Pike County Democrat, Volume 30, Number 34, Petersburg, Pike County, 29 December 1899 — Page 3

r OW often, toward the end of life's Ions day Have men of note * their lives passed In review, And said, as every man of truth must say, “If I again' could live, much better would I do.**

wow onen nave they shown mistakes or theirs. 'Which they had made when in their youthful days; Thus warned their hearers, lest they'd not beware, So, fall Into the error of their ways. flow often have these words gone unrecalled, TUI death came staring at the open door; Then hearts have stood in terror, and, appalled. Too late repented of the sins of yore. Bright youth afar from us may long have fled; v . Old eyes may be our only guides and charts; But still another year has softly sped, And finds us weak, with lowly,Contrite hearts. . ' But now before us lies a snow-white path, For us to tarnish, trample, blacken as we will; Oh, give us strength, so when the year has passed, r The road behind shall be the white path still. *OUes Bishop, Jr., In Boston Budget.

r WAS the last day of the Old Year. London had reeov* ered from its Christmas fesrtivit i e s—a n d their after effects—and was preparing to

see the hew Year ■In. In the misty hours of the December afternoon, two young men were gazing through the windows of a Piccadilly club at the people who were hurrying up anjd down that popular thoroughfare. “Well, Densham,” said the younger and darker of the two, “are you meditating any lofty and noble resolutions for the New Year?” “I am afraid that is not much in my line,” replied Lord Densham, in a slightly affected tone. “Why do you ask? Are you going to turn over a new leaf, as our spiritual pastors and masters call St?” “I’ve turned over many new leaves,” said Cecil Brlarley, lightly; “but the same old tales, the same moth-eaten jobes of fate, seem to be written on all of them. No two years are the same, Q but they are all beastly similar.” “Ah, Briarley, I am thinking of making a^-reat alteration,” said Lord Densham, who %as evidently in a communicative, though serious, mood. “Really! Are you going to change your tailor, or only let your mustache grow?” “Don’t be flippant,” said his lordship, in quite a melancholy tone. “The fact Is, Briarley, old boy, I’m in a hole!” “You in a hole. It’s not money?" “Of course not—it wouldWt be mtfcch use coming to you if it were, would it? No. I’m going to get married.” This was drawled out slowly and with a deep sigh, as though the speaker felt he was making some mighty self-sac-rifice for the benefit of humanity. “I thought you looked jolly blue about something; but wherefore the hole?” asked Briarley. “Nobody compels you.” “My dear boy, everybody compels me,’’said Densham, gazingthoughtfully at his white and well-kept hands and finger nails, and adding, pathetically: “Of course, you don’t know what it is to be highly eligible.” “No,” replied Briarley, with a grim smile. “But unfortunately I shall have to marry in self-defense,” proceeded his lordship, taking no notice of his friend’s remark. “It is sickening to feel that you are being run after by all the girls and all their match-making mammas/’

“Poor, poor Den sham!” murmured Briarley. “No wonder you are in a hole.” “Yes, but the worst of it is that I’ve fixed on two girls, and I can’t for the life of me decide which of them to have.” “And who are the favored couple be? tween whom Paris the Second has to judge?” “One is Daisy Molyneux—the lively little thing with the blue eyes and the good figure, you know. Of course, she is very jolly and awfully fond of me—” “Yes; and the other?” “The other is Sybil Castlemaine.” ’ “Who?” “Sybil Castlemaine, your—er—second cousin, isn’t she?” “Good heavens!” muttered Briarley. “What did you say?” “Nothing. Do you think Sybil cares for you?” “I am afraid there is not much doubt ' of it, old man,” said his lordship, mournfully, as he languidly stroked his cleanshaven chin.^ “I used to fancy you were rather fond of her at one time, but, of course, it is Impossible.” “Utterly!” “Well, look here, old chap, I shouldn’t ask everybody, but which of the two girls do you advise me to have?” “Can’t you have both?” asked Cecil, rather savagely. “Now, come on, old fellow, give me Tour honest opinion. They’re both.

