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McHenry Plaindealer (McHenry, IL), 17 Jul 1878, p. 3

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INdlS. J. YAH -HENRY. '"i .. ftwrr.nair rn a vrnwrn f ! l I t * About mine monies, und said 3S IVtook more inderest in a year -Sen der brineipal van come t# < • Still h&f I borne all dose mit ion come to me und you said, lister Bhylock, old poy, 1 vould ike to borrow dree donsand dneate ill next Saturday! Vou saidao? ~3lO«i, dot haf booted me ""Two, dree, six. several _ ind spara'd me from |<were^Mi| ike a dog 'f Monies if puf suit, defl y goodnefw, yon haf more cheek s a book agent! Should I Mtaaid; ' Ua'f a ilo« «ion«Jy? j . ; } . Do a son ov a gnn ' ? "' ' f •Keep apank alkenndp ^ ..Didn't it been impossibility i.. . . • . Dot a cur should lend you . , fj-lfSI- : ' Dree dousand ducats 5" Or, fiball I bend low, und in a bortdstntm^ ltey, Mit bated breath und vhispered iraiablenesi 1 mid this; Pair sir, you spit on me on Vednesday last, You spurn'd me on Thursday, «, •On Friday you told me to virtMff Mine shin off; ...Anndder dime you call me ip-Old Stick-in-der-mud; l-iisfe fflnd, now, for dosediiqpi f-';•>"*> r*» ' . Ih-nd you a five-cent mck«l, g *gr . Und took a mortgage i m • ' •• -"Omirour old paid head! Don't it? " , -ou CU9 ihrrUk. "• " ' m ^ & i * THE GOLD CAP* ytrr j 'j?, rr S [Translated from the French by Mary Morrison.] If you. were to go to Friesland, the northern part of Holland, you would ' astonished to see the kind of head­ -dress the ladies wear there. It consists •of two gold plates, nearly covering the tfhead, and united by a band of the same vmetal, two inches wide. Some wealthy (ladies have a little, narrow, jeweled band, which passes over the forehead ^and goes from One plate to another. lOthers have the plates litted to the 'head, and the forehead left uncovered. "Over the whole is thrown a light gauze, ""Which gives the effect of the Stin shin- Mug through a fog. There is an interesting history oon- snected with this curious cap. The fash- jfioii was introduced into the country at the s&me time with Christianity. That seems odd to you, perhaps; but I will •tell yon-Idle?ft happened. 46 During the reign of Radbod, Pepin •d'Heristal was Mayor of the Palace in ..France. Through his influence and the .preaching of Wulfram, Radbod was persuadea to be baptized; but just as the ceremony was to be performed he sasked where his ancestors were who had not died in the Christian faith. On being told they were in the infernal re- ;gions, he decided not to be baptized, saying he preferred to be there with them than with such a set as the Chris- *tians in Heaven. The King took no further interest, 'but, through fear of Pepin, he allowed ""•the Gospel to be preached by Willibrod. One beautiful morning in summer, in *the year 698, a vessel came to an island :in the North Sea, not far from Den­ mark. It contained Willibrod and forty . young men, thirty of whom were slaves >he had ransomed. The island was a -beautiful spot, with great oaks and -cool, plashing fonhtains. The fearless ' deer were easily captured, and, after a sprayer and chanting the Te Beum, they were preparing to sit down to a rich - feast, when they were suddenly inter­ rupted by a band of armed men, who rushed upon them with savage cries. It vwas a place sacred to the gods; but "Willibrod was ignorant of this and he -demanded what the attack meant. His venerable aspect and noble mien struck the assailants, and one from -among them, who appeared to be the •Oiief,answered: t '• Woe be uito ^>4 raeh stranger*, who have dared to profane the holy dwelling of our greatFosis! You must •die!" 44 I did not know it was a holy place," *S-J. 5aJT seitariil replied Willibrod. i > "wic^.L/l L l l l l . missionary. 