcopal service is read and the pastor makes a little address. Returned to the legation at noon, and always something to do, which is a blessing. The people here who have nothing to occupy thewiselves with are perfectly desperate. A Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant on the Boulevard ltaliens given by two of our American gentlemen. Quite a little table full and all quite jolly,but the portion of tnrkey to each guest is painfully small. Toasts, little speeches till half-past 10, when the puesta retired, most of thera to go to a little Thanksgiving party given by one of our compatriots." "Christmas. Paris. Sunday, Dec. 25. 1870. "Ninety-eighth Day of the Siege. J "Never has a sadder Christmas dawned on any city. Cold, hunger, agony, grief and despair sit enthroned at every habitation In Paris. It is the coldest day of the season and the fuel is very short; and the government has had to take hold of tho fuel question, and the magnuicent snaae-treesm tnat have for ages adorned the avenues of this city are all likely to go in the vain struggle to save France. So says the Official Journal of this morning. The sufferings of the past week exceed by far anything we havo seen. There is scarcely any meat but horse-meat, and the government is now rationing. It carries out its work with impartiality. The omnibus-horse, the cabhorae, the work-horse, and the fancy horse, all go alike in the mournful procession to the butchery shops the magnificent blooded steed of tho Rothschilds, by toe side of the old plug of tho cabman. Fresh beef, mutton, pork, are now out of the question. A little poultry yet remains at fabulous prices, in walking through the Rue St. Lazare I saw a middling-sized goose and chicken for sale in a shop-window, and I had tho curiosity to step in and inquire the price (rash mau that I was.) The price of the goose was $25, and the chicken $7." Trying to Limit Iler Freedom. Toronto Globo. In a school section in Northumberland county where a young lady is engaged as teacher there has been quite a dispute a3 to whether it would be prudent to re-engage her or not. It wa3 claimed that she had too many admirers of the opposite sex, and that the section had thus been deprived of a portion of her time that should have been spent in the discharge of her duties as a teacher. Accordingly at the school meeting the trustees had an agreement drawn up to the effect that she should not keep company during the coming year with any young men during school hours as her undivided time should be devoted to the school. Upon her refusing to sign this agreement it was decided to leave it to a vote of the meeting aq to whether she should be compelled to sign it or not. A show of hands was taken and it resulted in a tie, when the chairman, bains a young man, cave the casting vote in her favor. As an after-dinner pill, to promote easy digeS' Uoa, Ayef's Pills are wonderfully elective.

FOOT-FALLS OF THE FAIRIES.

Strange Rings That Are Supposed to Have Been Made by People of the Air. Places in Indiana and Illinois Where Many BeO lieve the Fairies Gather to Dance What a Scientist Says About the Superstition. ''The human race," said Professor Collett, as a Journal reporter sharpened his pencil to begin work, "has always sought for the unknown, and, not content with that, has even reached out for the unknowable. If these efforts have resulted in nothing else, they have given to us some picturesque fancies which, were they absent, would leave the world very prosaic. In nearly every country there is a popular belief in a class of beings distinct from men and women of ordinary earthy mold, and which are usually believed to inhabit in the air, the water, tho hills and caves a region of their own. They are not immortals, but, like ourselves, subject to the laws of death, though after a more prolonged period of existence. The hardy, aggressive nations of Europe are richest in fairy mythology. Itis to the Teuton.the Norseman and the Dane that the English trace back for the fairy lore that has given to mountain, vale, cavern, wildwood and water, their troops of pixies, elves, will o' the wisps and waternixies. Scotland has her brownies, good-natured spirits that are supposed to perform important services about the house and farm, even at night attending to threshing, churning and such matters. There, too, are her waterkelpies, which; are spirits not so kindly. "An old woman of Nithsdale, Scotland, has actually seen a fairy procession, or 'rade,' as the Scottish folk called it, and she has given u de scription. She eays: 'In the night afore Roodmass I had trysted with a neebor lass a Scot's mile frae hame to talk anent buy ins braws iT the fair. We had nae sutten lang aneath the hawbush till we heard the loud laugh of