Indiana State Sentinel, Volume 28, Number 10, Indianapolis, Marion County, 10 March 1880 — Page 10

THE INDIANA STATE SENTINEL WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1880-SUPPI,EMENT.

THE CHEVALIER WIKOFF.

. ! S i Anital of thi LUtinguUlied American on the Qei manic. BemlnlsceneM of an Idler" lly Bui wer, Fanny El tier Täte, "Labonchere and Other Gossip. I) New York Herald, March 1. The "White Star eteamer Germanic, which arrived yesterday morning, brought here among her exceptionally large list of pasengen for this season of the year, numbering not leas than , 135 Chevalier Henry Wikoff, that veter n .American traveler, author, diplomatist and citizen of the world "When the Herald' emissary boarded the Germanic at quarantina the tall and sturdy figure of the chevalier, encased in a handsome blue overcoat and his neck encircled by a bright blue handkerchief, was easily to be picked out from the rest of the passengers. For a man whose reminiscences of an active and even prominent part in the world date back nearly 45 years the chevalier looks wonderfully youthful' and vigorous. At a Casual glance he would be taken for a remarkably well preserved Englishman of CO. Ilia lace ia entirely smooth, with the exception of very short, trim, close-cropped, halfsuppressed whiskers (in which even a soupcon of "mutton chops" has been carefully nipped in the bud) ; his gray-blue eyes give a bright and penetrating glance, and his large, boldly cut features, arid the ruddy hue of his countenance are still expressive of animation and energy. The chevalier's speech and manner are those of an American who, by long residence abroad and contact with people of all countries, ha3 lost all native peculiarities; but if he may be considered as belonging to any particular class at all it is to that of the Anglicized American, whose style and accent show that, while he has acquired something from John Bull, he has not altogether forgotten Uncle Sam. "A GLORIOUS SHIP." "Have you had a pleasant trip, chevalier?" the writer asked. "Delightful!" Chevalier Wikoff replied with an expression of pleasure; "this is a glorious ship, you know, and everything combined to render the trip agreeable." "What is the special object of your visit to New York?" was the next query. 'I have come here principal' to bring out my new book, 'Reminiscences of an iiiler. It is an attempt at an autobiographical review of what has certainly been a very active life, and I shall venture to bring out the first volume by way of an experiment. That will lead up to my first experiences, travels and intercourse with well-known historical per sonages up to 1840. " If this first volume succeeds and, I repeat, it is purely a venture in pleasing and interesting the public I shall follow it up with a second, embracing the period from 1840 to 18C0, and then possibly with a third, covering the last 20 years up to the present. I have already secured my copyright in England." GLIMPSES OF THE BOOK. "Can you casually mention some of the topics of which your first volume will treat?' "I shall give light sketches of the various countriesjin Europe through which 1 traveled and of the many noted personages and incidents belonging to my reminiscences of that time. I .shall have a good deal to tell about the birth of the Herald and its first start into prosperity and greatness, with all the circumstances of which I was personally familiar. "While attached to the American embassy in London when Mr. Andrew Stevenson was minister I. was present at a court ball ordered by William IV. on the occasion of the Princess Victoria attaining her majority, and I attended the first levee held by her." "What impression made she at that time?" "She made already, then, the impression of a young woman of great dignity and considerable force of character." 'And your parliamentary reminiscenses?" 4I was present when Disraeli made his first speech in Parliament in 1838and when the radicals,or whigs.aathey were then called, tried to put him down because he had gone over to the tory party. I also witnessed Gladstone's first appearance in the arena of Parliament. No one would have thought then that they would have become the prime ministers of England." LADT BULWIk's TROUBLES. Ybu knew, also, many literary and artistic celebrities of that time, chevalier, did you not?" Yea, I knew among others intimately Sir Edward Bulwer, the novelist, afterward Lord Lytton, and Lady Bulwer, his wife, and quite a chapter in this volume will be devoted to their matrimonial troubles. You know they lived unhappily together, then separated, and there was much trouble and ill feeling between them; so much so that Lady Bulwer, after the separation, being herself a gifted writer, of no mean ability, published a novel -Chevely; or, The Man of Honor' which was supposed to be a satire on the character of her husband. She complained that he had