nice* loving- little girls, and it’s an awful bore to have to choose. Which would you ask r “Well,” said Briarley. slowly, and with a bitterness hia companion did notap* pear to see, “it certainly is incredible that any girl could refuse the honor and privilege of being Lady Densham, wearing the Densham diamonds and sharing the Densham celebrity. The only wonder is that you have been permitted to enjoy your liberty for so long. I should advise you to have Daisy Molyneux.” “Not your cousin?” “No; she would not suit you nearly aa well as Miss Molvueux would.” “Thanks, awfully, old chap; I only just needed an impartial opinion like yours to help me to decide, i’ll propose to Daisy to-night; she is going to be at Lady Yivven’s dance, and 60 is Sybil, so I can get It settled either way. Will

you: be there? “Yes, I expect ao.” “Bight, then I shall see you later.” As Cecil Briarley watched the retreating figure of the wealthy and coroneted friend who was so overburdened with unsought affections, and didn’t know which of the two maidens he really loved, he summed up the situation in one wx>rd, w-hich he muttered very Jbw, and with heartfelt sincerity. No one heard it, but it is safe tt» conjecture that it was a syllable of most emphatic disapproval. Lady Yivyan’s rooms presented a gay and brilliant scene that evening. To welcome the new year with dancing and revelry, with music and mirth, was perhaps typical of the giddy social whirl in which hostess and guests revolved in their more or less important positions; but, after all, every day, fcevery hour, start a new* year, and it is only sentiment and commercialconvenience that settles one particular chime as marking the commencement of another circle. Lord Densham arrived early. He was

“Yea, and other fellows jealous.** “And I suppose none of the pfretty apples can be strong enough to refuse to fall into his hand?" “It would be a modern miracle if they did." “Then, perhaps, the age of miracles has not yet gone,” said Sybil, nodding gnyly to him, as Lady Yivyan came up and introduced a new partner to her. A little later Briarley was trying to soothe his feelings with a cigarette in the smoking-room when Lord Den&ham same up to him. “I say, old chap, a funny thing has happened. She has refused me." “Who hos?” “Why, Daisy Molyoeux.” “By Jove! Were any signs of insanity ever noticed in the family before?" asked Cecil. “No, I believe not,” answered the peer, failing, as usual, to see any sarcasm in the question. “I tried to point out to her what it meant, but she stuck to it. Niee little girt, too.” “Well, l*m awfully sorry, Densham,

really I am.” “It doesn’t matter so very much; Miss Castlenmine is here, isn’t she? You see, I can ask her, and get it settled.” “Of course you can,” said Cecl, with a traee of bitterness in his tone. “I think I’ll go and And her. I’m rather sorry I wasted my time over that other silly girl, but it was your advice. Anyway, it makes my ehoiee much easier.” —As he walked off Cecil Briarley watched him, and although he was not a man given to the use of bad language it is a lamentable fact that a little word before referred to slipped with terrible earnestness from his lips. When Lord Denshain suggested to Sybil Castlenmine that they should sit the dance out in the conservatory, she saw that he meant to propose to her, and his lordship perceived that, under the circumstances, there was nothing to be gained by beating about the bush,

“NOW. TAKE ME. FOR EXAMPLE.” HE WENT ON.

attired with |>is usual care and correct* ness, and he wore, also, an air of determination that suited him very well. It displaced the appearance of indifference and listlessnessi which usually make the hereditary legislator look limp and flabby. He speedily discovered that both Daisy Molyneux and Sybil Castlemaine had come, and with a sigh of relief to think that his decision was at last made, he proceeded to seek out Miss Molyneux that he might acquaint ,her with the honor he proposed to do her. It was considerably later when Cecil Briarley arrived. He was not in the best of spirits, and did not intend to do much dancing. One of the first persons he noticed was his own cousin. “What, Sybil—you not dancing!” “How are you, Cecil? No; I haven't been here long.” “Shall we sit down somewhere until some one comes and claims you?” “By all means; it is quite a long time since I have had the chance of talking to you, Cecil.” “Have you never heard of Tantalus?” asked her cousin, as he led her to a secluded corner. “Whowas he? An ancient god, wasn’t he?” replied Miss Castlemaine. “Was he a relative of Bacchus, The spirit decanters are named after him.” “No,” said Cecil, very seriously. “He was a young man who longed for a certain prize, and it was just out of his reach.” _:J r