fowk rid ing, wi' the jingling o' bridles and tha clanking o' hoofs. We banged ud thinking they wad ride owre us. We kent nae but it was drunken fowk ridin' to the fair i' the forenight We glowered roun' and roun' and sune taw it was the FairyFowks' Rade. We cowered down till they passed by. A beam o' light was dancing owre them mair bonnie than moonshine. They were a' wee, wee fowk wi' green scarfs on, but ane that rade foremost, and that ane was a good deal larcer than the lave, wi bonnie lang hair bund about wi' a strap whiik glinted like stars. lhey rade on Draw wee white naigs, wr unco lang swooDing tails and manes hung wi' whustles that the win played on. This an their tongue when they sans; was like the soun' o'a far awa psalm. Marlon an' me was in a brade lea field where they came by us; a high hedce o' hawtrees keepit them frae eaun throush Johnnie Corrie's corn, but they lap a' owre it like sparrows, and gallops into a green kuowe bevont it. We gaed in the morning to look at the treddit corn, but the Sent a hoof-mark was there, nor a blade broken.' " "The Emerald Isle is filled with 'good peo pie,' or the 'gentry,' as the Irish call them, and - many well-authenticated stories are given of various 'lenreohauna' and their clever ways. The 'good people,' In times past, were frequently seen tn Ireland, and trom iuun ster comes an accurate description of their dress: that is, of a male fairy. Ihe ordinary attire is given as a black hat, green coat, white stockings and red shoes. This, of course, is of fairies of nearly a hundred years ago, and, cs nothing is said of 'pants,' they probably then wore knee breeches, whatever the fashion may now be Irish good people, like their more material countrymen of larger growth, have always been given credit for the readiest perception and the keenest wit The Irish fairies, stimulated by mountain dew or potheen, are more nimble than the troll of the Scandinavian or the kobold o the German. Yet cone of these, when they j came as immigrants to America, brought any j fairies or goblins, kobolds, trolls or brownies with them. They left them all in fatherland, and doubtless long bewailed the tricksy little friends they had parted from. Whatever came over in the Mayflower, there were certainly no fairies there. Had there been some of those pleasant creations there certainly would have been no such chapter in history as that of the Salem witchcraft. Strange as it may appear, the only people among the immigrants to this country who have done anything at all to give us any of this airy population has been the Dutch, and in this we have nothing as proof but Knickerbocker legend. Had it not been for them there would have been in this country no spirit mythology save that of the red man. Lo, the poor Indian, saw them in every storm, heard them in every wind; but they were not the light and airy spirits of the European. To the Indian every sineular fountain rock, cliff or storm-beaten hill, .was peopled with spirits. With strange perceptive faculties they knew the 'Lost Rocks' and traveled bowlders (like the German walking stones) as wanderers from another world. With thera there were spirits of good, but too many spirits of eviL The Indian treated many such localities with great respect He avoided them in time of darkness, and in time of sorrow made propitiation with gifts. Their faith was cot founded on mere belief. According to their stories, and every Indiau was orator and poet, they had seen and felt the demons of the night and storm. While the good spirits were eiven such names as "Sons of the Sky," "Daughters of the Storm," "Ch-eftains of the Azure Dome," the bad spirits were given names that were in themselves sufficient to make the dusky sons of the forest fearful. "Sorrowful enough did the immigrants feel, doubtless, at having left all their fairies behind them. But after a time they began to see in this new land some indications that led them to believe that perhaps there were fairies here native and to the manor born, or that in some way the fairies in fatherland had also sent out colonists to America. On the Collett homestead, in Vermillion county, this State, is a grand collection of fairy rings, varying in diameter from ten to eighty feet. These are -set in a solid sward of blue grass, and each has an exact circle, a beaten track free from vegetation of all kinds. Any Briton would at once recognize here the footfalls of the fairies. The interior of the circle is sometimes composed of coarser weeds and grasses while the exterior gives a home to the richest erowrh of blue grass and wild flowers of the neighborhood. In this collection, within a space of two acres, there are not less than fifty such rings, and they have been visited by some very noted observers. "A