,illustration3 ,,study ,,from ,,nature4 ,,by ,,jean ,,fran,,ois ,,millet4 ,reproduced by permission of ,braun1 ,clement ,co4 ,illustration3 ,,millet',s ,,coat ,,of ,,arms4 ,reproduced by permission of ,braun1 ,clement ,co4 ,a facsimile of one of the little drawings which ,millet was accustomed to make for acquaintances and collectors of autographs1 and which he laughingly called his armes parlantes4 ,illustration3 ,,portrait ,,of ,,jean ,,fran,,ois ,,millet1 ,,drawn ,,by ,,himself4 ,reproduced by permission of ,braun1 ,clement ,co4 ,of this portrait1 drawn in #ahdg1 ,sensier1 in his ,life of ,millet1 says3 ,it is in crayon1 and life-sized4 ,the head is melancholy1 like that of ,albert ,drer2 the profound regard is filled with intelligence and goodness4 ,,mcclure',s ,,magazine4 ,,vol4 ,,vi4 ,,may1 #ahif4 ,no4 #f4 ,a ,,century ,,of ,,painting4 ,,jean ,,fran,,ois ,,millet4--,,parentage ,,and ,,early ,,influences4--,,his ,,life ,,at ,,barbizon4--,,visits ,,to ,,millet ,,in ,,his ,,studio4--,,his ,,personal ,,appearance4--,,his ,,own ,,comments ,,on ,,his ,,pictures4--,,passages ,,from ,,his ,,conversation4 ,,by ,,will ,h4 ,,low4 ,these papers1 disclaiming any other authority than that which appertains to the conclusions of a practising painter who has thought deeply on the subject of his art1 have nevertheless avoided the personal equation as much as possible4 ,a conscientious endeavor has been made to consider the work of each painter in the place which has been assigned him by the concensus of opinion in the time which has elapsed since his work was done4 ,in the consideration of ,jean ,franois ,millet1 however1 ,i desire for the nonce to become less impersonal1 for the reason that it was my privilege to know him slightly1 and in the case of one who as a man and as a painter occupies a place so entirely his own1 the value of recorded personal impressions is greater1 at least for purposes of record1 than the registration of contemporary opinion concerning him4 ,i must further explain that1 as a young student who received at his hands the kindly reception which the master1 stricken in health1 and preoccupied with his work1 vouchsafed1 ,i could only know him superficially4 ,it may have been the spectacle of youthful enthusiasm1 or the modest though dignified recognition of the reverence with which ,i approached him1 that made this grave man unbend2 but it is certain that the few times when ,i was permitted to enter the rudely built studio at ,barbizon have remained red-letter days in my life1 and on each occasion ,i left ,millet with an impression so strong and vital that now1 after a lapse of twenty years1 the work which he showed me1 and the words which he uttered1 are as present as though it all had occurred yesterday4 ,the reverence which ,i then felt for this great man was born of his works1 a few of which ,i had seen in #ahgc in ,paris2 and their constant study1 and the knowledge of his life and character gained since then1 have intensified this feeling4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,sheep-,,shearers4 ,,from ,a ,,painting ,,by ,,jean ,,fran,,ois ,,millet4 ,reproduced by permission of ,braun1 ,clement ,co4 ,a replica of ,millet's picture in the ,salon of #ahfa1 which is now owned by ,mr4 ,quincy ,shaw1 ,boston1 ,massachusetts4 ,charles ,jacque1 who had quarrelled with ,millet1 after seeing this picture1 went to him and said3 ,we cannot be friends2 but ,i have come to say that you have painted a masterpiece4 ,jean ,franois ,millet was born ,october #d1 #ahad1 in the hamlet of ,gruchy1 a mere handful of houses which lie in a valley descending to the sea1 in the department of the ,manche1 not far from ,cherbourg4 ,he was the descendant of a class which has no counterpart in ,england or ,america1 and which in his native ,france has all but disappeared4 ,the rude forefathers of our country may have in a degree resembled the ,french peasant of ,millet's youth2 but their ,protestant belief made them more independent in thought1 and the problems of a new country1 and the lack of stability inherent to the colonist1 robbed them of the fanatical love of the earth1 which is perhaps the strongest trait of the peasant4 ,every inch of the ground up to the cliffs above the sea1 in ,millet's country1 represented the struggle of man with nature2 and each parcel of land1 every stone in the walls which kept the earth from being engulfed in the floods beneath1 bore marks of his handiwork4 ,small wonder1 then1 that this rude people should engender the painter who has best expressed the intimate relation between the man of the fields and his ally and foe1 the land which he subjugates1 and which in turn enslaves him4 ,the inherent1 almost savage1 independence of the peasant had kept him freer and of a nobler type than the ,english yokel even in the time before the ,revolution1 and in the little hamlet where ,millet was born1 the great upheaval had meant but little4 ,remote from the capital1 cultivating land which but for their efforts would have been abandoned as worthless1 every man was a land-owner in a small degree1 and the patrimony of ,millet sufficed for a numerous family of which he was the eldest son4 ,sufficed1 that is1 for a ,spartan subsistence1 made up of unrelaxing toil1 with few or no comforts1 save those of a spiritual nature which came in the guise of religion4 ,illustration3 ,,peasant ,,reposing4 ,,from ,a ,,painting ,,by ,,jean ,,francois ,,millet1 ,,exhibited ,,in ,,the ,,salon ,,of #ahfc4 ,reproduced by permission of ,braun1 ,clement ,co4 ,this picture1 popularly known as ,the man with the hoe1 was the cause of much discussion at the time of its exhibition4 ,millet was accused of socialism2 of inciting the peasants to revolt2 and from his quiet retreat in the country1 he defended himself in a letter to his friend ,sensier as follows3 ,i see very clearly the aureole encircling the head of the daisy1 and the sun which glows beyond1 far1 far over the country-side1 its glory in the skies2 ,i see1 not less clearly1 the smoking plough-horses in the plain1 and in a rocky corner a man bent with labor1 who groans as he works1 or who for an instant tries to straighten himself to catch his breath4 ,the drama is enveloped in splendor4 ,this is not of my creation2 the expression1 'the cry of the earth1' was invented long ago4 ,millet was reared by his grandmother1 such being the custom of the country2 the younger women being occupied in the service of the mastering earth1 and the elders1 no longer able to go afield1 bringing up the children born to their children1 who in turn replaced their parents in the never-ending struggle4 ,this grandmother1 ,louise ,jumelin1 widow of ,nicolas ,millet1 was a woman of great force of character1 and extremely devout4 ,the most ordinary occupation of the day was made the subject not of uttered prayer1 for that would have entailed suspension of her ceaseless activity1 but of spiritual example tersely expressed1 which fell upon the fruitful soil of ,millet's young imagination1 and left such a lasting impression that to the end of his life his natural expression was almost ,biblical in character of language4 ,another formative influence of this young life was that of a granduncle1 ,charles ,millet1 a priest who1 driven from his church by the ,revolution1 had returned to his native village and taken up the simple life of his people1 without1 however1 abandoning his vocation4 ,he was to be seen behind his plough1 his priest's robe gathered up about his loins1 his breviary in one hand1 following the furrow up and down the undulating fields which ran to the cliffs4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,milk-,,carrier4 ,,from ,a ,,painting ,,by ,,jean ,,fran,,ois ,,millet4 ,reproduced by permission of ,braun1 ,clement ,co4 ,probably commenced at ,cherbourg1 where ,millet took refuge with his family during the ,franco-,prussian ,war1 as ,sensier mentions it on ,millet's return4 ,this picture1 or a replica of it 7,millet was fond of repeating his subjects1 with slight changes in each case71 was in his studio in #ahgc1 and called forth the remark quoted in the text1 about the women in his country4 ,gifted with great strength1 he piled up great masses of granite1 to reclaim a precious morsel of earth from the hungry maw of the sea2 lifting his voice1 as he worked1 in resonant chants of the church4 ,he it was who taught ,millet to read2 and1 later1 it was another priest1 the ,abb ,jean ,lebrisseux1 who1 in the intervals of the youth's work in the fields1 where he had early become an efficient aid to his father1 continued his instruction4 ,with the avidity of intelligence ,millet profited by this instruction1 not only in the more ordinary studies1 but in ,latin1 with the ,bible and ,virgil as text-books4 ,his mind was also nourished by the books belonging to the scanty library of his granduncle4 ,these were of a purely religious character--the ,history of the ,saints1 the ,confessions of ,st4 ,augustine1 the letters of ,st4 ,jerome1 and the works of ,bossuet and ,fnelon4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,gleaners4 ,,from ,a ,,painting ,,in ,,the ,,louvre1 ,,by ,,jean ,,fran,,ois ,,millet1 ,,exhibited ,,in ,,the ,,salon ,,of #aheg4 ,the three fates of pauperism was the disdainful appreciation of ,paul de ,saint-,victor on the first exhibition of this picture1 while ,edmond ,about wrote3 ,the picture attracts one from afar by its air of grandeur and serenity4 ,it has the character of a religious painting4 ,it is drawn without fault1 and colored without crudity2 and one feels the ,august sun which ripens the wheat4 ,sensier says3 ,the picture sold with difficulty for four hundred dollars4 ,what is it worth to-day8 ,in his father1 whose strongest characteristic was an intense love of nature1 ,millet found an unconscious influence in the direction which his life was to follow4 ,millet recalled in after life that he would show him a blade of grass or a flower1 and say3 ,see how beautiful2 how the petals overlap2 and the tree there1 how strong and fine it is6 ,it was his father who was attentive to the youth's first rude efforts1 and who encouraged him when the decisive step was to be taken1 which ,millet1 feeling that his labor in the fields was necessary to the common good of the family1 hesitated to take4 ,the boy was in his eighteenth year when his father said3 ,my poor ,franois1 you are tormented between your desire to be an artist and your duty to the family4 ,now that your brothers are growing1 they can take their turn in the fields4 ,i have long wished that you could be instructed in the craft of the painter1 which ,i am told is so noble1 and we will go to ,cherbourg and see what can be done4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,angeles1 ,,millet',s ,,most ,,famous ,,picture4 ,reproduced by permission of ,braun1 ,clement ,co4 ,despite its fame1 this is distinctly not ,millet's masterpiece4 ,during his life it sold for about ten thousand dollars1 and later for one hundred and fifty thousand4 ,thus encouraged1 the boy made two drawings--one of two shepherds in blouse and sabots1 one listening while the other played a rustic flute2 and a second where1 under a starlit sky1 a man came from out a house1 carrying bread for a mendicant at his gate4 ,armed with these two designs--typical of the work which in the end1 after being led astray by schools and popular taste1 he was to do--the two peasants sought a local painter named ,mouchel at ,cherbourg4 ,after a moment of doubt as to the originality of the youth's work1 ,mouchel offered to teach him all that he knew4 ,millet stayed with ,mouchel some months4 ,then his father's death recalled him home1 where his honest spirit prompted him to remain as the eldest son and head of the family1 although his heart was less than ever in the fields4 ,but this the mother1 brought up in the spirit of resignation1 would not allow him to do4 ,god has made you a painter4 ,his will be done4 ,your father1 my ,jean ,louis1 has said it was to be1 and you must return to ,cherbourg4 ,millet returned to ,cherbourg1 this time to the studio of one ,langlois1 a pupil of ,gros1 who was the principal painter of the little city4 ,but ,langlois1 like his first master1 ,mouchel1 kept him at work copying either his own studies or pictures in the city museum4 ,after a few months1 though1 he had the honesty to recognize that his pupil needed more efficient instruction than he could give him1 and in ,august1 #ahcf1 he addressed a petition to the mayor and common council of the city of ,cherbourg1 who took the matter into consideration1 and1 with the authorities of the department1 voted a sum of one thousand francs--two hundred dollars--as a yearly allowance to ,millet1 in order that he might pursue his studies in ,paris4 ,langlois in his petition asks that he be permitted to raise without fear the veil of the