"And this is apropos of-what?” inquired Sybil. “Tantalus would have been happier if his prise had been out of his sight as well as out of his reach,” "Why can’t you talk like a rational being, Cecil?” "I only wanted to say that in order to escape the madness of Tantalus, I have been letting my prise go out of sight. They are waltzing very nicely,” he added, drawing her attention to one of the couples w ho were floating near them. "Lord Densham and Daisy Molyneux?” "Yes. Densham's a nioe fellow, isn’t he?” "Ye-es. I suppose one would hardly call him shy or modest, would one?” Her merry brown eyes looked up into his, but they didn’t find any responsive twinkle. "He has no need for modesty; he knows his worth.” "Every bit of it!” said Sybil. "Yes; but when a fellow like that can choose any girl he likes—when he knows they are all like pretty apples asking to be plucked, it is enough to make him conceited.” "And other fellows jealous?” added Sybil, mischievously.

and so be quickly led up to the business he had come to negotiate. “It is rather serious to be standing on the edge of a new year, don’t you think so, Miss Castlemaine? It makes one think.” “Really?” said Sybil, arching her pretty eyebrows. “Yes; one looks at the past and then at the future, you know. Now, take me, for example,” he went on, plunging into his carefully prepared and already rehearsed speech. “With money and good connections one can get on very well in life; but that isn't all, upon my word it isn’t, Miss Castlemaine, No doubt many fellows would envy what I’ve got—but, after all, it is very little. There is something more that is wanted, and surely to supply that want would be the fittest way of starting a new year. Dear Miss Castlemaine, I want to be a better man in the future than in the past, and you, only you, can help me. What is needed to make my happiness complete, to crown all my hopes, and perfect my manhood, is a woman’s love. Sybil—let me call you Sybil, my love—will you be the woman? Will you marry me?” In the seclusion of the conservatory he opened his arms a little, as though he expected her to creep in. and he expanded his chest to receive the burden of the dainty little head that was to nestle gently on it. But it was a night of surprises.

“I am very sorry you should have ■ asked me this, Lord Densham,” said Sybil, gravely. “I am conscious of the vastness of the compliment, and I am not blind to the advantages and attractions of your offer, bxit I do not love you.” “You don’t love me?” repeated his lordship, in a tone of disappointment that had a suspicion of incredulity in it. “You don’t love me? But surely that is only a matter of time; when you have seen more of me, when you know me better, Sybil—” “My decision would not alter, Lord Den sham.” “But you are quite sure—” “I quite realize what I am losing,” said Sybil, calmly, “and although I know how good of you it is to suggest it, I don’t really think that I could rc- ;e you any better or anything but what you are, either in the new year, or at any other time.” “But you could, Miss C'astlemaine; you—” “Would you please take me back? I am engaged for the next dance.” With a wonderful smile on his lips, in which mortification, pity and surprise were blended, he politel^ offered her his arm and led her back to the ballroom. A* thev entered it thev almost ran into