given, her a very small and insufficient allowance and in her manifold troubles at that time placed her cause if, my hands and looked to me for guidance and counsel. A curious incident occurs to me in this connection set forth fully in my book. While I was in Paris I learned from Lady Bulwer that a man had approached her maid and offered her a handsome bribe if she would allow him to enter her lady's boudoir with a view of searching for any compromising letters that he might find there. It appeared upon investigation tLt the man acted under instructions from Henry Bulwer, a brother of the novelist, who was a secretary of the British embassy in Paris at that time. Upon my advice the maid was ordered to feign consent to the detective's proposition, and while searching among the letters in Lady Bulwer's boudoir he was arrested. He was afterward tried, but the case was drop ped before a verdict was reached. I shall publish some of Lady Bulwer's letters to me on the subject of her troubles, which will be found highly interesting and piquint," TAN NT ILRSLER. "What other celebrities will you touch upon?" . Well, I shall have a good deal to say about FannyTSlssler and my trip with her to this country. There has been much misunderstanding as to my true position to Fanny

Elssler. Some thought that I brought her to this country as a manager, and that the trip wa a speculation, while others have tried to represent me as her lover. I shall for the first time reveal how I happened to become so intimate with her, and what was really my true position to her." "And may I ask what it was?" "Let me pique the curiosity of the public a little to find out what it was," the chevalier

replied with a smile and the keen instinct of an author, "j anny Elssler was not only tne greatest dancer of her time but a most beautiful and accomplished woman, of angelic disposition and the highest breeding. She is still living in Vienna. A chapter of my book will be devoted to her relation with Von Gentz, the great Austrian minister of State and coadjutor of Metternich, who, though a ripe statesman of 60, tell ardently in love with Fanny Elssler, then a mere child of 16. I shall also publish some of his letters to JIme. Varnhagen von Ense, tho Mme. de Stael of Germany, which have been much admired for their chastity and elevation of thought and beauty of diction, the originals were in German, but I had them translated into English by Mrs. Grote, that highly gifted English woman who died a year ago, the wife of Mr. Grote, the celebrated historian of Greece. I shall have also something to say of Forrest, the great actor, whom I knew intimately; Grisi, the Countess Guiccioli, with whom I had a mwt interesting conversation on Byron, and ninny other interesting personages." POLITICAL FROSrKCTS. "What do you think of the present political condition of Europe?" "I see no danger of any great war or other serious disturbance, and believe that, politically speaking, Europe is on the path of peace and prosperity. There is some little jealousy between Russia and Germany, to be sure, but I apprehend no serious consequences." "And as to England, hat is the political outlook there?" "Oh, the country is decidedly with Disraeli and his foreign policy; the recent elections have shown that verv clearly.'' "How would Lord Palmerston (whom, I believe, you know personally very well) have acted in Disraei's place?" "I think he would have pursued pretty much the same spirited, aggressive foreign policy. The English people always like a spirited and aggressive foreign policy. I look for another decided conservative victory after the dissolution of Parliament." "If the Liberals, however, should be successful would Gladstone, in your opinion, become prime minister?" "No; for he has injured himself very much by his great violence of speech and his recent radical tendencies. He has lost greatly in public estimation." ADVANCK OF LIBERAL IDEAS. "In these 40 odd years that you have been visiting Europe, chevalier, do you find that much advance has been made toward republican institutions?" "Liberal ideas have undoubtedly very much advanced, as you may see from the present condition of affairs in France. But radical agitation in more recent years has been greatly discredited by its association with the attempted assassination of sovereigns, with dynamite plots and violence and murder generally. In England, more especially, these doings of the Socialists and Radicals have created a decided revulsion of feeling against a more advanced or radical form of government. The middle classes of England are essentially conservative, and would regard any such approach to a republic or radical form of government as threatening an entire revolution in their political and social condition, änd they, therefore, dread any change likely to lead in that direction." LONDON AND NEW YORK. 