future1 and to assure the municipal council a place in the memory of the world for having been the first to endow their country with one more great name4 ,grandiloquent promise has often been made without result2 but one must admire the hard-headed ,norman councillors who1 representing a little provincial city which in #ahhd had but thirty-six thousand inhabitants1 gave even this modest sum to assure a future to one who might reflect honor on his country4 ,illustration3 ,,nestlings4 ,,from ,a ,,painting ,,by ,,jean ,,francois ,,millet1 ,,in ,,the ,,museum ,,at ,,lille4 ,reproduced by permission of ,braun1 ,clement ,co4 ,a notable instance of the scope of ,millet's power1 as tender in depicting children as it is austere in ,the ,gleaners4 ,with a portion1 of this allowance1 and a small addition from the economies of his mother and grandmother1 ,millet went to ,paris in #ahcg4 ,the great city failed to please the country-bred youth1 and1 indeed1 until the end of his life1 ,millet disliked ,paris4 ,i remember his saying that1 on his visits from ,barbizon to the capital1 he was happy on his arrival at the station1 but when he arrived at the column of the ,bastille1 a few squares within the city1 the mal du pays took him by the throat4 ,at first he spent all his time in the ,louvre1 which revealed to him what the little provincial museum of ,cherbourg had but faintly suggested4 ,before long1 however1 he entered the studio of ,paul ,delaroche1 who was the popular master of the time4 ,there he won the sobriquet of the man of the woods1 from a savage taciturnity which was his defence in the midst of the atelier jokes4 ,he had come to work1 and to work he addressed himself1 with but little encouragement from master or comrades4 ,strong as a young ,hercules1 with a dignity which never forsook him1 his studies won at least the success of attention4 ,when a favorite pupil of the master remonstrated that his men and women were hewed from stone1 ,millet replied tranquilly1 ,i came here because there are ,greek statues and living men and women to study from1 not to please you or any one4 ,do ,i preoccupy myself with your figures made of honey and butter8 ,delaroche1 won by the strength of the man1 at length unbent1 and showed him such favor as a commonplace mind could accord to native superiority4 ,he advised him to compete for the ,prix de ,rome1 warning him1 however1 that whatever might be the merit of his work1 he could not take it that year1 as it was arranged that another1 approaching the limit of age1 must have it4 ,this revolted the simple nature of ,millet1 who refused to compete1 and left the school4 ,a return to ,cherbourg1 where he married his first wife1 who died at the end of two years2 another sojourn in ,paris1 and a visit home of some duration2 a number of portraits and pictures painted in ,cherbourg and ,havre1 in which his talent was slowly asserting itself1 brings us to #ahde1 when he remarried4 ,returning to ,paris with his wife1 he remained there until #ahdi1 when he went to ,barbizon for a time1 which was prolonged to twenty-seven years4 ,in all the years preceding his final return to the country1 ,millet was apparently undecided as to the definite character of his work4 ,out of place in a city1 more or less influenced by his comrades in art1 and forced to follow in a degree the dictation of necessity in the choice of subject1 as his brush was his only resource and his family constantly increasing1 his work of this period is always tentative4 ,in painting it is luscious in color and firmly drawn and modelled1 but it lacks the perception of truth which1 when once released from the bondage of the city1 began to manifest itself in his work4 ,the first indication of the future ,millet is in a picture in the ,salon of #ahdh1 ,the ,winnower1 which has1 in subject at least1 much the character of the work which followed his establishment at ,barbizon4 ,for the rest1 although the world is richer in beautiful pictures of charmingly painted nymphs1 and of rustic scenes not altogether devoid of a certain artificiality1 and in at least one masterly mythological picture of ,oedipus rescued from the tree1 through ,millet's activity in these years1 yet his work1 had it continued on this plane1 would have lacked the high significance which the next twenty-five years were to show4 ,having endeavored to make clear the source from which ,millet came1 and indicated the formative influences of his early life1 ,i may permit myself 7as ,i warned my readers ,i should do7 to return to my recollections of ,barbizon in #ahgc1 and the glimpses of ,millet which my sojourn there in that and the following year afforded me4 ,barbizon lies on a plain1 more vast in the impression which it makes on the eye than in actual area1 and the village consists of one long street1 which commences at a group of farm buildings of some importance1 and ends in the forest of ,fontainebleau4 ,about midway down this street1 on the way to the forest1 ,millet's home stood1 on the right of the road4 ,the house1 of two low stories1 had its gable to the street1 and on the first floor1 with the window breast high from the ground1 was the dining-room4 ,here1 in pleasant weather1 with the window wide open1 sat ,millet at the head of his patriarchal table1 his children1 of whom there were nine1 about him2 his good wife1 their days of acute misery past1 smiling contentedly on her brood1 which1 if ,i remember rightly1 already counted a grandchild or more3 as pleasant a sight as one could readily see4 ,later1 in the autumn evenings1 a lamplit replica of the same picture presented itself4 ,or1 if the dinner was cleared away1 one would see ,madame ,millet busy with her needle1 the children at their lessons1 and the painter1 whom even then tradition painted a sad and cheerless misanthrope1 contentedly playing at dominoes with one of the children1 or his honest ,norman face wreathed in smiles as the conversation took an amusing turn4 ,this1 it is true1 was when the master of the house was free from his terrible enemy1 the headache1 which laid him low so often1 and which in these days became more and more frequent4 ,illustration3 ,,first ,,steps4 ,,from ,a ,,pastel ,,by ,,jean ,,fran,,ois ,,millet4 ,reproduced by permission of ,braun1 ,clement ,co4 ,as ,sensier remarks1 ,millet1 with nine children1 had abundant opportunity to study them4 ,this charming drawing was one of the collection of ,millet's pastels formed by ,m4 ,gavet1 which was unfortunately dispersed by auction soon after the artist's death4 ,the house1 to resume the description of ,millet's home1 went back at right angles from the street1 and contained the various apartments of the family1 many of them on the ground floor1 and all of the most modest character4 ,it was a source of wonder how so large a family could inhabit so small a house4 ,the garden lay in front1 and extended back of the house4 ,a high wall with a little door1 painted green1 by which you entered1 ran along the street1 and ended at the studio1 which was1 like the dining-room1 on the street4 ,the garden was pleasant with flowers and trees1 the kitchen garden being at the rear4 ,but a few short years ago1 within its walls ,madame ,millet plucked a red rose1 and gave it to me1 saying3 ,my husband planted this4 ,outside the little green door1 on either hand1 were stone benches set against the wall1 on which the painter's children sometimes sat and played2 but it is somewhat strange that ,i never remember ,millet at his door or on the village street4 ,he walked a great deal1 but always went out of the garden to the fields back of the house1 and from there gained the forest or the plain4 ,among the young painters who frequented ,barbizon in those days 7which were1 however1 long after the time when the men of ,millet's age established themselves there71 there were1 strange as it may seem1 few who cared for ,millet's work1 and many who knew little or nothing of it4 ,the prejudices of the average art student are many and indurated4 ,his horizon is apt to be bounded by his master's work or the last ,salon success1 and as ,millet had no pupils1 and had ceased to exhibit at the ,salon1 he was little known to most of the youths who1 as ,i look back1 must have made ,barbizon a most undesirable place for a quiet family to live in4 ,an accident which made me acquainted with ,millet's eldest son1 a painter of talent1 seemed for a time to bring me no nearer to knowing the father until one day some remark of mine which showed at least a sincere admiration for his work made the son suggest that ,i should come and see a recently completed picture4 ,if the crowd of young painters who frequented the village were indifferent to ,millet1 such was not the case with people from other places4 ,the personally conducted were then newly invented1 and ,i have seen a wagon load of tourists1 who had been driven to different points in the forest1 draw up before ,millet's modest door and express indignation in a variety of languages when they were refused admittance4 ,there were many in those days who tried with little or no excuse to break in on the work of a man whose working days were already counted1 and who was seldom free from his old enemy migraine4 ,i was to learn this when--,i hope after having had the grace to make it plain that1 though ,i greatly desired to know ,millet1 ,i felt no desire to intrude--the son had arranged for a day when1 at last1 ,i was admitted to the studio4 ,millet did not make his appearance at once2 and when he came1 and the son had said a few kindly words of presentation1 he seemed so evidently in pain that ,i managed1 in a ,french which must have been distinguished by a pure ,new ,york accent and a vocabulary more than limited1 to express a fear that he was suffering1 and suggested that my visit had better be deferred4 ,no1 it will pass1 was his answer2 and going to his easel he placed1 with the help of his son1 picture after picture1 for my delectation4 ,it was ,millet's habit to commence a great number of pictures4 ,on some of them he would work as long1 according to his own expression1 as he saw the scene in nature before him2 for1 at least at this epoch1 he never painted directly from nature4 ,for a picture which ,i saw the following summer1 where three great hay-stacks project their mass against a heavy storm cloud1 the shepherd seeking shelter from the impending rain1 and the sheep erring here and there1 affected by the changing weather--for this picture1 conveying1 as it did1 the most intense impression of nature1 ,millet showed me 7in answer to my inquiry and in explanation of his method of work7 in a little sketch-book1 so small that it would slip into a waistcoat pocket1 the pencilled outline of the three hay-stacks4 ,it was a stormy day1 he said1 and on my return home ,i sat down and commenced the picture1 but of direct studies--voila tout4 ,of another picture1 now in the ,boston ,museum of ,fine ,arts1 of a young girl1 life size1 with a distaff1 seated on a hillock1 her head shaded by a great straw hat relieved against the sky1 he told me that the only direct painting from nature on the canvas was in a bunch of grass in the foreground1 which he had plucked in the fields and brought into his studio4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,sower4 ,,from ,a ,,painting ,,by ,,jean ,,fran,,ois ,,millet4 ,from the original painting1 now in the collection of ,mrs4 ,w4,h4 ,vanderbilt2 reproduced by permission of ,braun1 ,clement ,co4 ,in his criticism of the ,salon of #ahej1 where the picture was first exhibited1 ,thophile ,gautier thus described it3 ,the sower advances with rhythmic step1 casting the seed into the furrowed land2 sombre rags cover him2 a formless hat is drawn down over his brow2 he is gaunt1 cadaverous1 and thin under his livery of misery2 and yet life is contained in his large hand1 as with a superb gesture he who has nothing scatters broadcast on the earth the bread of the future4 ,on this first day1 it would be difficult to say how many pictures in various states of advancement ,i saw4 ,the master would occasionally say1 reflectively3 ,it is six months since ,i looked at that1 and ,i must get to work at it1 as some new canvas was placed on the easel4 ,at first1 fearing that he was too ill to have me stay1 ,i made one or two motions to leave4 ,but each time1 with a kindly smile1 ,i was bidden to stay1 with the assurance that the headache was going better4 ,after a time ,i quite forgot everything in enthusiasm at what ,i saw and the sense that ,i was enjoying the privilege of a lifetime4 ,the life of the fields seemed to be unrolled before me like some vast panorama4 ,millet's comments were short and descriptive of what he aimed to represent1 seldom or never concerning the method of his work4 ,women in my country1 meaning ,lower ,normandy1 of course1 carry jars of milk in that way1 he said1 indicating