Cdil Briarley. Be was about t« walk past them when Sybil said: “Oh, Cecil, here you are! You’re just in time.” Densham yielded her up with his customary smile, and Cecil whispered*. ”1 was not going* to claim you tor thia dance; I thought you would prefer to ait it out with him." ‘‘With him? Why?” ‘‘I—er—I believe he hae a question he wants to ask you.” ‘‘I don’t think he has,” said Sybil, quietly. They were about to join the dancera when it w*as announced that the mystic midnight moment had almost arrived, and those who cared to do so were to go to the open windows and on the doorsteps and the balconies, to listen and wait for the solemn peal that was to mark the annual recommencement, Briarley got a wrap to throw over his cousin’s shoulders, and then they went to the further corner of the long balcony. ° It was a clear, frosty night, and the stars and the moon were shining with a brightness that, reflected in the hoar frost on the grass and trees, illuminated the dark hour with a soft, poetic light. Cecil stood silently by Sybil’s side for some seconds, and then he whispered: ‘‘And is the beautiful night making you thoughtful, too?” ‘‘No,” said Sybil, with her face turned a little from him. ‘‘No, I was thinking of Tantalus.” ‘‘Ah. poor Tantalus!” sighed Cecil. “I hope you pity him.” ‘‘I don’t think I do,” responded his cousin, softly, feeling glad that the shadows hid her blushing cheek. ‘‘Perhaps his prize was not so far out of reach as he imagined.” Cecil may not have been rich in this world's goods, but he was not poor in imagination. ‘‘Sybil, didn’t Densham ask you anything?” he whispered. ‘‘Yes, Cecil, and—and—I performed a modern miracle.” ‘‘My darling!1” and then there was silence, “Sybil, you know* I am not a rich man, and I am not a lord.” “And you are not horribly eonceited and selfish, either, dear.” He did not remove his arm, and a sudden hush of expectancy quieted the chattering party. Nothing was heard for a moment, and then from a dozen •elangingcloeksall around them boomed forth the solemn chime that announced the birth of the New Year. One. two, three—ten, H, 12. “Sybil,” whispered Briarley, “the old tarnished years are gone. Here’s to the golden future.”—Household Words.

A HARMLESS EARTHQUAKE. How the Recently Arrived Schmidt Faiuly I'm ht-red In the New Yenr. In the St. Nicholas, Helen A. Hawley tells the story of a harmless, unnecessary earthquake. It was five minutes to 12 on the last night of the old year. One would suppose that at five minutes to 12 every small boy and every small gijjl would be in bed and, what is more, asleep hours ago. Here were Mr. Schmidt and Mrs. Schmidt, who were grown up, so that was well enough; but here were nine little Sehmidts, and they were all wide awake at this late hour. Peter Schmidt and Hans Schmidt were twins. There was Greta Schmidt, there was Louise Schmidt—but dear me! It is too much to give all their names. Two pairs of twins make four, and five who weren’t twins—four and five make nine little Schmidts. And Papa and Mamma Schmidt, and there were 11 in the family. Why were they all up and dressed at so late an. hour? To explain, they were just from Germany—not that very day, but only a few weeks from the “Faderland;” and now they lived in a tenement house in a great city. It was not one of the very, very poor tenements, but fairly comfortable, They had not learned new ways yet, but did everything as they had done in the home land. It was funny to see them at five minutes to 12 on the last night of the old year. Papa Schmidt and Mamma Schmidt and all the little Schmidts stood each one on a chair, each one bent over ready to spring, but with chin raised, and every eye on the clock. It seemed as if that minute hand never would get over the last five minutes. When the clock struck 12, they jumped to the floor all together, as hard as ever they could, and shouted: “Gluckliches Neu Jahr!” as loud as ever they could. They called it “jumping into the New Year.” It was what they used to'do in Germany. Now, Papa Schmidt and Mamma Schmidt were really heavy, and the little Schmidts were by no means thin. The tenement house, though comfortable, was by no means new, and when they all came down hard it made things shake. TUB WORSE OFF,

“De man dot makes New" Year resolutions an’ accidentally breaks ’em," said Uncle Eben, “ain’t nigh as bad off as de man dat ’magines he doesn’t nead .none.4—Washington Star.