common feature of the great Mann farm, in the northern part of the same county, is similar fairy rings. Mr. Mann and his family were late comers from England, and brought great stock of folk lore in their memories of the mother country. They were delighted to find on each side of the Vermillion river, which passed through their farm, continuous ranks of these rings, plainly marked in the grassy sod. They were not so close together as the rings before mentioned parhap3 the fairies' that made them were more unsocial. These rinsrs varied from eight to sixty feet in diameter. It was supposed from the difference in size of these rings that some fairy had given direction in laying off the dancing ground, but why he or she should make such a variety of patterns was one of those things, of course, that nobody could find out, though it was supposed the smallest rings were for the smallest of all fairies, the baby fairies of the kindergarten age. I also knew of another well marked collection of rings on the R. E. Barrett farm, near Archie, HI. These were excellently defined. The margins of the tracks were well established by growth of sod, of bluegrass and wild grass, the center showine a vigorous growth of the wild herbage of the prairies, while at the outer rim were clusters of asters and other brilliant colored flowers of the prairie. There are, of course, fairy rings in other places in a great many places in Indiana, Ohio and Illinois. "On exploring the track with spade and pick it was found that the soil beneath was very hard, closely packed together and of a grayish white color to a depth of fourteen to eisrhteen inches. 1 had occasion to observe, as I said, these fairy rings, but perhaps I had better stop, &3 to go on would spoil the romance." The reporter thought he had better go on. "Well," continued the Professor, "there is a natural cause for the existence of these rings, la

the simmer the higher plateaus, during the long

droughts, become dry and hard, non-conductors of electricity. Ibis fluid is supposed to pass throngh the air in balls or . large globes. A storm coming up from the west brings every cloud charged with this fluid. They pass over the dry ridges, which are non-conductors, to the ower, damp ground surrounding the brooKS and sloughs. This damp ground furnishes a conductinar medium of moisture, and the electricity is discharged in the shape of a quadrature or se.mi-circle. And many, many times, when the flow of water is at the surface, a full5 globe s discharged, formins a circle and destroying the erass.where the fairies are supposed to tread, and, to some degree, destroying the life of plants and seed in the intermediate space. The disturbance ot the surrounding soil prevents the nxuriant erowth of grasses, and allows the de velopment of tender herbage and flower-plants." MUSCLE READING. ro the Editor of tho Indianapolis Journal: Mr. Brown, the so-called "mind-reader.1' has come and gone, and about fifteen hundred dollars of good monev has gone with him. What good has this expensive psychological object lesson been to the public which has footed the bills? Ha3 it made superstition and belief in the spiritualistic and miraculous stronger, or has it been the means of revealing and illustrating to the public the phenomena of .the involuntary life which all possess and which but few under stand? In the first place, the term "mind-reading" is false and misleading. As long ago as 1 874 Dr. George Beard, of New York, coined the term "muscle-reading" to express Brown's power, and defined it as the power of detecting through physical contact very slight and delicate muscular tensions and relaxations which result from the unconscious action of mind or body. Brown, likeMesmer, acentury before him, found he could do marvelous things which he could not explain. Both were at the first sincere non-experts; each created a furor ia his day, and the lives of both, adulterated with greed and charlatanism though they were, have been of immeasurable service to both physiology and psychology. Mesmer and his supporters attributed the now well-known phenomena of artificial trance to a so called "animal magnetism," which does not exist Brown and his supporters attributed to "mind reading," which does not exist, phenomena belonging to muscle-reading, a power that every sound man possesses to a greater or lesser extent, but which is extremely developed in such persons as Brown and Bishop. But between "mesmerism" and "Brownism' there is this difference: mesmerism is and ha3 befn for over half a century the amusement of the masses, but the mind-reading has been, since 1S71, the delusion of the people. Scholars, professors and our leading colleges and universities listened to the new doctrine and gave it