3pm n iierrstKi win sa£oW how to av enge my death. Take me to your 4Ling, Raobod. He knows me very welE" A consultation was held, and a deci- -sion made. " Op€ dt you" must die, to* •allay the anger of our god," they said **pAAr sinliifioi? (TaH t" aatrl fVta mia. PoQr, deluded god!" said the mis­ sionary. "He must be a horrible be­ ing to'demand innocent blood! What crime is there in drinking water? Oh! that you knew the Living God, and 'Jesus Christ His Son, whose love is so tgreat for us!" ? Suddenly a tall man, with a savage face and a form half covered with a •bearskin, sprang forth, and, tracing a ^circle round him, cried: "I wijl not® leave this place until -some one has been killed. I am the ^interpreter of Fosis. He can no longer 'drink tke.yater of tliejpuntain or eat •the deer. He must hscve the flesh and •blood of his enemies. Draw lots!" , All the men drew their swords and ^struck on their bucklers, crying,- " Draw 4ots!" Willibrod stepped forward. . " There "is' noi-n®ed.:to;do that. takewP' * » A silence followed. Then the young •Christians stjrrounded him, crying out: •" Never, deal: father. It is our plaee to •die; not yourisi." But the priest still cripd: «* Txy it by -lots.1* Twenty-nine jv|ite shells and •one black one were put in a sack. Each ^Christian drew one.. The Victim was a young Dane. 4 i Willibrod tried to follow him; but was stopped by a barrier of swords. " My OAn 1' hD 14 rAIAIAAl YAH ttovAfkn rejoice! You have the Jesus is ready to re- son, he cried, crown of glory! • Afttbo WA11 p c *' Xtolnl" said^he yoitt ̂man, and ;his head fell on the sand. Then the Bishop, raisin# his hands to Heaven, began With the others to chant the Te Deum laudamus, while the blood <of their companion reddened the sands -of Heligoland. The next day the Bishop and his "friends were sent to Sadbotr. -On his way, he preached to his fellow-voya- gers; but none dared embrace the new * religion. " There was, however, one person who showed a marked interest in his words. It was Fostedina, the daughter of the Chief. She was a beautiful girl of eight­ een years. She had been a witness of the young Dane's death. The scene, with the words of the stranger and |he hymn, had made an ineffaceable im­ pression on her mind. Fostedina kept her feelings to her? s self. Her father, who |oved her ten­ derly, was much opposed to the new religion; and sha feared also to make her feelings known, lest the savage ^ priest should cause the death of all the Christians, on isocount of their influ­ ence; Radbod received his subjects from Heligoland with great kindness. The twenty-nine young Danes were put in .-jp a..I. - -i . * . * nj?.. vnc vt tut? «;tiapciB ut vnuut f» auvivru and his companions were left free, as the King knew they were protected by Pepin. Radbod ordered a great feast for his noble subjects. He placed Thendebald at his right and the priest at his left. Fostedina also was among the guests; g»but was ill at ease. The banqueters were very gay. The Rhine wine wm just to their taste, and they soon became boisterous. 44 Where is our bard?" cried Radbod. " He has gone away," said the stew­ ard. " I offered him* a great piece of amber, two calves and four measures jof beer a day ; but he would not stay. There is a young monk, though, who can sing. I heard him in the Bishop's room." " Go and bring him here," cried the King. The attendant returned with the per­ son demanded. 44 Can you sing us the ballad of the slave and the lion?" asked Radbod. . VIM 44 The story of Androcles, who was condemned to the lions at Rome under the Emperor Nero?" answered the monk. 41 That slave did not know the only true God. 1 cannot sing that; but I know the story of one who died with joy even in the clutch of the lions, be­ cause he was honoring his Savior." 44 Sing us that song, cried the King. And the hrJ! resounded with applause. Whilst the monk sang this hymn the assembly kept profound silence. Fos­ tedina' s eyes were filled with tears. She envied the blessed martyr who had won such a crown, though at the price of his own blood. Adgil, the son of the King, a noble young man, seated opposite his father, was greatly moved. But a cruel light burned in the eyes of the priest. If he had not been re­ strained by the presence of the King, he would have plunged his dagger in the heart of the bard. And his rage was increased when he heard a voice near him murmur: 44 May it please God that I may wear that glorious crown." It was the voice of Fostedina. The priest said nothing; but his expression showed that he had heard her words. Suddenly the priest rose from his seat. " Cursed be that song!" he cried. " And cursed be the singer! It is an insult to our gods. Our fathers, happy in Walhalla, were never Chris­ tians. Take your cups and drink. Hur­ rah! Here's to the health of the gods of our ancestors." 