IMPERIALIST ALLIES R*»«bllra> Bftrti to Got tk* Halted States Into KuaUud'a Clatekw. Democracy is unalterably opposed to **tntangling alliances with foreign pow - ers.” McKinley and Hanna, who represent the republican party, favor foreign alliances and have undoubtedly made one with England. During the Ohio campaign the democrats asserted that such an alliance had been made. Indeed, in their platform they declared against a secret or an open alliance with England or any other foreign power. This attitude of the democracy frightened Mark Hanna, and he forced his secretary of state, John Hay, to come out with a most remarkable denial. This letter of Secretary of State Hay wasa startling innovation in diplomacy. Nothing but a political emergency in Hanna's Ohio could have compelled such * descent of the secretary of state into the muddy waters of political contest in one of the states of the ! union. Heretofore the secretary of state, the first officer of the cabinet, has had his duties fixed by law, and his mission has been to deal with our foreign relations, and not with the domestic affairs of the several states of the union. But, as the Cincinnati Enquirer says, “the pooitc author of ‘Jim Bludsoe* took 1% columns of solid prose to contradict a six-line declaration of the democratic party, and so elaborate was the denial that it tended to confirm the belief of the existence of a secret alliance between England and the United States of America, instead of dispelling.” b But now Joseph Chamberlain, sdbrei tary of state for the English colShies, i declares that such an alliance exists. To quote Chamberlain's own words establishes this claim. As reported by telegraph, Joseph Chamberlain said: “It is especially gratifying to note fhe friendly relation > existing between tha Anglo-Saxon branches, and that the understanding between Great Britain and the United States is indeed a guarantee of the peace of the world.” And the peace of the world under this alliance—what is it? Wholesale murder in the Philippines under the stars and stripes, wholesale murder in the Transvaal under tha meteor banner of England. Do democrats want this sort of peace? By no manner of means. Imperialism must suffer defeat at the hands of democrats in 1900.—Chicago Democrat.

AGRICULTURE PROTESTS The Administration Policy of Expansion Docs Not Meet with' General Approval. The first response from the nation to the colonial policy seems to come from the agricultural classes. In conformity with the president’s notion that the new possessions are as much a part of the United States as Florida, California o» Alaska. Secretary of War Root proposes to abolish tariff barriers against goods of our own possessions. Immediately comes this protest from Springfield, O., from Herbert Myrick, editor of an agricultural paper. He telegraphed to the president as follows: “We respectfully, but moat vigorously protest against the admission of tropical produce free of duty or at reduced rates, as recommended by the secretary of war this morr.ing. The r protest is made in behalf of millions of American farmers, laborers and capital engaged in the domestic culture or manufacture of sugar beets, sugar cane, tobacco, cigars, fruits, vegetables, rice, etc. They will not submit to being ruined for the benefit of trusts employing ooolle tabor that Inevitably will control production and manufactures in the tropics. Thai we speak with authority in behalf of these great domestic interests will soon be demonstrated." ^ Such a protest as that may be calculated to strike a protectionist like McKinley with great force. If this new policy of destiny shall upset McKinley’s alleged protection-made prosperity, the last condition may be worse than the first- The agriculturists to whom McKinley taught the doctrine of protection evidently remember it and are selfish enough to want the benefit of it. If imperialism is a question of business, as Commissioner Denby declared in a recent article, the protectionists may make the president turn his back on the policy of destiny in order to preserve his own personal policy of protection at home. Denby said: "The cold. hard, practical question alone remains: Will the possession of these islands benefit us as a nation? If it will not, set them free to-morrow and let their people. if they please, eut each other's throats or play what pranks they please. To this complexion we must come at last. that, unless it is beneficial tor us to hold these Islands, we should turn them loose." When it comes to determining the cold, hard, practical question, “does it pay?” the president may hear protests from the nation more emphatic than even that of the agriculturists.—Utica Observer.

——Light is shed upon Mr. McKinley’s ideas of public finance by his urgent recommendation that the public expenditures, already enormous, be further increased by subsidies and bounties to shipping in addition to those now provid“ed for* His approval of projects like the isthmian canal, a cable to the Philippines, increase in the navy and the like, all involving great additions to the burdens of taxation, shed further light on those ideas. From all of "his utterances bearing in any way upon this subject it is apparent that additions to public expenditures give him no concern if they are calculated to promote his pet projects.—Chicago Chronicle. -Problem from ?few England: The wages of 13.000 mill hands have been raised ten per cent. Their expenses, in common with those of the rest of the American peopled have been shoved up by Mr. McKinley’s trusts 20 to 30 per cent. How long will it take the mill hands to become pampered and overfed?—Kansas Citv Times.