the woman crossing the fields with the milk-can supported by a strap on her shoulder4 ,when ,i was a boy there were great flights of wild pigeons which settled in the trees at night1 when we used to go with torches1 and the birds1 blinded by the light1 could be killed by the hundred with clubs1 was his explanation of another scene full of the confusion of lights and the whirr of the bewildered pigeons4 ,illustration3 ,,churning4 ,,from ,a ,,pastel ,,by ,,jean ,,fran,,ois ,,millet1 ,,in ,,the ,,luxembourg ,,gallery1 ,,paris4 ,delightful for a sense of air through the cool and spacious room1 and for the sculpturesque solidity of the group composed of the woman1 the churn1 and the cat4 ,and you have not seen it since you were a boy8 ,i asked4 ,no2 but it all comes back to me as ,i work1 was his answer4 ,from picture to picture1 from question to kindly answer1 the afternoon sped1 and at length1 in response to a question as to the relative importance of subject1 the painter sent his son into the house whence he returned with a panel a few inches square4 ,the father took it1 wiped the dust from it1 absent-mindedly1 on his sleeve1 with a half caressing movement1 and placed it on the easel4 ,voila6 7,there67 was all he said4 ,the panel represented three golden juicy pears1 their fat sides relieved one against the other1 forming a compact group which1 through the magic of color1 told of autumn sun1 and almost gave the odor of ripened fruit4 ,it was a lovely bit of painting1 and much interested1 ,i said3 ,pardon me1 but you seem as much or more proud of this than anything you have shown4 ,exactly1 answered ,millet1 with an amused smile at my eagerness4 ,everything in nature is good to paint1 and the painter's business is to be occupied with his manner of rendering it4 ,these pears1 a man or a woman1 a flock of sheep1 all have the same qualities for a painter4 ,there are1 with a gesture of his hands to make his meaning clear1 things that lie flat1 that are horizontal1 like a plain2 and there are others which stand up1 are perpendicular2 and there are the planes between3 all of which should be expressed in a picture4 ,there are the distances between objects also4 ,but all this can be found in the simplest thing as in the most complicated4 ,but1 ,i again ventured1 surely some subjects are more important than others4 ,some are more interesting in the sense that they add to the problems of a painter4 ,when he has to paint a human being1 he has to represent truth of action1 the particular character of an individual2 but he must do the latter when he paints a pear4 ,no two pears are alike4 ,i fear at the time ,i hardly understood the importance of the lesson which ,i then received2 certainly not to the degree with which experience has confirmed it4 ,but ,i have written it here1 the sense1 if not the actual language1 because ,millet has been so often misrepresented as seeking to point a moral through the subject of his pictures4 ,when we recall the manner in which ,the ,angelus was paraded through the country a few years ago1 and the genuine sentiment of the simple scene--where ,millet had endeavored to express the things that lie flat1 like a plain2 and the things that stand up1 like his peasants--was travestied by gushing sentimentalists1 it is pleasant to think of the wholesome common sense of the great painter4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,young ,,shepherdess4 ,,from ,a ,,painting ,,by ,,jean ,,francois ,,millet4 ,the background here is typical of that part of the forest of ,fontainebleau which borders the plain of ,barbizon4 ,the picture which ,i had specially come to see was meanwhile standing covered with a drapery1 on another easel1 and at length the resources of the studio were apparently exhausted4 ,millet asked me to step back a few paces to where a short curtain was placed on a light iron rod at right angles from the studio window1 so that a person standing behind it saw into the studio while his eyes were screened from the glare of the window4 ,the painter then drew the covering1 and--,i feel that what ,i am about to say may seem superlative1 and ,i am quite willing to-day to account for it by the enthusiasm for the painter's work1 which had been growing crescendo with each successive moment passed in the studio4 ,be that as it may1 the picture which ,i saw caused me to forget where ,i was1 to forget painting1 and to look1 apparently1 on a more enchanting scene than my eyes had ever beheld--one more enchanting than they have since seen4 ,it was a landscape1 ,springtime1 now in the ,louvre4 ,ah me6 ,i have seen the picture since1 not once1 but many times1 and he who will go to ,paris may see it4 ,a beautiful picture2 but of the transcendent beauty which transfigured it that day1 it has but the suggestion4 ,it is still a masterpiece1 however1 and still conveys1 by methods peculiarly ,millet's own1 a satisfying sense of the open air1 and the charm of fickle spring4 ,the method is that founded on the constant observation of nature by a mind acute to perceive1 and educated to remember4 ,the method is one which misses many trivial truths1 and thereby loses the superficial look of reality which many smaller men have learned to give2 but it retains the larger1 more essential truths4 ,though dependence on memory carried to the extent of ,millet's practice would be fatal to a weaker man1 it can hardly be doubted that it was the natural method for him4 ,i left the studio that day1 walking on clouds4 ,when ,i returned it was always to receive kindly and practical counsel4 ,for ,millet1 though conscious1 as such a man must be1 of his importance1 was the simplest of men4 ,in appearance the portrait published here gives him in his youth4 ,at the time of which ,i speak he was heavier1 with a firm nose1 eyes that1 deeply set1 seemed to look inwards1 except1 when directly addressing one1 there was a sudden gleam4 ,his manner of speech was slow and measured1 perhaps out of kindness to the stranger1 though ,i am inclined to think that it was rather the speech of one who arrays his thoughts beforehand1 and produces them in orderly sequence4 ,in dress he was like the ordinary bourgeois in the country1 wearing generally a woven coat like a cardigan jacket in the studio1 at the door of which he would leave his sabots and wear the felt slippers1 or chaussons1 which are worn with the wooden shoes4 ,this was not the affectation of remaining a peasant2 every one in the country in ,france wears sabots1 and very comfortable they are4 ,one more visit stands out prominently in my memory4 ,it came about in this wise4 ,in the summer of #ahgd the two ,stevensons1 as they were known1 the cousins ,robert ,louis and ,robert ,alan ,mowbray ,stevenson 7the author of the recent ,life of ,velasquez1 and the well-known writer on art71 were in ,barbizon4 ,it fell that the cousins1 in pessimistic vein1 were decrying modern art--the great men were all dead2 we should never see their like again2 in short1 the mood in which we all fall at times was dominant4 ,as in duty bound1 ,i argued the cause of the present and future1 and as a clinching argument told them that ,i had it in my power to convince them that at least one of the greatest painters of all time was still busy in the practice of his art4 ,millet was not much more than a name to my friends1 and ,i am certain that that day when we talked over our coffee in the garden of ,siron's inn1 they had seen little or none of his work4 ,i ventured across the road1 knocked at the little green door1 and asked permission to bring my friends1 which was accorded for the same afternoon4 ,in half an hour1 therefore1 ,i was witness of an object lesson of which the teacher was serenely unconscious4 ,of my complete triumph when we left there was no doubt1 though one of my friends rather begged the question by insisting that ,i had taken an unfair advantage2 and that1 as he expressed it1 it was not in the game1 in an ordinary discussion1 between gentlemen1 concerning minor poets1 to drag in ,shakespeare in that manner4 ,i saw ,millet but once after this1 when late in the autumn ,i was returning to ,paris1 and went1 out of respect1 to bid him farewell4 ,he was already ill1 and those who knew him well1 already feared for his life4 ,not knowing this1 it was a shock to learn of his death a few months after--,january #bj1 #ahge4 ,the news came to me in the form of the ordinary notification and convocation to the funeral1 which1 in the form of a lettre de faire part1 is sent out on the occasion of a death in ,france1 not only to intimate friends1 but to acquaintances4 ,determined to pay what honor ,i could1 ,i went to ,barbizon1 to find1 as did many others gone for the same sad purpose1 that an error in the notices sent1 discovered too late to be rectified1 had placed the date of the funeral a day later than that on which it actually occurred4 ,millet rests in the little cemetery at ,chailly1 across the plain from ,barbizon1 near his lifetime friend1 ,theodore ,rousseau1 who is buried there4 ,i will never forget the ,january day in the village of ,barbizon4 ,though ,millet had little part in the village life1 and was known to few1 a sadness1 as though the very houses felt that a great man had passed away1 had settled over the place4 ,i sought out a friend who had been ,millet's friend for many years and was with him at the last1 and as he told me of the last sad months1 tears fell from his eyes4 ,,chapters ,,from ,a ,,life4 ,,by ,,elizabeth ,,stuart ,,phelps1 ,author of ,the ,gates ,ajar1 ,a ,singular ,life1 etc4 ,,the ,,gates ,,ajar ,,with ,,the ,,critics ,,and ,,the ,,public4--,,the ,,author',s ,,first ,,study4--,,reading ,,reviews ,,of ,,one',s ,,own ,,books4--,,correspondence ,,with ,,readers ,,of ,,the ,,gates ,,ajar4 ,as was said in the last paper1 ,the ,gates ,ajar was written without hope or expectation of any especial success1 and when the happy storm broke in truth1 ,i was the most astonished girl in ,north ,america4 ,from the day when ,mr4 ,fields's thoughtful note reached the ,andover post-office1 that miracle of which we read often in fiction1 and sometimes in literary history1 touched the young writer's life2 and it began over again1 as a new form of organization4 ,as ,i look back upon them1 the next few years seem to have been a series of amazing phantasmagoria4 ,indeed1 at the time1 they were scarcely more substantial4 ,a phantom among phantoms1 ,i was borne along4 ,incredulous of the facts1 and dubious of my own identity1 ,i whirled through readjustments of scene1 of society1 of purposes1 of hopes1 and now1 at last1 of ambitions2 and always of hard work1 and plenty of it4 ,really1 ,i think the gospel of work then1 as always1 and to all of us1 was salvation from a good deal of nonsense incident to the situation4 ,i have been told that the ,american circulation of the book1 which has remained below one hundred thousand1 was rather more than that in ,great ,britain4 ,translations1 of course1 were manifold4 ,the ,french1 the ,german1 the ,dutch1 the ,italian have been conscientiously sent to the author2 some others1 ,i think1 have not4 ,more applications to republish my books have reached me from ,germany than from any other country4 ,for a while1 with the tenderness of a novice in such experience1 ,i kept all these foreign curiosities on my book-shelves2 but the throes of several ,new ,england movings have scattered their ashes4 ,not long ago ,i came across a tiny pamphlet in which ,i used to feel more honest pride than in any edition of ,the ,gates ,ajar which it has ever been my fortune to handle4 ,it is a sickly yellow thing1 covered with a coarse design of some kind1 in which the wings of a particularly sprawly angel predominate4 ,the print is abhorrent1 and the paper such as any respectable publisher would prepare to be condemned for in this world and in that to come4 ,in fact1 the entire book was thus given out by one of the most enterprising of ,english pirates1 as an advertisement for a patent medicine4 ,i have never traced the chemical history of the drug2 but it has pleased my fancy to suppose it to be the one in which ,mrs4 ,holt1 the mother of ,felix1 dealt so largely2 and whose sale ,felix put forth his mighty conscience to suppress4 ,of course1 owing to the state of our copyright laws at that time1 all this foreign publication was piratical2 and most of it brought no visible consequence to the author1 beyond that cold tribute to personal vanity on which our unlucky race is expected to feed4 ,i should make an exception4 ,the house of ,sampson1 ,low and ,company honorably offered me1 at a very early date1 a certain recognition of their editions4 ,other reputable ,english houses since1 in the case of succeeding books1 have passed contracts of a gentlemanly nature1 with the disproportionately grateful author1 who was1 of course1 entirely at their mercy4 ,when an ,american writer compares the sturdy figures of the foreign circulation with the attenuated numerals of such visible returns as reach him1 he is more puzzled in his mind than surfeited in his purse4 ,but the relation of foreign publishers to home talent is an ancient and honorable conundrum1 which it is not for this paper or its writer to solve4 ,nevertheless1 ,i found the patent medicine ,gates ,ajar delicious1 and used to compare it with ,messrs4 ,fields and ,osgood's edition de luxe with an undisguised delight1 which ,i found it difficult to induce the best of publishers to share4 ,like most such matters1 the first energy of the book had its funny and its serious side4 ,a man coming from a far ,western village1 and visiting ,boston for the first time1 is said to have approached a bartender1 in an exclusive hotel1 thus confidentially3 ,excuse me1 but ,i am a stranger in this part of the country1 and ,i want to ask a question4 ,everywhere ,i go1 ,i see posters up like this--',the ,gates ,ajar6' ',the ,gates ,ajar6' ,i'm sick to death of the sight of the durn thing2 ,i haven't darst to ask what it is4 ,do tell a fellar6 ,is it a new kind of drink8 ,there was a ,gates ,ajar tippet for sale in the country groceries2 ,i have fancied that it was a knit affair of as many colors as the jewels in the eternal portals1 and extremely openwork4 ,there was a ,gates ,ajar collar--paper1 ,i fear--loading the city counters4 ,ghastly rumors have reached me of the existence of a ,gates ,ajar cigar4 ,i have never personally set my eyes upon these tangible forms of earthly fame4 ,if the truth must be told1 ,i have kept a cowardly distance from them4 ,music1 of course1 took her turn at the book1 and popular pieces warbled under its title4 ,one of these1 ,i think1 is sung in ,sunday-schools to this day4 ,then there was1 and still exists1 the ,gates ,ajar funeral piece4 ,this used to seem to me the least serious of them all2 but1 by degrees1 when ,i saw the persistence of force in that elaborate symbol1 how many mourning people were so constituted as to find comfort in it1 ,i came to have a tolerance for it which even grows into a certain tenderness4 ,i may frankly admit that ,i have begun to love it since ,i heard about the two ragged little newsboys who came to the eminent city florist1 with all their savings clenched in their grimy fists1 and thus made known their case3 ,ye see1 ,larks he was our pardner--him an' us sold on the same beat--and he jes' got run over by a 'lectric1 and it went over his back4 ,so they tuk him to the horspittle1 'n ,larks he up an' died there yestiddy4 ,so us fellars we're goin' to give ,larks a stylish funeril1 you bet4 ,we liked ,larks--an' it went over his back4 ,say1 mister1 there ain't nothin' mean 'bout us1 come to buryin' of ,larks2 'n we've voted to settle on one them ',gates ,ajar' pieces--made o'flowers1 doncherknow4 ,so me 'n him an' the other fellars we've saved up all our propurty1 for we're agoin' ter give ,larks a stylish funeril--an' here it is1 mister4 ,i told the kids ef there was more'n enough you's trow in a few greens1 anyhow4 ,make up de order right away1 mister1 and give us our money's worf now1 sure--for ,larks4 ,the gamin proudly counted out upon the marble slab of that fashionable flower store the sum of seventy-five cents4 ,the florist--blessings on him--is said not to have undeceived the little fellows1 but to have duly honored their order1 and the biggest and most costly ,gates ,ajar piece to be had in the market went to the hospital1 and helped to bury ,larks4 ,of course1 as is customary in the case of all authors who have written one popular book1 requests for work at once rained in on the new study on ,andover ,hill4 ,for it soon became evident that ,i must have a quiet place to write in4 ,in the course of time ,i found it convenient to take for working hours a sunny room in the farm-house of the ,seminary estate1 a large1 old-fashioned building adjoining my father's house4 ,in still later years ,i was allowed to build over1 for my own purposes1 the summer-house under the big elm in my father's garden1 once used by my mother for her own study1 and well remembered by all persons interested in ,andover scenery4 ,this building had been for some years used exclusively as a mud-bakery by the boys2 it was piled with those clay turnovers and rolls and pies in whose manufacture the most select circles of ,andover youth delighted4 ,but the bakery was metamorphosed into a decent1 dear little room1 about nine by eleven1 and commanding the sun on the four sides of its quadrangle4 ,in fact1 it was a veritable sun-bath2 and how dainty was the tip-drip of the icicles from the big elm-bough1 upon the little roof6 ,to this spot ,i used to travel down in all weathers2 sometimes when it was so slippery on the hill behind the carriage-house 7for the garden paths were impassable in winter7 that ,i have had to return to primitive methods of locomotion1 and just sit down and coast half the way on the crust4 ,later still1 when an accident and crutches put this delightful method of travelling out of the question1 the summer-house 7in a blizzard ,i delighted in the name7 was moved up beside my father's study4 ,i have1 in fact1 always had an out-of-door study1 apart from the house ,i lived in1 and have come to look upon it as quite a necessity2 so that we have carried on the custom in our ,gloucester house4 ,we heartily recommend it to all people who live by their brains and pens4 ,the incessant trotting to and fro on little errands is a wholesome thing4 ,proof-sheets1 empty ink-stands1 dried-up mucilage1 yawning wood-boxes1 wet feet1 missing scissors1 unfilled kerosene lamps1 untimely thirst1 or unromantic lunches1 the morning mail1 and the dinner-bell1 and the orders of one's pet dog--all are so many imperious summonses to breathe the tingling air and stir the blood and muscle4 ,be as uncomfortable or as cross about it as you choose1 an out-of-door study is sure to prove your best friend4 ,you become a species of literary tramp1 and absorb something of the tramp's hygiene4 ,it is impossible to be cooped at your desk1 if you have to cross a garden or a lawn thirty times a day to get to it4 ,and what reporter can reach that sweet seclusion across the distant housemaid's wily and experienced art8 ,what autograph or lion hunter can ruin your best chapter by bombardment in mid-morning8 ,in the farm-house study ,i remember one of my earliest callers from the publishing world1 that seems always to stand with clawing fingers demanding copy of the people least able to give it4 ,he was an emissary from the ,youth's ,companion1 who threatened or cajoled me into a vow to supply him with a certain number of stories4 ,my private suspicion is that ,i have just about at this present time completed my share in that ancient bargain1 so patient and long-suffering has this pleasant paper been with me4 ,i took particular delight in that especial visit1 remembering the time when the ,companion gave my first pious little sentence to print1 and paid me with the paper for a year4 ,the ,gates ,ajar was attacked by the press4 ,in fact it was virulently bitten4 ,the reviews of the book1 some of them1 reached the point of hydrophobia4 ,others were found to be in a milder pathological condition4 ,still others were gentle or even friendly enough4 ,religious papers waged war across that girl's notions of the life to come as if she had been an evil spirit let loose upon accepted theology for the destruction of the world4 ,the secular press was scarcely less disturbed about the matter1 which it treated1 however1 with the more amused good-humor of a man of the world puzzled by a religious disagreement4 ,in the days of the ,most ,holy ,inquisition there was an old phrase whose poignancy has always seemed to me to be but half appreciated4 ,one did not say3 ,he was racked4 ,she was burned4 ,they were flayed alive1 or pulled apart with little pincers1 or clasped in the arms of the red-hot ,virgin4 ,one was too well-bred for so bald a use of language4 ,one politely and simply said3 ,he was put to the question4 ,the young author of ,the ,gates ,ajar was only put to the question4 ,heresy was her crime1 and atrocity her name4 ,she had outraged the church2 she had blasphemed its sanctities2 she had taken live coals from the altar in her impious hand4 ,the sacrilege was too serious to be dismissed with cold contempt4 ,opinion battled about that poor little tale as if it had held the power to overthrow church and state and family4 ,it was an irreverent book--it was a devout book4 ,it was a strong book--it was a weak book4 ,it was a religious book--it was an immoral book 7,i have forgotten just why2 in fact1 ,i think ,i never knew74 ,it was a good book--it was a bad book4 ,it was calculated to comfort the comfortless--it was calculated to lead the impressionable astray4 ,it was an accession to ,christian literature--it was a disgrace to the religious antecedents of the author2 and so on1 and so forth4 ,at first1 when some of these reviews fell in my way1 ,i read them1 knowing no better4 ,but ,i very soon learned to let them alone4 ,the kind notices1 while they gave me a sort of courage which by temperament possibly ,i needed more than all young writers may1 overwhelmed me1 too1 by a sense of my own inadequacy to be a teacher of the most solemn of truths1 on any such scale as that towards which events seemed to be pointing4 ,the unfair notices put me in a tremor of distress4 ,the brutal ones affected me like a blow in the face from the fist of a ruffian4 ,none of them1 that ,i can remember1 ever helped me in any sense whatsoever to do better work4 ,i quickly came to the conclusion that ,i was not adapted to reading the views of the press about my own writing4 ,i made a vow to let them alone2 and1 from that day to this1 ,i have kept it4 ,unless in the case of something especially brought to my attention by friends1 ,i do not read any reviews of my books4 ,of course1 in a general way1 one knows if some important pen has shown a comprehension of what one meant to do and tried to do1 or has spattered venom upon one's poor achievement4 ,quite fairly1 one cannot sit like the ,queen in the kitchen1 eating only bread and honey--and venom disagrees with me4 ,i sometimes think--if ,i may take advantage of this occasion to make the only reply in a working life of thirty years to any of the slashers with whose devotion ,i am told that ,i have been honored--,i sometimes think1 good brother critics1 that ,i have had my share of the attentions of poisoned weapons4 ,but1 regarding my reviewers with the great good humor of one who never reads what they say1 ,i can afford to wish them lively luck and better game in some quivering writer who takes the big pile of what it is the fashion to call criticisms from the publisher's table1 and conscientiously reads them through4 ,with this form of being put to the question ,i will have nothing to do4 ,if it gives amusement to the reviewers1 they are welcome to their sport4 ,but they stab at the summer air1 so far as any writer is concerned who has the pertinacity of purpose to let them alone4 ,long after ,i had adopted the rule to read no notices of my work1 ,i learned from ,george ,eliot that the same had been her custom for many years1 and felt renforced in the management of my little affairs by this great example4 ,discussing the question once1 with one of our foremost ,american writers1 ,i was struck with something like holy envy in his expression4 ,he had received rough handling from those critics who seem to consider authors as their natural foes1 and who delight in aiming the hardest blows at the heaviest enemy4 ,his fame is immeasurably superior to that of all his reviewers put together4 ,don't you really read them8 he asked1 wistfully4 ,i wish ,i could say as much4 ,i'm afraid ,i shouldn't have the perseverance to keep that up right along4 ,in interesting contrast to all this discord from the outside1 came the personal letters4 ,the book was hardly under way before the storm of them set in4 ,it began like a ,new ,england snow-storm1 with a few large1 earnest flakes2 then came the swirl of them1 big and little1 sleet and rain1 fast and furious1 regular and irregular1 scurrying and tumbling over each other through the ,andover mails4 ,the astonished girl bowed her head before the blast at first1 with a kind of terrified humility4 ,then1 by degrees1 she plucked up heart to give to each letter its due attention4 ,it would not be very easy to make any one understand1 who had not been through a closely similar experience1 just what it meant to live in the centre of such a whirlwind of human suffering4 ,it used to seem to me sometimes1 at the end of a week's reading of this large and painful mail1 as if the whole world were one great outcry4 ,what a little portion of it cried to the young writer of one little