credence, as thousands of intelligent people do to-day. Mesmerism and hypnotism artificial trance the latter is called are brought about in half a dozen different wavs, as by those of Braid and Mesmer. Ail that is necessary Is to act on the emotion of expectation. The concentration theory explains all trance and mesmeric states. Nothing bright or Bhining, no passes of the hands over the brow are necessary to produce trance: there is no need to do anything except to act upon the emotions of expectation or wonder as is done in the Woodworth meetings. A wesmeriptic show would scarcely draw an audience of such intelligent end Inquiring people as go to the muscle-reading seances. Both classes of phenomena, trance and masclereadicg, are genuine; no one denies them. The latter Is new to science, if not to experience, The explanations of both Mesmer and Brown were erroneous. For months, in 1874, this man Brown had the people by the neck, controlled the press, held seances at the great medical and psychological centers. The faculty of Yale Col lege, most of the students, and the intellectua aristocracy of New Haven, a thousand strong, assembled to see Dr. Beard investigate Brown He went through all his tricKs round a penny in an empty seat, the letter p in palladium, se lected one of sixteen small vials on a chair, fixed correctly the seat of imaginary pain, and, most marvelous of all, operated through two persons in physical connection by the hands. the rapidity ana precision ot jsrowns move ments astonished Dr. Beard and delighted the audience, and both operator and subjects some of the best known residents became partly en tranced, for trance and muscle reading take root in the same soil. The committee reported that Dr. Beards theory of unconscious muscular action on the part of the subject, which Brown felt through his fingers and so could find localities, had not that evening, Brown to be was, also, not been proven by experiments and that ' the claim of able to read the mind proven, liut so confident was Dr. Beard of the correctness of his deduction, that he told the audience to go home and experiment, and they would find some of them could do the same thing, although at that time he did not know there was another man on the planet who could do what Brown was doing. The result was a triumph of deductive reasoning, for in a few weeks there were hundreds of "mind-readers" in the country. It was this fact, more than any reasoning, that destroyed Brown's claim to b9 a new prophet and seer before th public. Judge Blydenberg, of New Haven, soon developed an expertness as an operator almost equal to that of Brown's. Seven years later the craze broke out in England in the Royal Society, the royal family, and with such scientists as Professors Carpenter, Galton, Romanes, Robertson and Lankester. Mr. Bishop was the operator, a man who had taken his cue from Brown in this country. This learned committee investigated the phenomena scientifically and perseveringly, published their report in Nature cf June 22, 18S1, and it agrees essentially with the conclusions of Dr. Beard, as published in the July Pooular Science Monthly of 1S77. In all these experiments on Brown and Bishop by Drs. Beard, of New York, and Carpenter, of England, respectively, nothing was trusted to the honor or statements of the operators, as experiments with human beings which depend on the real or supposed character of the subject it experimented on do not command the homage of science. Neither of these men proved trust worthy, Bishop not even telling of his American residence and Knowledge of Brown's operations. But the scientific researches made through these men are quite as curious and valuable as though made through those known or believed to be intelligent and reliable. All the phenomena of muscle-reading partake of the trancoidal state or condition. . A person iu a trance or mesmerized does things that he does not know he is doing. He has lost his will for the time, and is played upon by every kind of Bensation, both objective and subjective. He is like a ship without a rudder, tossed by various waves and winds. Dr. Beard sayB that when his finger was hooked on to Judge Blydenberg'5, it was impossible for him, even when keeping his arm rigid, to resist his nower, provided he kept his mind on the locality the Judge was seeking a pin of a long row stuck in a table. This simply means profound attention the emotion of expectation, and the very essence of the induction of the trancoidal state. When the object is seen and thought of by the f subject, there is unconscious muscular re lation on the part f the subject which the supersensitive operator Brown, or Bishop, or any other trained and sensitive person detects. Localities only are found; the nature