■—.... HANNA OR THE PEOPLE. _ A* latcNittac Coaitu tat i» tk* l Elted States »*»“•• It will not surprise the people to see Senator llanna. of Ohio, take the leadership of the opposition to the senate movement for an amendment to the constitution that shall provide for the election of United Staten senators by a direct vote of the people. ? The senatorial trust ^instrument from Ohio naturally sees very clearly the danger which this movement contains to himself and to other instruments of the trusts whose service to their masters may best be rendered in the United States senate. It is comparatively easy to defeat, by political jugglery pr the usij^of money, the will of the people as supposed to be expressed through the acts of state legislatures:' It is far less easy—in fact, it is practically impossible—to fool or bribe the whole people. And the people are not in favor of sending trust instruments to reprtaent their interests in the senate. The senatorial junta counted on to • support Senator Hanna is'powerful, adroit and resolute. It will use every means within its power to avert the j disaster to trust dominance threatened by the success of this movement for the election of senators by popular vote. Jt possesses a tremendous advav: “re; in the fact that it will require a two-thirds vote of the senate to pass the proposed amendment. ^ Public sentiment brought to bear on senators not impervious to its influence through their subserviency to the trust is counted upon to overcome the work of Mark Hanna and his trust troop in the United States senate. The people favor the^Hection erf senator* by direct vote/ A majority of the senate is belie/ed %!so to be favorable to the proposal amendment. The necessary two-thirds, majority; would. it is thought, be scored under popular pressure. The fight, therefore, is between Mark Hanna and the people. It will be interesting to note which is the stronger in the senate of the United States.—St, Louis Republic.

M’KINLEY FOR SECOND TERK Fulsome flattery reaches it# limit in the Chicago Times-Hernld, the McKin-ley-Hanna organ of the middle west. Speaking of the proposed change in the republican plan of representation to national conventions, the Times-Herald remarks that “there was never an occasion so propitious to the proposed reform as the present. It is universally conceded,” continues our Chicago contemporary, “that President McKinley will be renominated. He is absolutely independent of politiicttl bosses, small and great, and has no need to influence delegates by^federal appointments or promises thereof.” Now what are the facts? H is universally conceded that President McKinley will be renominated— because the political bosses can work > their wifi unchecked, as long as he is in the white house. From Mark Hanna down to the lowliest republican heeler w ho is supposed to control republican delegates, there - la no*, one who has failed of hia pound of flesh. “No need to influence delegates by federal appointments or promises thereof!” Why, every delegate who will sit in the next republican convention ns a representatirdof the great, boss-ridden states of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinoift-^prhose delegations and electoral vote* are alike essential to the success of the second term project—will have been paid for a dozen times over, in the surrender of President McKinley's appointive powers to the machine dictators who control republican polities in those states! '5# anything were needed to complete the farce, the announcement that fed-. * eral office holders will not be expected to go as delegates to the national convention would impart the finishing touch of hypocrisy and characteristic Peoksniffian MoKinleyism. There ia small need of federal office holders going as delegates to help nominate a president whose weak, yielding, pliable disposition has so endeared him to the republican bosses, that they would Indeed be ingrates, or.blockheads, to want any other man.—Albany Argus. The President Hub « Hettnlnr Raw. hide Clneh on n Re. ennlni

POINTED PARAGRAPHS. -McKinley “prosperity is now “being felt on every hand.’*—Chicago -A number of *©ur republican contemporaries fear that it is “free trade** that follows the flag.—N. V. World. -Democracy’s position on the Philippine question may seem irritating to the imperialists, but that only shows how foreign to imperialism is the truest Americanism.—St. Louis; Republic. -The new plan of the administration is to have civil government in the new possessions, all the civil officers to be appointed by the military power. That is one way of whipping the devil around the stump.-—Peoria HeraldTranscript. -The trusts have made it very clear to the republican bosses that contributions from them to the McKinley campaign fund are contingent on Hanna running the macbiui?; He has been “persuaded” to run it.—Kansas City Times. \,|p:. . .•, . _ -If Washington were to return to life about the first thing he would say, after inquiring into McKinley’s imperialistic record, would be that there was some consolation in having been dead nearly 1Q0 years before a president of the na“n he founded had desecrated the flag, ignored the declaration of Independence and abrogated the constitution by a war of conquest, criminal aggression entangling foreign alliances.—Columbus (QA Presa-Poat, Democrat. mp