book of consolation6 ,yet how the ear and heart ached under the piteous monotony6 ,i made it a rule to answer every civil letter that ,i received2 and as few of them were otherwise1 this correspondence was no light load4 ,i have called it monotonous2 yet there was a curious variety in monotony1 such as no other book has brought to the author's attention4 ,the same mail gave the pleasant word of some distinguished writer who was so kind as to encourage a beginner in his own art1 or so much kinder as gently and intelligently to point out her defects2 and beneath this welcome note lay the sharp rebuke of some obscure parishioner who found the ,temple of ,zion menaced to its foundation by my little story4 ,hunters of heresy and of autograph pursued their game side by side4 ,here1 some man of affairs writes to say 7it seemed incredible1 but it used to happen7 that the book has given him his first intelligent respect for religious faith4 ,there1 a poor colored girl1 inmate of a charitable institution1 where she has figured as in deed and truth the black sheep1 sends her pathetic tribute3 ,if heaven is like that1 ,i want to go1 and ,i mean to4 ,to-day ,i am berated by the lady who is offended with the manner of my doctrine4 ,i am called hard names in no soft language1 and advised to pray heaven for forgiveness for the harm ,i am doing by this ungodly book4 ,to-morrow ,i receive a widower's letter1 of twenty-six pages1 rose-tinted and perfumed4 ,he relates his personal history4 ,he encloses the photographs of his dead wife1 his living children1 and himself4 ,he adds the particulars of his income1 which1 ,i am given to understand1 is large4 ,he adds--but ,i turn to the next4 ,this correspondent1 like scores upon scores of others1 will be told instanter if ,i am a spiritualist4 ,on this vital point he demands my confession or my life4 ,the next desires to be informed how much of the story is autobiography1 and requires the regiment and company in which my brother served4 ,and now ,i am haughtily taken to task by some unknown nature for allowing my heroine to be too much attached to her brother4 ,i am told that this is impious2 that only our ,maker should receive such adoring affection as poor ,mary offered to dead ,roy4 ,having recovered from this inconceivable slap in the face1 ,i go bravely on4 ,i open the covers of a pamphlet as green as ,erin1 entitled1 ,antidote to the ,gates ,ajar2 consider myself as the poisoner of the innocent and reverent mind1 and learn what ,i may from this lesson in toxicology4 ,there was always a certain share of abuse in these outpourings from strangers2 it was relatively small1 but it was enough to save my spirits1 by the humor of it1 or they would have been crushed with the weight of the great majority4 ,i remember the editor of a large ,western paper1 who enclosed a clipping from his last review for my perusal4 ,it treated1 not of ,the ,gates ,ajar just then1 but of a magazine story in ,harper's1 the ,century1 or wherever4 ,the story was told in the first person fictitious1 and began after this fashion3 ,i am an old maid of fifty-six1 and have spent most of my life in boarding-houses4 7,the writer was1 be it said1 at that time1 scarcely twenty-two47 ,miss ,phelps says of herself1 observed this oracle1 that she is fifty-six years old2 and we think she is old enough to know better than to write such a story as this4 ,at a summer place where ,i was in the early fervors of the art of making a home1 a citizen was once introduced to me at his own request4 ,i have forgotten his name1 but remember having been told that he was prominent4 ,he was big1 red1 and loud1 and he planted himself with the air of a man about to demolish his deadliest foe4 ,so you are ,miss ,phelps4 ,well1 ,i've wanted to meet you4 ,i read a piece you wrote in a magazine4 ,it was about ,our ,town4 ,it did not please ,me4 ,i bowed with the interrogatory air which seemed to be expected of me4 ,being just then very much in love with that very lovable place1 ,i was puzzled with this accusation1 and quite unable to recall1 out of the warm flattery which ,i had heaped upon the town in cool print1 any visible cause of offence4 ,you said1 pursued my accuser1 angrily1 that we had odors here4 ,you said ,our ,town smelled of fish4 ,now1 you know1 we get so used to these smells we like 'em6 ,it gave great offence to the community1 madam4 ,and ,i really thought at one time--feelin' ran so high--,i thought it would kill the sale of your book6 ,from that day to this ,i do not believe the idea has visited the brain of this estimable person that a book could circulate in any other spot upon the map than within his native town4 ,this delicious bit of provincialism served to make life worth living for many a long day4 ,there was fun enough in this sort of thing to keep one up1 so that one could return bravely to the chief end of existence2 for this seemed for many years to be nothing less1 and little else1 than the exercise of those faculties called forth by the wails of the bereaved4 ,from every corner of the civilized globe1 and in its differing languages1 they came to me--entreaties1 outpourings1 cries of agony1 mutterings of despair1 breathings of the gentle hope by which despair may be superseded2 appeals for help which only the ,almighty could have given2 demands for light which only eternity can supply4 ,a man's grief1 when he chooses to confide it to a woman1 is not an easy matter to deal with4 ,its dignity and its pathos are never to be forgotten4 ,how to meet it1 ,heaven only teaches2 and how far ,heaven taught that awed and humbled girl ,i shall never know4 ,but the women--oh1 the poor women6 ,i felt less afraid to answer them4 ,their misery seemed to cry in my arms like a child who must be comforted4 ,i wrote to them--,i wrote without wisdom or caution or skill2 only with the power of being sorry for them1 and the wish to say so2 and if ,i said the right thing or the wrong one1 whether ,i comforted or wearied1 strengthened or weakened1 that1 too1 ,i shall not know4 ,sometimes1 in recent years1 a letter comes or a voice speaks3 ,do you remember--so many years ago--when ,i was in great trouble8 ,you wrote to me4 ,and ,i am half ashamed that ,i had forgotten4 ,but ,i bless her because she remembers4 ,but when ,i think of the hundreds--it came into the thousands1 ,i believe--of such letters received1 and how large a proportion of them were answered1 my heart sinks4 ,how is it possible that one should not have done more harm than good by that unguided sympathy8 ,if ,i could not leave the open question to the ,wisdom that protects and overrules well-meaning ignorance1 ,i should be afraid to think of it4 ,for many years ,i was snowed under by those mourners' letters4 ,in truth1 they have not ceased entirely yet1 though of course their visits are now irregular4 ,i am so often asked if ,i still believe the views of another life set forth in ,the ,gates ,ajar that ,i am glad to use this opportunity to answer the question2 though1 indeed1 ,i have been led to do so1 to a certain extent1 in another place1 and may1 perhaps1 be pardoned for repeating words in which the question first and most naturally answered itself3 ,those appeals of the mourning1 black of edge and blurred with tears1 were a mass high beneath the hand and heavy to the heart4 ,these letters had the terrible and unanswerable power of all great1 natural voices2 and the chiefest of these are love and grief4 ,year upon year the recipient has sat dumb before these signs of human misery and hope4 ,they have rolled upon the shore of life1 a billow of solemn inspiration4 ,i have called them a human argument for faith in the future life1 and see no reason for amending the term4 ,but why dwell on the little book1 which was only the trembling organ-pipe through which the music thrilled8 ,its faults have long since ceased to trouble1 and its friends to elate me4 ,sometimes one seems to one's self to be the least or last agency in the universe responsible for such a work4 ,what was the book8 ,only an outcry of nature--and nature answered it4 ,that was all4 ,and nature is of ,god1 and is mighty before ,him4 ,do ,i believe in the middle march of life1 as the girl did in the morning1 before the battle of the day8 ,for nature's sake--which is for ,god's sake--,i cannot hesitate4 ,useless suffering is the worst of all kinds of waste4 ,unless ,he created this world from sheer extravagance in the infliction of purposeless pain1 there must be another life to justify1 to heal1 to comfort1 to offer happiness1 to develop holiness4 ,if there be another world1 and such a one1 it will be no theologic drama1 but a sensible1 wholesome scene4 ,the largest and the strongest elements of this experimental life will survive its weakest and smallest4 ,love is the greatest thing in the world1 and love will claim its own at last4 ,the affection which is true enough to live forever1 need have no fear that the life to come will thwart it4 ,the grief that goes to the grave unhealed1 may put its trust in unimagined joy to be4 ,the patient1 the uncomplaining1 the unselfish mourner1 biding his time and bearing his lot1 giving more comfort than he gets1 and with beautiful wilfulness believing in the intended kindness of an apparently harsh force which he cannot understand1 may come to perceive1 even here1 that infinite power and mercy are one2 and1 ,i solemnly believe1 is sure to do so in the life beyond1 where ,god keeps a niche in heaven to hold our idols4 ,,four-,,leaf ,,clover4 ,,by ,,ella ,,higginson4 ,i know a place where the sun is like gold1 ,and the cherry blooms burst with snow2 ,and down underneath is the loveliest nook1 ,where the four-leaf clovers grow4 ,one leaf is for hope1 and one is for faith1 ,and one is for love1 you know2 ,and ,god put another one in for luck-- ,if you search1 you will find where they grow4 ,but you must have hope1 and you must have faith2 ,you must love and be strong--and so-- ,if you work1 if you wait1 you will find the place ,where the four-leaf clovers grow4 ,a ,,leap ,,in ,,the ,,dark ,,by ,,james ,t4 ,,mckay1 ,author of ,stella ,grayland1 ,larcone's ,little ,chap1 and other stories4 ,the ,windhams and ,mandisons were old neighbors1 and ,phil ,windham had always been very much at home among the ,mandisons1 and especially with ,mary1 the oldest daughter1 who was like a wise1 kind sister to him4 ,now his own house began to break up--his brothers went ,west2 his sisters married2 his father1 who was a chemist and inventor1 was killed one day by an explosion4 ,in these trying times the ,mandison household was his chief resource1 and ,mary most of all4 ,then the ,mandisons moved away4 ,that seemed to ,windham like the end of things4 ,he was awfully lonely1 and thought a great deal about ,mary in the months that followed1 but was not quite sure of himself2 though he was certain there was no one else he liked and admired half so much4 ,but in the following winter he went to spend the holidays with the ,mandisons1 and when he came away he and ,mary were engaged4 ,the next summer the ,mandisons took a cottage at the shore1 and ,windham went to spend some weeks with them4 ,idly busy and calmly happy in the pleasant company of ,mary and all the friendly house1 the sunny days slipped by till one came that disturbed his dream4 ,an aunt of ,mary's arrived with her husband1 ,dr4 ,saxon1 and his niece1 ,agnes ,maine4 ,at the first glance ,miss ,maine challenged ,windham's attention4 ,she was a tall and striking person1 with a keen glance that he felt took his measure at the first look4 ,she piqued his curiosity1 and interested him more and more4 ,one day he saw her and ,mary together1 and caught himself comparing them1 not in ,mary's favor4 ,panic seized him1 and he turned his back on ,miss ,maine and devoted himself to ,mary4 ,miss ,maine went to stay with some neighbors1 the ,colemans4 ,one night she was caught at the ,mandisons by a storm4 ,mary asked ,windham to entertain her1 and he went and asked her to play chess4 ,she declined coldly1 and ,windham turned away with such a look that ,mary wondered what ,agnes could have said so unkind4 ,and the next day ,miss ,maine spoke so gently to him that it warmed him all through4 ,still he persistently avoided her4 ,the ,colemans got up a play in the attic of their large old house4 ,on the night of the performance the place was crowded4 ,the first two acts went off smoothly4 ,windham had been helping to shift the scenes1 and was standing alone1 looking over the animated spectacle as the audience chatted and laughed4 ,something in the play had made him think of ,agnes ,maine1 though she was not in the cast1 and he had not seen her4 ,suddenly1 without any notice of her approach1 she stood close to him1 looking in his face4 ,her face was paler than usual1 and her eyes had a startling light in them4 ,she said only half a dozen low words1 