'How do you find the growth ot New York as compared with that of London?" "Vast as the growth of New York has been in the last 40 years, that of London, wonderful to say, has kept pace with it. It is now the mammoth city of the world, and it is a daily marvel how 4,000,000 of people can live together in one city in such delightfully comfortable and such a thoroughly healthy and cleanly manner. In spite of its monstrous aggregation of human beings, London is one of the cleanest and healthiest cities in the world." The chevalier emphasized the word "cleanest" with a significant manner which appeared to say, "1 wish I could say as much of New York." THE IRISH FAMINE. "Did you hear much about the Irish famine before your departure from London?" " Yes, and the Herald's princely gift was a subject of general discussion in society. It created a profound sensation. I think the English people were also very much delighted with the supreme tact and skill with which the Herald pricked the bubble of Parnell's empty demagogism for that is all it is." "Any news about Yates, chevalier?" "No; he has made his new weekly, the World, a great success. I think it gives him an income of at least 6,000 a year, and his more recent publication, Time, also promises to be quite successful." "How is the quarrel between Labouchere and Lawson likely to end?" "Oh, the trial will probably amount to nothing. The English people laugh at the whole affair. Labouchere is a man of excellent position, good family and of fortune, but he is a very eccentric man and certainly attacked Lawson with great bitterness. Truth 5s spicy and therefore has a large circle oi readers, but the so-called society journals have not been very successful." "What are the other topics now agitating London society?" "Well, I hear from quite trustworthy authority that the Duke of Connaught, who is a very popular prince ia shortly to succeed the Duke of Marlborough as viceroy of Ireland. This will personally affect Lady Churchill, formerly Miss Jerome of New York, the duke's daughter in-law, who is now occupying with him the Viceregal Lodge. But, ah I here we are at the dock and I must look after my luggage." The dock of the White Star line had indeed been reached, and, bidding the officers of the noble ship goodby, and with many thanks lor their kind attentions, the passengers separated to battle with the Custom House officers on VLe dock, into whose midst the chevalier also plunged. Machine Poetry. Tbon art fair's a floweret. As meek, and mild, and true, Beaming beneath the sunlight, . Ai bright in mudow'i daw. Fairer than fairest roves la speechless beauty tili. Thy eyes alone are tHing The wonder of thy will. -"Brother and Bister," London KqtI.

TUE IIAPriNESS OF QUEENS.

An laalrie View of the Delight of Palace Life. I from the Frenuh.J There is nothing of which we hear sooner than this. "When we are small children our nurses charm us, and make us envious with their marvellous stories of life in the palaces. Cam we ever forget the Prince Charming, and what the princess wore her dress the color of the sun; how she rode in a carriage ornamented all over with big rubies, that her scepter was & single diamond, and her crown made of stars snatched from heaven? Later the Almanach de Gotha recalls these golden fables of our infancy, and we see again the queens with their blonde hair Mid bright eyes, their crowns high upon their heads, and their great cloaks of velvet trailing from their shoulders. They smiled with the smile of tranquil goddesses; they are beautiful among the beautiful, happy among the happy; before them one bows or goes down upon his knees; the earth is made sweet by the caress of their feet; men only breathe as they nod; joy is everywhere about them.O sovereigns! O rulers! look what destiny has done for you. Queen Victoria reached the throne adorable, charming! Crowned at Westminster when just 16, she married the husband of her choice, one of those Coburgs, who were the bandsome.t men of their time. She loved so passionately that she poisoned her own life and that of her busbanu, who wrj a martyr to her idolatry. Her jealous imagination saw infidelity everywhere and always; ladies once her dear friends became odious to her. She drove away the ladies of honor, and at a court-ball she slapped the face of a pretty girl to whom Prince Albert had addressed! a few words. A day came when dpath called this husband, so fondly loved, and on that day died also England's queen. The heart had gone out of the body of the woman, and nothing was left. Everything seemed to have been brusquely torn away, and so great was her despair, and so leng did it last, that years afterward, they discussed a regency in Parliament. The motion waa deteated, but after that the living corpse of her who had been Victoria came from time to time to open Parliament. The English, who respect the dynasty, lowered themselves before the eternal grief of the