of the object the operator never knows. The marvel of these phenomena is only in the minuteness and precision exhibited. Two children, one blind and one that can see, hand in band, are huntine for an apple In the grass; one sees it, and stops the other consciously. The next day they bunt r.n apple, but one (the subject) decides that he will not tell the other (thp operator) when he eeea it; he will get it after for himself. But a very sensitive child micht to shudder at the thought of such unfairness at the instant of seeing the apple that he would involuntarily twitch and reveal the hidden fruit to his bliul comrade. Such gross involuntary motions On the part of the naughty and eelfish, yet sensitive and remorseful child, are different from the unconscious muscular tensions and relaxations exerted by Brown's subjects only in degree; they are not different in kind. . To all physiologists and psychologists the interest of muscle-reading, standing, as it does, in a dual relation to trance, operator and subject through emotional excitement being so often put in the trancoidal state, does not end with the mtre phenomena; when understood, such states as trace and muscle -reading are the key to

trying problems connected with the nervous syfr

tern, m health or in disease. Closely allied to thest phenomena are those of "jerkers" and "lumners;" also of stampers, clappers and shoutersia times ot religions excitement The "jumpers" of Maine and the "jerkers" of Kentuckv, camp meetings so graphically described by Dr. Yau dell, of Louisville, in the Popular Science Monthly for February, 1S82, have their counter part in the south of Africa. All such are ticklish and easily excited: they go off as half-cock, Bay ing and doing things or which they are ver much ashamed thereafter indeed, one well recognized "disease" cf the "jumping class" ig the amazing use of words unSt to be used in dolte society. As a class these grosser uncontrollable reflex muscular, phenomena belong to the weak or nervous, to the ignorant, emotional and impulsive. The jerking camp-meetings passed away with higher culture -and, effective church organization, where a few gathered, and. ail things were done decently and in order. Most of the phenomena of the jerkers and jump?rs were produced experimentally by Prof. Preyer. of Jene, in his physiological laboratory, on gumoa pigs. All such phenomena are morbid; they do not attend or consist with good iving and high thinking. The whole subject of trance and mind-readinat belongs rightly to the psychologist It goes ta him from the physiologist, who has so far shed Tnost light on it Earlier in this century only physicians tackled such problems; last century men of science in general; before them priests and non-scientific men, and then the subject was I in darkness, indeed. All such as Brown and hia ; investigators would have been judged in sane or burnt as wizards. But now it U known that the body and mind are in alienable, both in health . and disease It is also known that the mental phenomena of life are the direct effects, or the reflexes, so ta speak, of the physical state. And so this phase of psychology revealed to the community by Brown and his muscle-reading has both a practical and scientific interest The study of such phenomena makes the people and tha physician alike wiser and more skillful; it ele vates and disciplines the mind; it mates tna physician not only more successful in the study and treatment of the so-called "nervous diSr eases" most diseases are really neryous dis eases but also of all other forms of disease. A. W. Bratton, M. D. t ' ' ' "THE WITCH'S CURSE." First Impressions of Gilbert and Sullivan's Latest Operatic Concoction. A ..VI. limn..'l. i.A. enr,a inlnucttni, A alalia concerning the new Uuoert and isuiiivan s op- , erettfi, "Ruddygore, or the Vitchs Curse," which was brought out recently at the Savoy Theater. The play deals with the results of a . certain curse launched against a county family by a witch of desperate wickedness and ability in her special line of business. An ancient Lord of Ruddygore got himself into dilhcuities as ioilows: , "Once on the village green A palsied hag he roasted; And what took place, 1 ween, . Shook his composure boasted. For as the torture grim Seized on each withered limb The writhing dame, . 'Mid fire and flame, Yelled forth this curse on him; " 'Each Lord of Ruddy gore, Despite his best endeavor. - on ill 1 UU 11 1 ilia vi iuulq ThU doom he can't defy. However he may try, ') For should he stay . His hand that day , '.'The prophecy came true; '...'