but they made him turn ghastly white4 ,what she said was3 ,the house is on fire down-stairs4 ,he stood looking at her an instant1 long enough to reflect that any alarm would result in piling those gay people in an awful mass at the foot of the one steep and fragile stairway4 ,the stage entrance was little better than an enclosed ladder1 and not to be thought of4 ,go and stand at the head of the stairs1 he said to her4 ,the bell rang for the curtain to rise1 but he slipped back behind it1 and it did not go up4 ,instead1 ,jeffrey ,coleman appeared before it1 bowing and smiling with exaggeration1 and announced that the continuation of the performance had been arranged as a surprise below-stairs1 and would be found even more exciting and interesting than the part already given4 ,the audience were requested to go below quickly1 but at the same time were cautioned against crowding1 as the stair was rather steep and temporary4 ,as they did not start at once1 he came off the stage and led the way1 going on down the stairs1 and calling gayly to the rest to follow4 ,windham had got to the stairhead by this time4 ,agnes ,maine stood there1 on one side1 looking calm and contained1 and he took up his position on the other1 and followed the cue given by young ,coleman4 ,he began to call out1 extolling the absorbing and thrilling character of the performance down-stairs1 with the extravagant epithets of the circus posters1 laughing all the while4 ,he urged them on when they lingered1 and restrained them when they came too fast1 addressing one and another with jocularity1 laying his hands on some and pushing them on with assumed playfulness1 keeping up the fire of raillery with desperate resistance4 ,when screams were heard now and then from below1 he made it appear to be only excited feminine merriment1 directing attention to it1 and calling out to those yet to come3 ,you hear them8 ,oh1 yes2 you'll scream1 too1 when you see it6 ,all the time1 though his faculties were sufficiently strained by the effort he was making1 he was watching ,agnes ,maine1 who stood opposite1 doing nothing1 but looking her calm1 pale self1 and now and then smiling slightly at his extravagant humor4 ,and he thought admiringly that her simple quiet did more to keep up the illusion than all his labored and violent simulation4 ,it seemed as if there never would be an end to the stream of leisurely people who answered his banter with laugh and joke4 ,but finally the last of them were fairly on the stair1 and he turned to ,agnes ,maine with a suddenly transformed face4 ,now--be quick6 he called4 ,but she gave a low cry1 looking away toward the farther end1 where she caught sight of a young couple still lingering4 ,she ran toward them1 calling to them to hurry1 and as they did not understand1 she took hold of the girl1 and made her run4 ,windham had followed her1 and the four came together to the stairhead1 but there they stopped1 and the young girl broke into wild screams4 ,the foot of the stairway was wrapped in smoke and flames4 ,there was an observatory upon the house1 into which ,windham had once gone with ,jeffrey ,coleman1 and he turned to it now1 and made the three go up before him4 ,he stopped and cut away a rope that held some of the hangings1 and took it up with him4 ,miss ,maine was standing with her arm about ,fanny ,lee1 whom she had quieted4 ,had she better go first8 he asked4 ,yes1 of course1 ,miss ,maine answered4 ,he fastened the rope about the girl1 assured her they would let her down safely1 and between them they persuaded her1 shrinkingly1 to let herself be swung over1 and lowered to the ground4 ,in this ,miss ,maine gave more help than young ,pritchard1 who shook and chattered so much as to be of little use4 ,and as soon as the girl was down and ,windham turned toward ,miss ,maine1 ,pritchard took a turn of the rope around the railing1 with a hasty knot1 went over1 and slid down it1 out of sight4 ,but before he reached the ground1 the rope broke loose1 and slipped out of ,windham's grasp as he tried to catch it4 ,a cry came up from below4 ,windham turned toward ,miss ,maine1 and they looked at one another1 but said nothing4 ,she was very pale and still4 ,windham glanced down and around2 the fire was already following them up the tower4 ,he made her come to the other side1 where the balcony overhung the ridge of the sloping roof1 got over the railing1 and helped her to do the same1 and to seat herself on the narrow ledge outside1 holding on by the bars with her arms behind her4 ,he let himself down by his hands till within two or three feet of the roof1 and dropped safely upon it4 ,then he stood up1 facing her just below1 braced himself with one foot on each side of the ridge1 and told her to loosen her hold and let herself fall forward4 ,she did so1 and he caught her in his arms as she fell4 ,it was a struggle for a minute to keep his balance2 and whether in the involuntary stress of the effort1 or by an instinctive impulse1 conscious or otherwise1 he clasped her close for a moment1 till her face touched his own4 ,then he put her down1 and they sat on the ridge near each other1 flushed1 and short of breath4 ,below1 on the lawn1 a throng of people looked up at them1 some motionless1 some gesticulating1 and some shouting in dumb show1 their voices drowned in the fierce roar and crackling that raged beneath the roof and shut in the two above it in a kind of visible privacy4 ,they were still a while2 then ,agnes asked3 ,can we do anything more8 ,no1 he answered1 nothing but wait4 ,both saw that men were running for ladders and ropes4 ,presently he asked quietly3 ,why did you come to me8 ,she looked up at him for a moment1 then answered3 ,i suppose ,i thought you would know what to do4 ,thank you1 he said1 in a grave1 low voice4 ,after a little the tower blazed out above them1 and they moved along the ridge till stopped by a chimney1 against which he made her lean4 ,then they sat still again4 ,the flames rose above the eaves on one side1 and flared higher and hotter4 ,soon they grew scorching1 and ,agnes said1 with quickened breathing3 ,we couldn't stay here long4 ,he looked at her1 and the side of her face toward the fire glowed bright red4 ,he took off his coat1 moved close to her1 and held it up between their faces and the flames2 and they sat together so1 breathing audibly1 but not speaking1 till the head of a ladder rose suddenly above the eaves1 and a minute later the head and shoulders of ,jeffrey ,coleman4 ,he flung a rope to ,windham1 who in another minute had let ,miss ,maine slip down by it to the ladder2 then1 throwing a noose of it over the chimney1 he slid down himself to the eaves1 and so to the ground4 ,illustration3 ,,agnes ,,said1 ,,with ,,quickened ,,breathing1 ',,we ,,couldn',t ,,stay ,,here ,,long4' ,miss ,maine stood waiting for him1 pale and trembling now1 but said nothing4 ,mary ,mandison was with her2 she had made no scene1 and made none now4 ,but there were sharper eyes than ,mary's4 ,that night1 as ,windham strolled on the lawn alone1 ,dr4 ,saxon confronted him1 grimly puffing at his pipe4 ,then he said3 ,i thought you were an honest fellow4 ,windham leaned against a tree4 ,i want to be1 he said feebly4 ,then you'll have to look sharp1 the doctor retorted4 ,you'd better go fishing with me up-country in the morning4 ,he went1 ,mary making him promise to return in time for an excursion to ,blackberry ,island which he had helped her plan4 ,he got back the night before2 and in the morning the party set out1 some going round the shore by stage1 and some in the boat down the bay4 ,miss ,maine went with those in the boat1 and ,windham went with ,mary in the stage4 ,both on the way and after their arrival1 he stayed by her1 and did all he could to be useful and amusing4 ,they lunched on a grassy bank1 in the shade of a cliff1 by a tumbling brook that streamed down from the rocks4 ,by and by ,mary remarked that she would like to see where the little torrent came from1 and ,windham said he would try and find out for her4 ,he scrambled up1 and soon passed out of sight among the bowlders4 ,he found some tough climbing1 but kept on1 and after a while traced the stream to a clear pool where a spring bubbled out of a rock wall in a cave-like chamber near the top4 ,as he reached its edge1 he caught sight of the reflection in the pool of a woman's white dress2 and1 glancing up1 saw ,agnes ,maine standing a little above him1 on a sort of natural pedestal1 in a rude niche at one side4 ,she looked so like a statue that she smiled slightly at the confused thought of it which she saw for an instant in his face1 but she turned grave then as their eyes met for a moment in a look of intimate recognition4 ,then he turned his away1 with a sudden terror at himself1 and leaned back against the wall1 white in the face4 ,she stepped down and passed by him4 ,he half put out his hand to stop her1 but drew it back1 and she partly turned at the gesture1 but went on out of his sight4 ,he stood there for some time2 then climbed down the rocks again1 shaping his features into a careless form as he went1 and came back to ,mary with a forced smile on his face4 ,but he forgot what he had gone for1 and looked confused when ,mary asked him if he had found it4 ,and she commented3 ,why1 ,philip1 what has happened8 ,you look as if you had seen a ghost4 ,i have1 he answered4 ,mary asked no more1 except by her look4 ,some one came and proposed a sail1 and ,windham eagerly agreed1 and went out in the boat with ,mary and others4 ,they sailed down the bay4 ,on the return the wind died away1 and when they got back1 the stage had gone with more than half the party1 and ,agnes ,maine was not among those who were waiting4 ,they came on board1 and the boat headed away for home4 ,after landing they had to walk across some fields4 ,when near the house1 ,mary missed something1 and ,windham went back for it4 ,he had to cross the road1 and as he came near it the stage passed along1 with its merry company laughing and singing4 ,they did not notice him among the trees1 but he distinctly saw all who were in the open vehicle1 and ,miss ,maine was not among them4 ,she had climbed up the cliff by a gradual1 roundabout path2 and after ,windham saw her1 she had wandered on1 lost herself for a while1 and got back after both stage and boat had left1 each party supposing she had gone with the other4 ,windham found a row-boat and started back4 ,he knew nothing about boats2 but the bay was very smooth1 it was yet early1 and he got across in due time4 ,as he neared the island he saw her1 in her white dress1 standing on the bluff1 and looking out toward him4 ,off the shore1 rocks and bowlders stood thickly out of the water1 and ,windham threaded his way in among them1 thinking nothing of those underneath4 ,the skiff was little better than an egg-shell1 being built of half-inch cedar2 and before he knew what had happened1 the point of a sunken rock had cut through the bows1 and the boat was filling with water4 ,with a landsman's instinct1 he stood up on a thwart2 the boat tipped over and went from under him4 ,in the effort to right it1 he made a thrust downward with one of the oars1 but found no bottom2 and the next minute ,agnes saw him clinging to the side of a steep rock1 with only his head and shoulders out of water4 ,she did not cry out2 but after he had struggled vainly to get up the rock1 and found no other support for foot or hand than the one projection just above him1 by which he held1 he looked toward her as he clung there out of breath1 and saw her eagerly watching him from the water's edge4 ,and her voice showed the stress of her feeling1 though it was quite clear when she called3 ,can't you climb up8 ,no1 there is nothing to hold by4 ,can you swim8 ,no4 ,she looked all about1 then back to him4 ,there was no one in sight2 the island was out of the lines of communication1 and a point just north of them shut off the open water4 ,but she saw that the reef to which ,windham clung trended in to the shore a little way off1 and she called3 ,i think ,i can get out to you--keep hold till ,i come4 ,she ran along the beach1 but not all the way4 ,as soon as she was opposite a part of the reef that seemed accessible1 she walked straight into the water1 and made her way through it1 though it was two or three feet deep near the rocks4 ,he saw her clamber upon them and start toward him1 springing from one to another1 wading across submerged places1 climbing around or over the higher points4 ,and even there1 in his desperate plight1 as he watched her coming steadily toward him1 her eyes fixed on the difficult path1 and her skirt instinctively gathered a little in one hand1 the sight of her fearless grace thrilled through him1 and filled him with despairing admiration4 ,she came presently to the edge of a wider gap with clear water beneath1 and paused for an instant4 ,windham