old woman, for they saw still the crown of the queen above the widow's cap. But she never smiled save when, perchance, the name of Prince Albert was mentioned. The queen of Belgium has an only son. This child of 10 years is as sweet and exquisite as a cherub. This royal infant is sick. It is night, and he suffers, for he burns with fever. He tries to smother his cries of pain. The (jueen, notwithstanding his agony, worn out with long watching, and obeying thesupplications of her ladieä, retires for a little repose. I'ut she can not 6leep. She leaves her bed and returns in haste to her son. She approaches softly. The prince appears to tje soundly sleeping. His breathing is equal and easy. The pale face of Marie Henriette lightens with happiness. The boy is then saved, since he can sleep. She goes out. Then the royal baby calls to the doctor. The doctor bends over him. "Do not tell mother," he says, "it makes her so happy to think that I sleep." Thut child will never be a king. To-morrow, in the evening, he is dead. It is 10 years since the Belgian prince is dead, andno other child has come to the queen. At Brussels they seldom see her. She is always with herself. If she goes out she hears nothing, sees nothing. Her hair is white. Her dress is always blaek. Her ladies of honor are old and ugly, and made still more ugly by the ugly ennui of this court in lethargy. No one dare smile before the queen, who still weeps, who weeps always, and who cries, ''For me there is nothing more in the world!" All alone the empress of Russia plunges into the intoxication of her tears. She knows that, for a long time, the true crown of the empress is not that which she wears. She has always with her tho portrait of the emperor the likeness of the man who loves her no more. Margaret of Italy dies slowly with a terrible malady. She knows that her days are numbered. The Empress Eugenie lies upon the ground with seven spears driven right through her heart. Throne, husband, son, beauty all are gone. For having touched the crown of Spain, two young queens fall as if struck by lightning. The duchess of Aosta flies to Italy, and wastes in sickness and agony to death. .Mercedes, that queen of 10 years, for whom life seemed so full, is cold as marble in her tomb. Christina of Austria hears nothing but the noise of the pistol, sees nothing but the gleam of the dagger. Maximilian wentto Mexico, and paid for his ambition with his life. "When the crave closed over him it held also the world for Carlotta. Since then her present is the past. Her brain is blinded, and she does not even know that she suffers. Play. Alas, how soon the honn are orer Counted ns out to play the loyer! And how mncb narrower ! the (tage Allotted ill to play the sage! Bat when we play the fool, how wide The theater expand! beeide, How long the audience sit before ui; How many prompters, what a chorua! Walter Savage Landor. How the News of the Explosion of the Peace-Maker'' was Carried to Baltimore ' Washington Correspondence N. T. Graphic "What was that, Mr. Shillington?" . "It was tho'explosion of the . big gun on the Princeton about 1844. Commodore Stockton came around here with his big ship to. give Congress and the administration an excursion. The ship went down the river to somewhere near Fort "Washington, and there, while most of the people were down in the cabin partaking of a collation, Stockton had his big gun, called the Peace-maker, fired off. It burst, and one of the pieces killed Secretary Upshur, while Secretary Gilmer was crushed to a human wad. Two gentlemen, named Gardiner and Maxey, were killed at once. Gardiner's daughter atterward married President Tyler. Commodore Kennon was killed. Commodore Stockton was temporarily blinded and Senator Tom Benton and his servant were both knocked down and the servant killed. Some people said that Benton was a little crazy always afterward.. 'This accident happened,' continued Mr. Shillington, "prettv late in tho afternoon, and the news didn't get to Washington until something like 9 o'clock at night. 1 was not a writer of anything, but I saw there was an opportunity to give the Sun a big lift. The flrt thing 1 did wa to go toStettineu,man-