. Each heir who held the title Had every day to do Some crime of import vital; Until with cnilt o'erulied. " I'll sin no more,' he cried; - ' . And on the day - V lie said that say In aony he dsed. .. Robin Oak apple, a young man described At having the manners of a marquis and the morals' ' of a Methodist, is the real Lord Ruddygore, but has fled from the curse and is deeply in love with Rose, the prize maid of the village, who goes about distributing sets of false teeth and other trifles among the needy villagers. His brother, Sir Jasper, believing himself to represent th Ruddygores and their family curse, is of a nat-' urally tender and affectionate disposition, but commits his dally crime with the fortitude of despair. ' He learns by accident one day that his brother is still alive in the person of Oakapple, and is filled with ecstacy at the prospect of being able to shift his life of atrocity to other shoul era. After relieving his feelings in a song and dance he looks up his brother, whom he catches on the way to the wedding with Rose. Robin and Rose are crushed at the news, and the curtain falls upon their wretchedness. The second act showed the family portrait gallery of Ruddygore, each panel containing a life size figure. Robin, now Sir Ruthven, the representative of the -race, implores his ancestors to shield him from the effects of the family curse. They refuse to listen to his appeal, and sternly ask why he has failed to commit some deadly sin in the eourse of the day. They recommend the abduction of a maiden, and the miserable Sir Ruthven instructs his servants to provide a maiden for the purpose. An ancient spinster is introduced who draws a dagger and declares her intention of defending her honor with her life. One of the ancestors recognizes the spinster as an old sweetheart, and interposes upon her behalf. Sir Ruthven then shows by argument a la Gilbert that dread of the witch a curse was the only terrible thing about it, and that, as all bis ancestors committed suicide under a misconception, they are therefore not mntlF Aaai- vViaiiirinn thn ancpalnri flnelr out of their frames and wind up the piece with a rousing chorus. Sir Arthur Sullivan's music is said to lack or-' igiua'ity and not to equal the setting of the "Mikido." The firs tact was much relished by the critics and professional people, but the second act dragged. Among the droll scenes entirely in Gilbert's best manner is one in which Robin deputes a friendly sailor named Dick to propose to Rose for him. Dick begins his proxy pleading, but falls desperately in love with Rose, and promptly proposes to the girl himself. After consulting a book on etiquette 6he consents to be his wife. They sing a rapturous duet, making fervent love, when Robin enters. Robin asks Dick how he succeeded, and he answers that Rose has promised to bwoms bis bride. .Robin at once upbraids Rose. CL. Vt Z -i .L .1 , due ciijo euo uiu uu iusit lil&l OB wanted to marry her, as she would have much preferred a wealthy man lite him to an Impoverished mariner, of whose character she positively knows nothing whatever. Upon this the honest Robin declares that, much as he is grieved, he feels that he is bound to vouch for Dick's honesty. Rose then makes the suggestion that perhaps the sailor orinks. Dick truthfully admite that rum is the bane of his life, but, as an offset to his failing, shows how beautifully his arm is tattooed. The stage-setting of the piece is a marvel of richness and ingenuity upon which Gilbert has lavished much time and money. The costume are magnificent and the procession of ancestors' notably effective. - Elizabeth Catly's Husband. New York Letter. Despite Mr. Stanton's great age he never used spectacles. He told me only a week before he died that if. his fingers would only keep pace with his eyes he would still be able to "hold hit own with the young fellows." He never had a sick day before his fatal attack of pneumonia, and he counted confidently on his becoming a ceutenarian. "All my ancestors were longlived," he once said, "and nature supplied most of them with three seta of teeth. I begin tofel the need of a third set, and I hope they will come along coon." Only a few days before his death he received a letter from the poet Whittier, asking him to come to Amesburv and spend a week with hint cexT ftihriuer. Mr. Stanton accepted the invitation, inviting ine to accompany hi oi. "Whittier can't last long'nbw, ycu know," said he, "anil if we don't improve this opportunity we may never have another." The opportunity has vanished. If the old f rieo4 ever spe&d another summer week together it will be in another land. r . To AvoM Etubarrassaient. Burllugton Free TreM. A poet sends us some verses entitled ''Give Me Back My Own." We regret ta say (hat we have used the stamp, and thht the paper h5: one of our editorials on the back. In order to void euch complications in tha future, Our poet V?U1 please send only the stamp.