called out3 ,don't jump2 you'll be lost6 ,she looked at him a moment1 studied the rocks again1 stepped back1 then forward quickly1 and sprang across4 ,she slipped and fell1 but got to her feet again1 and came on as before4 ,she went out of ,windham's sight1 but in another minute he heard a rustle above him1 looked up1 and saw her standing very near the edge1 and looking down at him1 panting a little1 but otherwise calm4 ,don't stand there2 you will fall6 he called to her4 ,she kneeled down and tried to reach over1 but could not4 ,she raised herself again1 and looked all around anxiously1 but saw no one2 she had not seen any one since she left him hours before on the cliff4 ,she looked down at him and asked3 ,can you hold on long8 ,no1 he answered1 not very long4 ,she moved back and lay down on the rock1 with her face over the edge4 ,it was wet and slippery1 and inclined forward1 so that she had to brace herself with one hand by a projection just below the brink4 ,lying so1 she could reach down very near him4 ,take hold of my hand1 she said4 ,he raised one arm with an effort1 so that she caught him by the wrist1 and his fingers closed about hers4 ,she tried to pull him up slowly1 but he felt that it was hopeless1 and would only result in drawing her off the rock2 so he settled back as before4 ,he noticed that she had given him her left hand1 and saw that there was another reason besides the necessity of bracing herself with her right4 ,her wrist was cut and bleeding4 ,oh1 you are hurt6 he exclaimed4 ,never mind1 she replied2 that is nothing4 ,he looked up in her face with passionate regret4 ,her lips were parted1 and her breathing came quick and deep4 ,he felt in her wrist the hot blood with which all her pulses throbbed1 and it went through him as though one current flowed in their veins4 ,her eyes looked full into his1 and did not turn away till the lashes trembled over them suddenly1 and tears gushed out upon her face4 ,an agony of yearning took hold of ,windham and wrung his heart4 ,agnes1 do you know8 he asked4 ,and she answered1 ,yes4 ,when she could see him again1 drops stood out on his forehead1 and his eyes looked up at her with a despairing tenderness4 ,her lips closed1 and her features settled into a look of answering resolve4 ,you must not give up1 she urged4 ,don't let go of my hand4 ,oh1 ,i must6 he answered4 ,you couldn't hold me2 ,i should only draw you down4 ,she neither looked away nor made any reply4 ,it would do no good1 he went on4 ,i should only drown you too4 ,i don't care1 she answered4 ,i will not let you go4 ,oh1 ,agnes6 he responded1 the faintness of exhaustion creeping over him1 and mingling with a sharp but sweet despair4 ,mary was standing at the door when the stage arrived1 and she saw that ,agnes was not there4 ,she took one of her brothers who was a good boatman1 and started back at once4 ,when their boat rounded the point of the island she was on the lookout1 and was the first to see the two they came to succor none too soon4 ,and before they saw her she caught sight1 with terrible clearness1 of the look in the two faces that were bent upon one another4 ,it was she who supported ,windham until ,agnes could be taken off1 and preparations made for getting him on board2 but she turned her eyes away1 and did not speak to him4 ,on the way back she hardly noticed the dreary and draggled pair1 who had little to say for themselves4 ,many things that had puzzled and troubled her ranged themselves in a dreadful sequence and order now in her unsuspicious mind4 ,on their arrival she made some arrangements for their comfort1 quietly2 then went to her room1 and did not come down again4 ,windham left early in the morning1 went straight back to ,dr4 ,saxon1 and told him the whole story4 ,i hardly know whether ,i'm a villain or not1 ,windham concluded4 ,you might as well be1 the doctor growled4 ,you've been a consummate fool1 and one does about as much harm as the other4 ,go home now and stay there2 and don't do anything more1 for heaven's sake1 until you hear from me4 ,windham went home1 and was very miserable1 as may be supposed4 ,hearing nothing for some time1 he could not bear it1 and wrote to ,mary that he honored and admired her1 and thought everything of her that he ever had or could4 ,in a week he got this reply3 ,mary ,mandison has received ,philip ,windham's letter1 and can only reply that there is nothing to be said4 ,this stung him more deeply than silence1 and he wrote that he was going to see her on a certain day1 and begged her not to deny him4 ,he went at the time1 and she saw him1 simply sitting still1 and hearing what he had to say4 ,he hardly knew what to say then1 but vowed and protested1 and finally complained of her coldness and cruelty4 ,she replied that she was not cold or cruel1 but only1 as she had told him1 there was nothing to be said4 ,in the end he found this was true1 and rushed away in despair4 ,mary had seemed calm2 but when her mother came in that afternoon and looked for her1 she found her in her room1 lying on her face4 ,when she knew who it was1 she raised herself silently1 looked in her mother's face a moment1 put her arms about her neck1 and hid her hot1 dry eyes there as she used to do when a child4 ,late that night those two were alone together in the same place1 and1 before they parted1 the mother said3 ,you were always my brave child1 and you are going to be my brave ,mary still4 ,and ,mary answered with a low cry3 ,yes--yes2 but not now--not now6 ,for a good while ,windham felt the sensation of having run headlong upon a blank wall and been flung back and crippled4 ,but the feeling wore itself out as the months passed4 ,it was nearly a year before he heard from ,dr4 ,saxon1 and he had given up looking for anything from him1 when he received a cold note1 inviting him to call at the doctor's home1 if he chose1 at a certain date and hour4 ,at the time set he went to the city1 and rang the doctor's bell as the hour was striking4 ,illustration3 ',,agnes1 ,,do ,,you ,,know8' ,,he ,,asked4 ,,and ,,she ,,answered1 ',,yes4' ,he was shown into the library1 and when the door closed behind him1 he fell back against it4 ,dr4 ,saxon was not the only person in the room2 at the farther end sat ,agnes ,maine4 ,she knew nothing of his coming2 and when she glanced round and saw him1 she stood up and faced him1 with her hands crossed before her1 her breathing quickened1 and her face flushed blood-red4 ,the old doctor leaned back and looked from one to the other1 studying them openly and keenly4 ,when he was satisfied1 he ordered ,windham to take a chair near the window and told ,agnes she might go out4 ,she faced him a moment2 then went away with her straight1 proud carriage4 ,the doctor finished something he was at1 then got his pipe and filled and lighted it1 backed up against the chimney-piece1 and stood eying ,windham with something more than his usual scowl4 ,well1 young man1 he asked1 finally1 what did you come here for8 ,i came here because you asked me to4 ,no1 sir2 you didn't1 the old man retorted4 ,i said you might come if you liked4 ,windham stood up1 trembling1 and replied with suppressed passion3 ,i came on your invitation4 ,i did not come to be insulted4 ,tut1 tut1 the doctor rejoined4 ,you needn't be so hoity-toity2 you haven't much occasion2 sit down4 ,have you been making any more of your 'mistakes1' as you call them8 ,windham answered emphatically3 ,no6 ,are you going to8 the doctor continued4 ,no1 sir2 ,i am not1 ,windham replied1 with angry decision4 ,well1 ,i wouldn't2 you've done enough1 the doctor commented roughly4 ,you call it a mistake1 but ,i call it blind stupidity1 worse than many crimes4 ,mary is worth three of ,agnes1 to begin with2 but it would be just as bad if she were a doll or a dolt4 ,any fellow out of swaddling-clothes1 who has brains in his body1 and isn't made of wood1 ought to know that passion is as hard a fact as hunger1 and no more to be left out of account4 ,you were bound to know the chances were that it would have to be reckoned with1 first or last1 and you deliberately took the risk of wrecking two women's lives4 ,i don't say anything about your own2 you richly deserve all you got1 and all that's coming to you4 ,if law could be made to conform to abstract justice1 it would rank your offence worse than many for which men pay behind bars4 ,he went out abruptly1 and after a few minutes returned with ,agnes1 who came in lingering1 and apparently unwilling4 ,here1 ,agnes1 ,i am going out1 he said4 ,i've been giving this young man my opinion of him1 and haven't any more time to waste4 ,you can tell him what you think of him1 and send him off4 ,he went out1 and banged the door after him4 ,agnes leaned against it1 and stood there downcast and perfectly still4 ,windham sat sunk together1 as the doctor had left him1 waiting for her to speak4 ,but she did not1 and after a while he got up and stood by the high desk1 looking at her4 ,finally he spoke low3 ,are you going to scold me1 too8 ,mary has discarded me1 and your uncle says ,i am a miserable sinner1 and ought to be in the penitentiary4 ,i don't deny it2 but if ,i went there it would be for your sake4 ,do you condemn me1 too8 ,have you no mercy for me8 ,a flush spread slowly over her pale face4 ,then she replied softly3 ,no1 ,i have no right4 ,i am no better than you4 ,two or three hours later ,dr4 ,saxon sat at his desk1 when ,agnes entered and came silently and stood beside him4 ,he did not look up1 but asked quietly3 ,well1 have you packed him off8 ,no1 she answered under her breath2 you know ,i haven't4 ,he smiled up at her4 ,this gruff old man had a rare smile on occasion for those he liked4 ,and he said3 ,well1 he isn't the worst they make2 he's got spirit1 and he can take a drubbing1 too1 when it's deserved4 ,i tried him pretty well4 ,didn't ,i fire into him1 though1 hot shot6 ,he fairly grinned at the recollection4 ,i had to1 you know1 to keep myself in countenance4 ,i suppose ,i said rather more than ,i meant--but don't you tell him so4 ,she smiled4 ,i have told him so already2 ,i told him you didn't mean a word you said4 ,you presumptuous baggage6 ,the doctor scowled now4 ,then you told him a tremendous fib4 ,i meant a deal of it4 ,well1 he'll get his deserts yet1 if he gets you1 you deceiving minx4 ,i told him one thing that was true enough1 anyway--he smiled broadly again--,i told him ,mary was worth half a dozen of you4 ,agnes turned grave1 and put down her head so that she hid her face4 ,so she is1 she answered4 ,oh1 ,i'm very sorry--and ashamed6 ,well1 well1 the old doctor responded soberly1 stroking her cheek1 it is a pity2 but ,i suppose it can't be helped4 ,mary's made of good stuff1 and will pull through4 ,it wouldn't do her any good if three lives were spoiled instead of one4 ,it's lucky she found out before it was too late4 ,,the ,,life ,,of ,,abraham ,,lincoln4 ,,by ,,ida ,m4 ,,tarbell4 ,,lincoln ,,in ,,congress ,the following article is made up almost entirely of new matter4 ,it includes six hitherto unpublished letters1 all of them of importance in illustrating ,lincoln's political methods and his views on public questions from #ahdc to #ahdh1 and an excellent report of a speech delivered in ,worcester1 ,massachusetts1 in #ahdh1 hitherto unknown to ,lincoln's biographers1 discovered in course of a search instituted by this ,magazine through the files of the ,boston and ,worcester newspapers of ,september1 #ahdh4 ,the article also comprises various reminiscences of ,lincoln in the period covered1 gathered especially for this ,magazine from associates of his who are still living4 ,for eight successive years ,lincoln had been a member of the ,general ,assembly of ,illinois4 ,it was quite long enough1 in his judgment4 ,he wanted something better4 ,in #ahdb he declined re-nomination1 and became a candidate for ,congress4 ,he did not wait to be asked1 nor did he leave his case in the hands of his friends4 ,he frankly announced his desire1 and managed his own canvass4 ,there was no reason1 in ,lincoln's opinion1 for concealing political ambition4 ,he recognized1 at the same time1 the legitimacy of the ambition of his friends1 and entertained no suspicion or rancor if they contested places with him4 ,do you suppose that ,i should ever have got into notice if ,i had waited to be hunted up and pushed forward by older men8 he wrote his friend ,herndon once1 when the latter was complaining that the older men did not help him on4 ,the way for a young man to rise is to improve himself every way he can1 never suspecting that anybody wishes to hinder him4 ,allow me to assure you that suspicion and jealousy never did help any man in any situation4 ,there may sometimes be ungenerous attempts to keep a young man down2 and they will succeed1 too1 if he allows his mind to be diverted from its true channel to brood over the attempted injury4 ,cast about1 and see if