sger of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad here, ind secure a locomotive. It cost me $75. Mr. Abell was not always liberal, and I felt that I w&4 taking a risk. At that time there were only two trains a day from Baltimore to "Washington, one in the morning and the ther in the evening; therefore I had a clear track. I kept the locomotive with steam up in the old depot on Pennsylvania avenue antil I could overhaul Congressman Zaddock Pratt, of New York. He was an old tanner In the Catskill mountains, and had tanned more than " a million sides of leather. Pratt saw the explosion and gave me the particulars. "When I got down to the depot I found the postmaster general, Charles Wicklife, standing there. 'What .s this locomotive for?" he asked. He was old it had been privately chartered on newspaper business, and he was getting up letters and dispatches to go North. Said I : -Mr. Postmaster General, you can't send anything by this locomotive. This is a newspaper locomotive. "Wicklifie was quite indignant that there should be any such thing as a newspaper locomotive; it had not been heard af up to that time. Said he to the engineer: 'The Government will pay lor this!' 'Never rou mindV I said to the engineer and fireman, and I got aboard, and we went as faet is the state of the road and the kind of locoMotive would allow to Baltimore, nearly 40 rules distance, which was reached in one hour ind a half. I got there about 1 1 o'clock; the compositors had already beeu dismissed and the edition was ou the press. 1 had taken the precaution to fee the engineer and fireman and make them go right back to "rt ahington and talk to nobody in Baltitiore. I said to the pressman: 'Stop this press at once.' I could not make them understand anything. Then I went down to ilr. Abell's house, he lived on Water street lie put his head out or the window with a nightcap on it and asked who was there. Finally he came down stairs and went with ire to the press-room, lie had sent out for compositors previously. "As soon as the composing room was lighted up the Clipper and another newspaper there wanted to know all about it. AVe kept everything secret, and got out the Sun with nearly two columns of news. The other papers called it another moon-hoax. It was not until about 9 o'clock next morning that a train came in from "Washington confirming the story, and then the Sun had made it general all over Baltimore. The Sun had then been established a few years, but had not made much mark, and for months afterward it boasted of its enormous expenditure in getting that piece of news. But from that it learned the value of enterprise to such a degree, that when the Mexican war broke out. two years afterward, the Sun used both locomotives and couriers"

Unrest. Like a thorn in the flesh, tike a fly in the meh. Like a boat that ia chained to höre. The wild unrest ol the heart in my breast. Tort urea nie more and more. I know not why it should wail and cry, Like a child that ia loet at night; For it knowa no gri-f but haa found relief. And it 1 not touched with blight. It has bad of pleasure full many a measure; It haa thrilled with love's red wine; It baa hope, and health, and youth's rare wealtb0 rich U this heart of mine! Tet it is not glad-it is wild and mad, Like a billow before its breaks; And itsceaseltss pain is worse than rain, Since it knows not only it ache. It longs to be like the wares of the sea. That break from control, and beat. And daah, and lunge, and linrry, and plunge, And die at the gray rocks' feet. It wearies of life, and it aickeus of strife; And yet it tires ot rest. Oh, I know not why it should ache and cry 'Tis a troublesome heart at best. Tho not understood, I thisk 'tis a good And god-like discontent. It springs irons the soul that longs for its goal The source from which it wassnt. Then sarge, O breast, with thy wild unrest Cry. heart! like a child at night Till the mystic shore of the evermore. Shall dawn on the soul's gaid sight. 4:hicag-o Tribun. Guillotined at Cold Dawn. It is just 10 years ago, day for day, that the notorious Iroppman, the murderer of the Kink family, was executed on the Place de la Boquette. This morning another convict of the same stamp underwent the penalty of death on the same spot. Prevost, the policeman who murdered the woman Blondin and the jeweler-dealer, Lenoble, and afterward cut their bodies up and threw the pieces into the sewers, was guillotined there at daybreak. It having become known last night that his appeal for mercy had been rejected by the president of the .Republic, a large crowd began to assemble as early as 9 o'clock. The executioner arrived at 4 o'clock and, aided, by his assistants, erected the guillotine about 20 paces from the central door of the prison. The guillotine once in order, the headsman and his assistants entered the prison to arrange what is called the toilet of the culprit previous to his death. The Abbe Crozes, the chaplain of the jail, was the first to enter the prisoner's cell. Prevost started up, gazed wildly at the reverend gentleman, and then buried his head in his hands groaning. Alas!' said the chaplain, "there is no hope now but in the mercy of God." The condemned man then left his bed, but he was too much overcome to dress himself. That task waa done by the executioner and his assistants. He was then left alone with the Abbe Crozes to prepare his soul. He em braced the chaplain several times and wept bitterly. '-Take courage, take courage," said the reverend gentleman, "i es, yes, replied Prevost; "I will take courage and try to meet my fate. I ask pardon of