44 Hurrah! Odin!" cried out the ban­ queters. Radbod, all his remorse passed away, emptied his cup at a sin­ gle draught. " A pretty story," cried the King. 44 The bard has given us a good idea. We shall have the same pleasure as the Roman Emperor. There are twenty- nine apostates in prison. Bid them come here, and if they will not give up Christianity they shall fight kthe wolves." When the prisoners were brought into the banqueting hall, the Kipg cried: 44Danish dogs! You have re­ jected the gods of your ancestors and deserve to be burned. But I will par­ don you on one condition: that you give up the Christian religion and hon­ or Odin, if not, you shall be delivered to the wolves. What is your answer?" asked the King, after a moment of si­ lence. One young man stepped forward, boldly: 441 don't ^now what my com­ panions may say; but as for me I wish to serve Jesus." "And I!" "And I!" cmd numer­ als voices. Some, hewover, were si-* lent. • i ; ' , • " Thfevare divided," €i*ie?l the priest. 44 Let those r.mong you rrho renounce Christ hold up your bands." Eight young men timidly raised their left hands, covering their faces with the Other. 44 Take back the twenty-one to pris­ on," said the King. 44 The others are to be put at liberty." 44 Glory be to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Ghost," cried the twen- ty-pne prisoners, as they were led awav. 44 hallelujah! Amen!" cried the monk. 44 We have the crown of glory!" 44 The crown of glory," murmured Fostedina, covering her face to hide the tears. She flea into an adjoining room, and, falling On her knees, cried: "O, my God! give me courage. GiVe me the crown of glory." 44 Thou shalt have thy crown," mat­ tered the priest, who had followed her, unobserved. The next day a round place was en­ closed with wooden stakes and posts, troops sent to the forest for wolves and wild boars, and the day after was fixed for the bloody spectacle. The young martyrs in their dark prison heard the sound of axes and hammers, and knew what the noise portended. But they consoled eactt other with the words of Jesus and the martyrs. As they were talking, suddenly a sound came at one of the narrow win­ dows. Crack! crack! It is opened, a fresh wind comes in, and a ladder drops. 44 Young men," a voice whispers, 44 save yourselves. There is another &UUV4Q4 VUMIUVi flOft UV ^IIVOUWll* XK7 quick. And may God protect vou." The Danes silently obeyed, left the prison, and, guided by the stars, went in a southerly direction. God favored their flight. The sun arose. The massive oaken gate turned on its hinges, and the stew­ ard of Radbod entered. He thought he saw a goddess, and stopped, as if petri­ fied. " Don't be afraid, Hedo. It is I." 44 What! Fostedina!„ What has hap­ pened?" She pointed to the open window and the ladder. 44 Unhappy girl! What have vou don|?" f * i ? 'i • : ' S My life--'is;ln "tie ha^ds hi 6©d^' she answered. calmly. 44 If He permits me to wear the crown of glory, I shall rejoice." The steward was moved with com­ passion and begged her to flee. Sud­ denly they heard the sound of trumpets. An officer of th# guard, with a troop of armed mcjv eptered. '^h^j' amazed at What had happened, and led Fostedina away to the King. Radbod and his son, Adgu, the priest, Thendebald, and others sat in confer­ ence when they entered. 44 What! Great gods! My daughter?" fisclaiilltd the CliiOf, iMlug u uui luo seat. Adgil covered his face with his hands.- "Cursed be the child'1' cried the King, after hearing the officer's story. Fostedina came forward toward the King with a linn step; but when she saw her father her eyes filled with tears and she turned away her face. 44 Miserable girl!" said the Ring. 44 Did you do this by yoursfelf? t>id no one help you?" 44 No one. I pitied the innocent young men. i believed in the Christ whom they loved." A cry of hOvror arose in the hall. 44 We have heard enough,'" cried the priest. 44 She must die. 4 4 Take her to prison," ordered the Kin^r. "We will confer concerning her fate. Fostedina left the hall, surrounded by six soldiers. 44 Thendebald," said the King, turn­ ing to the Chief, 44 she is your daugh­ ter. What is your advice?" The Chief was silent for a moment. Then he spoke, with extreme dejection. 44 She is my only child. Her mother is dead. She has always been my joy and crown. I am very unhappy. I wish I were dead. If you throw her to the wolves, I will throw myself to them. Life has no value in my eyes without my cherished daughter! my Fostedina! mv treasure and consolation!" His tears fell so fast that the brave* warrior retired to a remote part of the room to hide his emotion. 44 You*will never condemn that noble girl to the wolves!" said Adgil to his father, in a trembling voice. 44 She is an apostate," said the priest. 44 She has destroyed a sacrifice of the gods. The anger of Odin will rise against us if we pardon her. She must die!" 441 really do not know what to do," said Radbod. " She is a noble and beautiful girl. I would rather give the gods fifty bullocks in exchange lor her fife." 44 A thousand would not suffice!" cried the priest. 44 Our gods demand the blood of the young girl! Beside, the people will not be contented. They await with impatience the spectacle that has been promised to them, and will complain if they do not see a com­ bat with the wolves." 44 But we cannot give them one," re­ plied the King. 44 Where are the com­ batants?" , 44 That is true," responded the priest. 44 But you can deliver the young girl up to them. If you spare her, they will say that you allowed the Danes to es­ cape." There was a moment of silenoe. The King and his son were both filled with consternation at the priest's words. " I cannot give a decision on such an important matter as this without con­ sulting my counselors^ Here, steward!" The steward entered, and he gave him his orders. At the same, time they heard a great noise from without. It was the clamor of the people, who were coming from all quarters to see the combat. A great disturbance arose when they heard of the flight, and they ran to the palace to demand justice. But the steward ordered the Witenage- mol (assembly of free men) to come to­ gether; and the multitude applauded this measure. Almost the whole day was employed in preparation. Under an oak tree 300 years old sat the King, the Prince, the priest, the Chief of Heligoland, the an- cicnts and the counselors. An immense multitude stood around them: and in the space between stood Fostedina alone, but under Divine protection, When she «vas led in there was\a pro­ found silence. Here appearance touched their rude hearts and they could scarce­ ly restrain a cry of admiration. \ She was as beautiful as an angel. \ The King arose from his seat. 44 Free men of Friesland," he said, pointing to Fostedina, 44 behold the young girl who helped the Danes to es­ cape. We are about to deliberate as to her fate." 44 To the wolves!" cried several voices. Then one of the most venerable of the old men arose, and, pointing his spear toward Heaven, said: 44 She has insulted our gods, the gods of our fath­ ers! Let her die!" 44 My father has spoken well," said a priest. 44 She has robbed the gods of the blood that was promised them." Several priests followed, all in the same strain. All demanded her death. At last came the turn of the Chief of Heligoland. He broke his sword on the grfnmd with so much force that the forest resounded. "She is my honor and glory," said he. 441 am the most miserable of men. She is my only child and her birth cost the life of her mother. She has always been the light of my heart; but now I give her up to you. Sentence her to die, if you decide it to be just. As for me, I shall not survive her. My broken heart can no more be healed." All faces showed signs of sympathy. A groan ran through the whole assem­ bly. Then the old man who had spoken first rose again. " Shame oh you!" he cried. 44 Are fou worse than women and children? s the old race of Frieslanders ex­ tinct? Did your fathers hesitate to sacrifice their children to the gods? I am a very old man. I did not see those glorious days; but i "heard my father speak of them when I wa? a child. He has often told me that his own mother put one of her children in a basket, and that she killed it in honor of the great goddess Freya, who in exchange promised long life to her and to her posterity; and she has kept her promise. Many of you know that my father died at one hundred and sixteen years. I" am already eighty nine, and yesterday I killed a savage boar with my own hand. The gems hle&s those who respect them; but those who despise them belong to A1 fadir. Their anger