the police administration, to which I belonged seven years." The condemned man, after kissing the crucifix three or four times, marched out to the guillotine with a firm step and in an instant he was on the fatal Bascule. The spring waa was touched and a dull thud was heard and the next second his head fell into the basket. After the execution the body and head were taken to the School of Medicine, and having been sewn together, electrical experiments were made on them, and in the opinion of all the doctors present death must have been instantaneous. Old Time Girl. Young Julep, who is a young man of wide experience, savs that hugging a girl wiin one oi loose iasmonaoie uroau dciis buckled around her is just as satisfactory as hugging a life preserver. Ah, well, Julep, it can't be helped; it's one ot the concomitants of the degeneracy of the times. There didn't use to be any such nonsense in belts. "When we were a boy, and you caught hold of a girl in a big sleigh for a respectable but not too formal squeeze, you could hear the corset rods go, one after another, like a skirmish line firing by the file. That is if you were half a man, and did what was expected of you. But times have changed sadly since then.

THE TASK OF THE FLO WEB.

BT SOMTRYItXK GIBS ET. A little flower In beauty grew Within a garden fair. No want its fntgile leaflets kaew, 'Twas watched with tender rare; Tet sorrow oft would tinge its joy For those whose hearts were sad; ' It longed its beauty to employ And make their lives more glad. One day 'twas called, and borne away By careless hands and small; But soon was dropped, and dying lay Unheeded in its tall. It sorrowed there with anguish tore, No longer might It lire; Its fragrant life would soor be o'er, No pleasure could it gire. A mother saw it lying there, And bore it borne with joy. To blossom in the garret bare Beside ber cripple boy; The child beheld it with deüght. And ail hi lore was won; His pale wan face with smiles was bright The flow'ret's task was done. NELLIE'S LEAP-YEAR PROPOSAL. "Really, Catharine, I don't wonder at Mary's surprise at your behavior. You forget that you are I rank's widow. You are too forward." I hesitated a moment, really anxious to keep my temper; for 1 was Frank's widow, and the speaker was his mother. " Forward 1" cried Mary. "Indeed, you would have been shocked last night, mother. There was Air. Vance urging her to sing, and acting as if Herbert Halstead was her only only friend, when it was only as a married woman " "Yes," interrupted Julia. "I think, mother, if you can't make Kate realize that she is married, with a daughter nearly six years of age you had better " "Send me away," I broke in, unable longer to control myself, "it's not the first time that hint has been thrown out, and if it were not for little Nellie, poor child, I would go away to earn my living at once. You drive me desperate, I declare I will marry again, and get rid of all this " and then I burst into tears. "Marry again! How will you do it? Oh, yes! a good joke!" cried Julia, with a shrug at my tears. 'Don't you see, Mary it's leap year!" and she lauehed derisively. "Who'll you ask?" sneered Mary. "Herbert Halstead? Julia, you'd better look out!" "You may sneer," I cried, checking my tears. 1 was now thoroughly angry. "Bot 1 tell you, it no one would ask me to marry him, i believe I should ask Mr. Halstead, and he'd have me!" 1 had fairly taken up their own weapons of personalities which I scorned. The moment afler, ashamed of myself, I ran to my room to put on my bonnet and get out of the house. I looked into the glass, as I put the crape bonnet, with its widow's cap and heavy veil, on my head. I saw a face to which black was very becoming, though it was net a remarkably pretty face. It looked not more than 25, some say not more' than 20; but I wa9 really over 24. Married at 18 to Frank Stevens, I had been a petted wife for four years, and now a widow of two. The thought of the happiness of the four and the lonliness of the two, as I looked at the face surrounded by crape, made the tears come again; but I brushed them away resolutely and went out, knowing that a brisk walk would do me more good than anything else. I went out without my darling, my inseperable companion, my little baby girl, Nelfie. This alone showed how troubled I was. Truth to tell, I was too angry to trust myself with the little one, who might have asked to have our conversation explained, for she had been in the room at the time. I could only hope that at five years a child did not understand me. Soon afler I left, my mother-in-law and her daughters went out for a drive. They invited Nellie to go, but she feeling, perhaps, that they had not treated mamma well, refused. Soon the front door-bell rang, and like all. children, Nellie must run to see who was there. She managed to open the door herself, and there stood her prime favorite among