will be hot against us if we neglect to avenge them." 44 To the wolves! to the wolves!" cried some voices, and a general mur­ mur which arose from the assembly showed that they shared the sentiment &i the old man. Then Adgil rose. He was a noble Prince, much loved by the people, on ac­ count of his benevolence and affability. " I am young," said he, 44 and it is hardly befitting for me to speak in the presence of my elders, whose long ex- peneiiCfc ««<ws lightened their eyes and strengthened their wisdom. But when a human being's life is in question all voices have a right to be heard. Our venerable father said that in old times our ancestors were accustomed to sacrifice their children to the divinity. It seems to me, however, that the gods cannot find much pleasure in these cruel sacri­ fices, since they have not demanded an j of us for more than one century. I do not see Afrhat pleasure they can take in tasting the blood of innocent children. Are the gods of our fathers tigers or wolves? Is there anyone among vou who would be willing to eat and drink human flesh and blood? 1 demand, of you, would you be willing?" 44 No! nor'cried the multitude. 441 was sure of it," added the IMnce. 441 know that you are not a bloodthirsty people. The Frieslanders have never been afraid to look their enemies in the face and to wash their wounds in blood* but they have never been desirous of the death of women and children. On the contrary, they have always been ready to pour out their own blood in defense of their families." "Yes! yes!" cried thousands of Voices. A general enthusiasm seemed to pre­ vail over the whole assembly. Swords and spears were drawn and the forest resounded with the acclamations of the crowd. 44 Very well!" responded the Prince. 44 If it is true that you do not demand the blood of children and of women, do you believe yourselves better than your gods? Or are your gods more cruel than you? Is it possible that the Frieslanders are free and generous men, and yet that their gods are pitiless tigers? I do not ask the blood of this poor young girl, and I am sure that the gods do not. I repeat it: Is there one among you who would be willing to drink it?" 44 No! no!" cried the assembly, with one voice. 44 Do not declare, then, that our gods desire it. I have always been proud of being a Frieslander, because innocent blood has never soiled the hands of my people; but if you put this poor young firl to death I shall leave my country. will not be a Frieslander any more. I should blush with shame, for everyone would have the right to say to me: You belong to that barbarous people who slaughter defenseless women If you do throw her to the wolves, I will go with her and will protect her with my good sword." So saying, the Prince drew his sword and looked proudly at the assemb No one responded; but all looked at him with wonder and unconcealed admira- tion. 44 When my royal father," he contin­ ued, 44 gave me this good sword, I swore I would use it to protect the weak, the innocent and the helpless. I will keep my oath. I have spoken; may God pro­ tect me." And with these words he left his seat' and stood before Fostedina in the at­ titude of a protector, his sword in his hand. It would be impossi­ ble to describe the effect of this pro­ ceeding upon the assembly. All the people were charmed with his bravery and spirit. It seemed as if the applause never would cease, and the old oaks re­ echoed in the distance. Finally, the priest of Heligoland- arose, and at his signal the people w^re silent. 44 Our noble Prince," said he, " has spoken very well. Happy the people who possess such young men. Ho dewm not desire the blood of "this young girl. Nogte of us <io. But she has insulted our gods. She has embraced the new religion. She has renounced the re­ ligion of our fathers, and that is a great crime. The laws of the Fries­ landers punish with death whoever--" 44No! not with death!" cry thou­ sands of voices, interrupting the priest. 44 The young girl must not die." The priest bit his lips and was pale with indignation. He saw that the peo­ ple were appeased, and that it was im­ possible to sacrifice Fostedina. 44 Very well," he saitl, smothering his anger. 44 Let her live; but it would not be justice to let her go unpunished. Our gods demand justice. This yoimg girl told me that she desired a crown. • I want a crown,' said she. 41 want a crown of glory.' She has become a Christian and has freed the Danes. Well, let us give her the crown that she desires. Here it is. It is exactly like that worn by the God of Christian­ ity" So saying, the priest drew a crown of thorns from under his robe and showed it to the assembly. 44 Resolved! resolved!" cried several voices. 44 The crown! the crown!" Some priests and old men rose then and insisted that they should inflict the proposed chastisement. The King con? sented. He was resolved that Fostedi­ na should be exposed in the circus the next day, from morning to night, wear­ ing: the erown of thorns on her head; and that afterward she should be exiled. She submitted to this punishment with joy. The points of thorns tore her forehead and temples and the blood run Hnnn hp«* ohootro* Knt oKn nHojo/J no complaint. The next day she left the country. Willibrod and his friends accompanied her to the Court of Pepin d'Heristal. At the same time Adgil disappeared from Friesland. He went to France, where Pepin gave him the command of one of his armies. Radbod did not long survive the de­ parture of his son. He died in 719. Adgil succeeded him* in spite of the op­ position of the priests. The people chose him unanimously, and he chose F o s t e f i n & l o f h i i Q o m o . ~ i l , < r The marks of the crown of thorns were still visible on the forehead of the Queen when she made her entrance at Staverly, the residence of the Friesland Kings. The people grieved over these wounds, which recalled their cruelty, and the evening of the fete twelve young noblewomen entered the apart­ ment of the Queen and presented to her a crown which would hide the marks of the first. Two gold plates covered the temples, and a beautiful band which joined them covered all traces of the wounds. The new coiffure, instead of dimin­ ishing the beauty of the Queen, seemed, on the contrary, to increase it. Little by little all the ladies of the court fol­ lowed her example, and it soon became the custom for ail oi iiietu to wear one. Fostedina, however, did not like it. She would take her golden crown in her hand and say, 44 You are of less value than a crown of thorns;" and, looking up to Heaven, she would add: 4 4 My God, my Savior,, thou hast one in store for me more beautiful than this!" --N. T. Independent. , Tfce Bridge of Sighs. myx u , • |4> iiiij 1 AM within a stone's throW ef the Bridge of Sighs-- j " A palace and prison on each hand." The first thing a stranger thinks of when entering V enice is the Bridge of Sighs, and the gondolier is sure to pass under it on the way to the hotel, it being in direct line, by a short cut, from the depot to that portion of the city in which most of the hotels are lo­ cated. It is a very beautiful white- marble structure, and has retained its brightness, whilst the walls of the pal­ ace and the prison, which it spans, are darkened and stained with the dust of ages. ^ A narrow canal, about twenty feet wide, passes between the Doge's Palace and the prison. The court-house was in the Dole's Palace, and this bridge, we imagine, was constructed as a matter of convenience, and, perhaps, On the top e< the Royal Exchange^ in London, Is a curious weather-vaS ̂ not like any other in England, or per­ haps in the world. It te a huge grass­ hopper, and the following account shows how it came to be put up there: About 350 years ago, a woman, with a hktie baby in her arms, was trudgiiir alonj* a country lane. Presently, after looking to see that no one was * watch­ ing her, she climbed over a gate into the field, and wrapping the baby in its little shawl, she laid it down in the grass, so gently as not to awake it, and then, never even looking behind her, she climbed over the gate again into the lane, on her journey. The baby soon woke, and began to cry, and it cried for a long, long time. And at last, tired and hungry, and hot with the sun, for it was a line summer's day, it was wearied out and dropped off to sleep again. 