the gentlemen that visited the house, Mr. Halstead, or as she had called him since her babyhood, Uncle Herbert. He had been her father's chum and dearest friend and loved the child for Frank's sake. "Ladies home, Nell?" "I'm home," she said, ''and I dess mamma'll be in soon." "Very well. Let's go in the parlor and have a chat." Nellie sat in his lap, discussing the merits of cocoanut cakes and sugar almonds a little while; but suddenly dropping her candies in her lap, she asked: "What's leap leap leap I forget. Do you know what it is?" "Leap? leap frog? lean year? is that it?" "Yes. What's it!" ""Why, it's a yea when you ladies can ask the gentlemen to marry you. But you see, Nellie, you're too young or wouldn't you ask me?" '-Oh, no! I wouldn't ask you. Mamma's going to ask you." The young man nearly dropped the child, and then folded her close to him. "What do you mean, darling?" he asked. "Now think, Nellie, but don't tell Uncle Herbert anything of your own make up." "Oh, no! really, truly, bless me, she's alive isn't that what you say when you are true? Well!" the little tot gave a long sigh and aused, Herbert not daring to interrupt her, est she should see his anxiety, and miniature woman that she was, should refuse to satisfy him. Well!" she repeated, ''you see they does scold mamma, so they does. To-day morning they maked mamma cry, to-morrow (she would call yesterday to-morrow) they scolded her again because she wouldn't ring, and then they said she war fondard. "What's fordard?" Forward indeed!" ejaculated Herbert under his breath. "If it had been, some others now. But Nellie, how about leap year." "Oh, yes! I most fordot, didn't I? Well, you see, mamma said but, oh, Uncle Herbert, I never showed my two weenie new little kittens! They's only little sings, wivout eyes. Come out on the piazza and I'll show you." It was no use to be impatient. The young man knew the child too well for that, and so they went out and inspected the kittens. Then he tried to coax Nellie back to the subject. Oh, I fordoU" she said. -'Only they made mamma say " "What did they say darling? I'll give you a big doll " "With real hair?" "Yes, yes,! real hair and eyes, and oh, nothing. But did they say 1 wanted to marry ' "They say mamma wawn't a girl, and she was old; and mamma said oh, there's mam

ma' Mamma, didn't you ask Uncle Her bert to marry you? He wants to know." J had come in looking for the child, and thtX was the speech I heard. I felt ready to sink with mortification. "Kate, darling, can't I hop you'll let me ak? You must know that I hoped, when these (touching my veil and black dress), were put aside, thät I could ask you to let me care for you, and at once. Come, dariling," as I hid my face in my hands. "You've asked me to marry you; and I must name the day; and I say now, at once. Let's give them a good thorough surprise. I can guess how they've treated you. Come, now, get ready this fairy, this blessed little darling, that has brought me my happiness, and we'll go to your own minister.". I tried to refuse, but I was so weary of living with my mother-in-law, that at last we three slipped out of the house; and dear Dr. 8 , who had baptized me, married me to Frank and knew Herbert well, married us. We drove back and reached the front door as the family were returning. Julia, who would appropriate Herbert, stepped forward. "Good evening, Mr4 Halstead. So vou met Kate on the steps? Strange!" with a glance at me, as if I had planned to meet him. "Not at all. Miss Julia," said Herbert. "My wife and I just call in to receive your congratulations and to leave little Midget here for a few days," No tableau I have ever seen .was half so comical as the one those three made. I really felt for Julia, for I knew she cared for Herbert. She gained self-possession quickly, and congratulated me, whispering, as she kissed me: So you asked him?" Mr husband heard and answered: "!so, Miss Julia, she did not ak me. Through other means, thank God. I learned the one I loved was unhappy; and, as I hoped, for more than a year pat, to soon ask her to be my wife, I persuaded her to marry me at once. Leap year privileges are still open for those who choose to use them." We are quite an old married couple now; for three years have passed, but Herbert, and I' still often laugh over Nellie's leap-year proposal. Spiritual Light In Age. The seas are quiet when the winds gire o'er; So, calm are we, when passions are no morel for then we know bow Tain it was to boast Of fleeting things, so certain to be lost. Clouds of affection from onr youngest eyes Conceal that emptiness wnich age deecriee. The soul's dark cottage, batter'd and decay'd. Lets in new light through chinks that time hath made Stronger by weakness, wisei men become, As they draw nearer to their eternal home. Leaving the old, both worlds at once tbey rlew, That stand upon the threshold of the new. Ed. Waller.