44 But God had heard the voice of the lad." By-and-by down the lane came a schoolboy. He was whistling away, as hRPPy ever he could be; he had come .out of school and wss going home. He lived at the farm-hous?e a little way ftw- ther up the lane. Now he gathered a few primroses, now he had a shy at a bird; but just as he came to the gate over which the woman had climbed, ho heard a grasshopper chirping away so loudly that he sprang over the gate to catch him--and there was the baby* fast asleep! Far more pleased than if he had caught a hundred grasshoppers, the boy took up the little fellow and ran home with his prize. The kind farm­ er's wife, although she had many chil-' dren of her own, at once determined to keep the little orphan who had been saved from death by a grasshopper. Years passed away, and the baby be­ came a strong boy; the boy grew to be a man; he went to London and became a merchant. God blessed all he did* and he rose to be the most noted man in the city. Queen Elizabeth was then on the throne, and often did she send to save the Republic the expense of one for Sir Thomas Gresham--for the little j V1 deserted boy had become a Knight--to oonsult him on the great affairs of state. About 300 years ago. Sir Tliotnaa the present enlightened age as Maria." If Court-House lane Black was a canal and the St. Clair Hotel a prison, we have no doubt that Judge Brown would forthwith apply to the City Council to have a "Bridge of Sighs' constructed to facilitate the business of his court and to save expense. This is probably all the Bridge of Sighs meant at the time it was constructedand used, and the same kind of sighs were uttered and tears shed whilst crossing it, as are now uttered and shed in those uninvi­ ting black vehicles with prison-bars in their doors that are so often seen in Monument Square. That romancer, Lord Byron, gave a fictitious importance to this simple bridge, and the world is expected to view it with tear­ ful eyes. It is, however, a very pretty bridge. It is suspended from wall to wall, about forty feet above the water, and is constructed of white marble, roofed with marble, and having no opening to it except those carved through the solid marble, of which it is composed, for light and air, which openings form part of the orna­ mentation. It was buut at the close of the sixteenth century, and the chroni­ clers of Venice protest that it was nev­ er used except for criminal prisoners and common offenders, awaiting their generally well-merited punishment. A ridge crosses the canal just below it, and another above it, from both of which a fine view is obtained. The name of 44 The Bridge of Sighs" is one of those expressive applications so com­ mon in Italy, and has no reference to the administrative rigor of the old Ve­ netian Republic.--Cor. Baltimore Amer­ ican. Sayings by Josh Bluings* There are but few men who are as foolish as they are thought to be, and less who are as wise as they think they are. ^ -^44 Nature abhors a vacuum," there­ fore she fills some heads with sawdust. 44 It is only a step from the sublime to the ridiculous," and it is only the very wise who can take the step and get back again. ~ The hardest dollar for a man to get is too often the eie he needs the most. The man who dies the richest is the one who leaves the least here and takes the most with him. True philosophy, like true philanthro­ py, is a work of deeds, not toords. When I see a man who is over-anxious to prove anything, I am very apt to think he is not very certain about it himself. I thank God that there is one thing that money won't buy, and that is the wag of a dog's tail. No man ever became great simply by accident;4 accident has often opened the way. The multitude gaze at the epaulets, the few at the man who wears them. Young man, what you get in this world you have got to win, Mid man­ kind are hard taskmasters and slow pa*i he great mistake that many folks make is, they are continually betting on to-morrow and letting to-day go by default. Most of us are happy not so much because we havt* got a horse and buggy to ride in, as because the other fellow has got to go on foot. It is easy enough to learn bv experi­ ence, but to profit by it is'what's the matter.