Jefferaon's Manner. From the Youth's Companion. When Jefferson became president he carried his simple manners and taste into official life. He determined that his inauguration as the chief officer of the Republic ehould be a free from display as possible. Dressed in plain black clothes, he road on horseback to the old Capitol, without guard or servant, dismounted without assistance and hitched his horse to the fence. On the steps he was met by a number of friends, who accompanied him to the Senate champer, where he delivered his inaugural address. During the administrations of General Washington and John Adams the sessions of Congress had been opened in a style similar to that by which the English sovereign opens Parliament. The president, accompanied by a large escort on horseback, drove in state to the Capitol. Taking his seat in the Senate chamber, and the House of Representatives being summoned, he read his address. Mr. Jefferson, to whom such ceremenies were distasteful, swept them all away by one act. He sent a written message to Congress, which was read to both Houses by their respective clerks, and that practice has been observed ever since. Against one of his reforms, however, the ladies of Washington rose up en masse. Mr. Jefferson, disliking the levees which had been held at the White House, abolished them. He established two public days for the reception of company the 1st of January and the Fourth or July. On other days he was . at home to all who came on business or out of courtesy. Many of the Washington ladies, indignant at their social pleasures being thus curtailed, determined to force the president to hold the customary levees. On the usual levee day they resorted in full dress to the White House. The president was out taking a ride on horseback. On his return he saw that the public rooms were filled with elegantly dressed ladies. At once divining the plot, he appeared before his fair guests booted and spurred and covered with dust. So courteous was his reception of them, and so graceful his manners, that the ladies went away delighted with the president, but chagrined with themselves. They felt that they had been guilty of rudeness in visiting a guest who did not expect them. It was their last attempt to break through the rules of Jefferson's household. What Would Bain Her. Wben the hops grow dear, Britain trembles for her beer; fhould the bop crop fail, Where would Britain get her ale? When the crop is only half. Little 'alf-and 'alf she'll quaff; When the crop grow short aud shorter, Port not porter, sbatl support her; Should the hop crop stop, Kerer more she'll brew a drop; And wben Britain ceases brewln Britain's on the brink of rain. Independent. Wisdom In Making- Love. We know that men naturally shrink from the attempt to obtain companions who are' their superiors; but they will find that really intelligent women, who possess the most desirable qualities, are uniformly modest, and hold their charms in modest estimation. Do not imagine that any disappointment in love which takes place before you are 21 years old, will be of any material damage to you. The truth is, that before a man is 25 years old, he does not know what he wants himself. The more of a man you become, and the more manliness you become capable of exhibiting in your association with women, the better wife you will be able to obtain; and one year's possession of the heart and hand of a really noble woman, is worth 999 years possession of a aweet creature with two ideas in her head, and nothing new to say about ,. either of them. As little thieves being let in at a window, will set open gates for greater thieves to ' come in at, even so, if we accustom ourselves ' to commit little sins, and let them reign In ' us, they will make us the fitter for greater : offences to get the advantage of us, and totale hold of us,