--N. T. Weekly. --There are some very queer things about our Postoffice regulations. Take the postal-card, for instance, as pointed out by our contemporaries. If a man has a steady hand and writes close, he may put several hundred words on a card and send it for a cent. If he pastes the least strip of printed matter on it. the postage is increased to six cents, though he may print on it the same matter, and, by putting it in tine type, get several thousand words on'the card, and it will go for one cent; and he may paste the card all over with printed matter, then put it in an open envelope, and it will go for one cent. The card and envelope will go for less money than the card alone. When will these absurdities and inconsistencies be abol­ ished, and everything go by weightjit a uniform " * "" publican. Gresliain founded the Exchange. The ̂ Queen came to dine with him and laid the first stone. And there, upon the topmost pinnacle, Sir Thomas placed a grasshopper; and there it is to-day, to tell the busy, toiling city that Almighty God can hear the infant's cry, and can save a valuable life by even such a lit­ tle thing as a grasshopper.--K. Y. Ob­ server. '1 • "*-• *• 1 "" j -"'-J*? • k Good Deed in a Naogkty Werld^- u - A month or two ago a young girl Boston, the daughter 6f one of the ' wealthiest men there, being about tO> marry, asked her father to let her wed­ ding be as quiet and inexpensive aa possible, and to give her the money which would have been spent in flow­ ers, wine, etc. With this sum she gave a certain sum to the poor of each city which she visited on her wedding jour* ney. She had the blessings of-the hun­ gry and naked strewed along her path instead of roses. The story, without the names, crept into the newspapers. Last week the wedding of one of the great capitalists in this city was marked y as touching and beautiful an inci­ dent One of the gifts to the bride was the sending of 100 orphan boys to homes in the West. A good deed 16 not so much like a candle throwing its beams upon the night as a beacon which is no sooner kindled than it lights a hundred others in the distance. | Our people are learning, each year, % not only to appreciate better the es­ thetic side of charity, but to indulge their esthetic and emotional tastes in a practical way, helpful to others. In­ stead of stained windows in churches, to the memory of those who are gone* we see memorial beds in children's hos­ pitals. In spite of the hard times, too, the amount given in charity, as shown by the reports of churches, asylums, etc., has not decreased half as much in this country, during the last two yearp» > as the amount spent on individual lux­ ury. We know of no finer indication of the integrity and genuine right-feei- iiig ui uic Aijiurlua.il ut-upic iluui Iiias. See how heartily and promptly, too, they seize upon any new hint of how to help the poor and unlucky ! Five yeavs ago, thousands of children died in the tenement-houses and cellars of New York and Philadelphia during the hot season, for the lack of a breath of fresh air. Some good soul thought of free excursions, and the kindly idea spread like wild-fire, from city to city, all over the country. Some other friendly soul conceived the idea of cheap summer hospitals by the sea-shore, and it has enlarged now into a dozen sanitariums, boarding-houses at cost, etc. •>S33 M Tie Season Why* THE reason Mr. Baslinger won't speak to any of the editors of the Hawkeye, when he meets them, is this: Last Thursday morning he came into the office with a poem, beginning, 44 Oh, softly the moonlight sleeps on the clove," and told us, as he carelessly- tossed it on the table, that it was 44 only a little he just dashed off as 1m was coming down this morning; hardly worth fixing up; hadn't time to polish it; if we wanted to take it just as he threw it off, all right." We took It and published it, and the next night, at the church sociable, his wife met up and said, 44 And oh, wasn't that a sweet little poem of Frederic's? And do you know, he worked on that from eight o'clock Wednesday evening until half-past three in the morning, and wouldn't let a soul of us come into the room, and then he made the last copy of it into his note-book at the break­ fast table. Why do editors always pre­ fer lead pencil copy to ink? Frederie said they did." And right there stood Mr Baslinger all the time. --Burlington- Hawk-eye. --It will work no harm to you If yott do a kindly deed even to a bad mast ; - > The glorious sun shines on many a dirty spot and doesn't feel that he lis* in any way injured himself thereby.-- N. Y. Herald. " , , , . ' a dog. J

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