this feeling has not injured every person you have ever known to fall into it4 ,lincoln had something more to do1 however1 in #ahdb1 than simply to announce himself in the innocent manner of earlier politics4 ,the convention system introduced into ,illinois in #ahce by the ,democrats had been zealously opposed by all good ,whigs1 ,lincoln included1 until constant defeat taught them that to resist organization by an every-man-for-himself policy was hopeless and wasteful1 and that if they would succeed they must meet organization with organization4 ,in #ahda a ,whig ,state convention had been called to nominate candidates for the offices of governor and lieutenant-governor2 and now1 in ,march1 #ahdc1 a ,whig meeting was held again at ,springfield1 at which the party's platform was laid1 and a committee1 of which ,lincoln was a member1 was appointed to prepare an ,address to the ,people of ,illinois4 ,in this address the convention system was earnestly defended4 ,against this rapid adoption of the abominated system many of the ,whigs protested1 and ,lincoln found himself supporting before his constituents the tactics he had once warmly opposed4 ,in a letter to his friend ,john ,bennett of ,petersburg1 written in ,march1 #ahdc1 and now for the first time published#a1 he said3 ,footnote #a3 ,the term unpublished is employed in this series of articles to cover documents that have never been published in any authoritative or permanent way4 ,most of the documents so designated have never1 so far as we know1 been published at all2 but a few have been printed in local newspapers1 though so long ago1 and under such circumstances1 as to be practically unpublished now4 ,your letter of this day was handed me by ,mr4 ,miles4 ,it is too late now to effect the object you desire4 ,on yesterday morning the most of the ,whig members from this district got together and agreed to hold the convention at ,tremont1 in ,tazewell ,county4 ,i am sorry to hear that any of the ,whigs of your county1 or of any county1 should longer be against conventions4 ,on last ,wednesday evening a meeting of all the ,whigs then here from all parts of the ,state was held1 and the question of the propriety of conventions was brought up and fully discussed1 and at the end of the discussion a resolution recommending the system of conventions to all the ,whigs of the ,state was unanimously adopted4 ,other resolutions also were passed1 all of which will appear in the next ',journal4' ,the meeting also appointed a committee to draft an address to the people of the ,state1 which address will also appear in the next ',journal4' ,in it you will find a brief argument in favor of conventions1 and1 although ,i wrote it myself1 ,i will say to you that it is conclusive upon the point1 and cannot be reasonably answered4 ,the right way for you to do is to hold your meeting and appoint delegates anyhow1 and if there be any who will not take part1 let it be so4 ,the matter will work so well this time that even they who now oppose will come in next time4 ,the convention is to be held at ,tremont on the fifth of ,april2 and1 according to the rule we have adopted1 your county is to have two delegates--being double the number of your representation4 ,if there be any good ,whig who is disposed still to stick out against conventions1 get him1 at least1 to read the argument in their favor in the ',address4'#b ,footnote #b3 ,the original of this letter is owned by ,e4,r4 ,oeltjen of ,petersburg1 ,illinois4 ,the brief argument which ,lincoln thought so conclusive1 if he did write it himself1 justified his good opinion4 ,after its circulation there were few found to stick out against conventions4 ,the ,whigs of the various counties in the ,congressional district met as they had been ordered to do1 and chose delegates4 ,john ,j4 ,hardin of ,jacksonville1 ,edward ,d4 ,baker and ,abraham ,lincoln of ,springfield1 were the three candidates for whom these delegates were instructed4 ,to ,lincoln's keen disappointment1 the delegation from ,sangamon ,county was instructed for ,baker4 ,a variety of social and personal influences1 besides ,baker's popularity1 worked against ,lincoln4 ,it would astonish1 if not amuse1 the older citizens1 wrote ,lincoln to a friend1 to learn that ,i 7a stranger1 friendless1 uneducated1 penniless boy1 working on a flat-boat at ten dollars per month7 have been put down here as the candidate of pride1 wealth1 and aristocratic family distinction4 ,he was not only accused of being an aristocrat1 he was called a deist4 ,he had fought1 or been about to fight1 a duel4 ,his wife's relations were ,episcopalian and ,presbyterian4 ,he and she attended a ,presbyterian church4 ,these influences alone could not be said to have defeated him1 he wrote1 but they levied a tax of considerable per cent4 upon my strength4 ,the meeting that named ,baker as its choice for ,congress appointed ,lincoln one of the delegates to the convention4 ,in getting ,baker the nomination1 ,lincoln wrote to ,speed1 ,i shall be fixed a good deal like a fellow who is made a grooms-man to a man that has cut him out1 and is marrying his own dear 'gal4' ,from the first1 however1 he stood bravely by ,baker4 ,i feel myself bound not to hinder him in any way from getting the nomination2 ,i should despise myself were ,i to attempt it1 he wrote certain of his constituents who were anxious that he should attempt to secure the nomination in spite of his instructions4 ,it was soon evident to both ,lincoln and ,baker that ,john ,j4 ,hardin was probably the strongest candidate in the district1 and so it proved when the convention met in ,may1 #ahdc1 at ,pekin4 ,it has frequently been charged that in this ,pekin convention1 ,hardin1 ,baker1 and ,lincoln agreed to take in turn the three next nominations to ,congress1 thus establishing a species of rotation in office4 ,this charge cannot be sustained4 ,what occurred at the ,pekin convention has been written out for this magazine by one of the only two surviving delegates1 the ,hon4 ,j4,m4 ,ruggles of ,havana1 ,illinois4 ,when the convention assembled1 writes ,mr4 ,ruggles1 ,baker was there with his friend and champion delegate1 ,abraham ,lincoln4 ,the ayes and noes had been taken1 and there were fifteen votes apiece1 and one in doubt that had not arrived4 ,that was myself4 ,i was known to be a warm friend of ,baker1 representing people who were partial to ,hardin4 ,as soon as ,i arrived ,baker hurried to me1 saying3 ',how is it8 ,it all depends on you4' ,on being told that notwithstanding my partiality for him1 the people ,i represented expected me to vote for ,hardin1 and that ,i would have to do so1 ,baker at once replied3 ',you are right--there is no other way4' ,the convention was organized1 and ,i was elected secretary4 ,baker immediately arose1 and made a most thrilling address1 thoroughly arousing the sympathies of the convention1 and ended by declining his candidacy4 ,hardin was nominated by acclamation2 and then came the episode4 ,immediately after the nomination1 ,mr4 ,lincoln walked across the room to my table1 and asked if ,i would favor a resolution recommending ,baker for the next term4 ,on being answered in the affirmative1 he said3 ',you prepare the resolution1 ,i will support it1 and ,i think we can pass it4' ,the resolution created a profound sensation1 especially with the friends of ,hardin4 ,after an excited and angry discussion1 the resolution passed by a majority of one4 ,lincoln supported ,hardin as energetically as he had ,baker4 ,in a letter#c to the former1 hitherto unpublished1 written on ,may #aath1 just after the convention1 he says3 ,butler informs me that he received a letter from you in which you expressed some doubt as to whether the ,whigs of ,sangamon will support you cordially4 ,you may at once dismiss all fears on that subject4 ,we have already resolved to make a particular effort to give you the very largest majority possible in our county4 ,from this no ,whig of the county dissents4 ,we have many objects for doing it4 ,we make it a matter of honor and pride to do it2 we do it because we love the ,whig cause2 we do it because we like you personally2 and1 last1 we wish to convince you that we do not bear that hatred to ,morgan ,county that you people have seemed so long to imagine4 ,you will see by the ',journal' of this week that we propose1 upon pain of losing a barbecue1 to give you twice as great a majority in this county as you shall receive in your own4 ,i got up the proposal4 ,who of the five appointed is to write the district address8 ,i did the labor of writing one address this year1 and got thunder for my reward4 ,nothing new here4 ,yours as ever1 ,a4 ,,lincoln4 ,p4,s4 ,i wish you would measure one of the largest of those swords we took to ,alton1 and write me the length of it1 from tip of the point to tip of the hilt1 in feet and inches4 ,i have a dispute about the length#d4 ,a4 ,l4 ,footnote #c3 ,the originals of both the letters on this page addressed by ,lincoln to ,hardin are owned by the daughter of ,general ,hardin1 ,mrs4 ,ellen ,hardin ,walworth of ,new ,york ,city4 ,footnote #d3 ,the swords referred to in this postscript are those used in the ,shields-,lincoln duel4 ,see ,,mcclure',s ,,magazine for ,april1 #ahif4 ,,lincoln ,,works ,,for ,,the ,,nomination ,,in #ahdf4 ,hardin was elected1 and in #ahdd ,baker was nominated and elected4 ,lincoln had accepted his defeat by ,hardin manfully4 ,he had secured the nomination for ,baker in #ahdd4 ,he felt that his duty toward his friends was discharged1 and that the nomination in #ahdf belonged to him4 ,through the terms of both ,hardin and ,baker1 he worked persistently and carefully to insure his own nomination4 ,with infinite pains-taking he informed himself about the temper of every individual whom he knew or of whom he heard4 ,in an amusing letter to ,hardin1 hitherto unpublished1 written in ,may1 #ahdd1 while the latter was in ,congress1 he tells him of one disgruntled constituent who must be pacified1 giving him1 at the same time1 a hint as to the temper of the ,locofocos4 ,knowing that you have correspondents enough1 ,i have forborne to trouble you heretofore1 he writes2 and ,i now only do so to get you to set a matter right which has got wrong with one of our best friends4 ,it is old ,uncle ,thomas ,campbell of ,spring ,creek 7,berlin ,p4,o474 ,he has received several documents from you1 and he says they are old newspapers and old documents1 having no sort of interest in them4 ,he is1 therefore1 getting a strong impression that you treat him with disrespect4 ,this1 ,i know1 is a mistaken impression1 and you must correct it4 ,the way1 ,i leave to yourself4 ,robert ,w4 ,canfield says he would like to have a document or two from you4 ,the ,locos here are in considerable trouble about ,van ,buren's letter on ,texas1 and the ,virginia electors4 ,they are growing sick of the tariff question1 and consequently are much confounded at ,van ,buren's cutting them off from the new ,texas question4 ,nearly half the leaders swear they won't stand it4 ,of those are ,ford1 ,t4 ,campbell1 ,ewing1 ,calhoun1 and others4 ,they don't exactly say they won't go for ,van ,buren1 but they say he will not be the candidate1 and that they are for ,texas anyhow4 ,as ever yours1 ,a4 ,,lincoln4 ,illustration3 ,,abraham ,,lincoln ,,in #ahfj4--;,,hitherto ,,unpublished4 ,from an ambrotype taken in ,springfield1 ,illinois1 in #ahfj1 and given by ,lincoln to ,j4 ,henry ,brown1 a miniature artist who had gone to ,springfield to paint a portrait of the ,president for ,judge ,read of ,pennsylvania4 ,the ambrotype is now in a collection in ,boston4 ,a companion picture1 made at the same time1 is owned by ,mr4 ,william ,h4 ,lambert of ,philadelphia1 ,pennsylvania1 and was reproduced as the frontispiece to ,,mcclure',s ,,magazine for ,march1 #ahif 7see note to this frontispiece74 ,illustration3 ,,general ,,john ,j4 ,,hardin4 ,after a portrait owned by ,mrs4 ,julia ,duncan ,kirby1 ,jacksonville1 ,illinois4 ,john ,j4 ,hardin was born at ,frankfort1 ,kentucky1 ,january #f1 #ahaj2 was educated at ,transylvania ,university2 removed to ,jacksonville1 ,illinois1 in #ahcj1 and there began practising law4 ,he at once became active in politics1 and in #ahcd was a candidate for ,prosecuting ,attorney1 an officer at that time chosen by the legislature4 ,he was defeated by ,stephen ,a4 ,douglas1 then a recent arrival from ,vermont4 ,in #ahcf he was elected to the lower branch of the ,general ,assembly1 and served three terms4 ,in the session of #ahcf-cg1 he was one of the few members who opposed the internal improvements scheme4 ,he was elected to ,congress from the ,sangamon district in #ahdc1 and served until #ahde4 ,for some time he was a general in the ,state militia4 ,in the ,mexican ,war1 he was colonel of the ,first ,illinois ,regiment1 and was killed at the battle of ,buena ,vista1 ,february #bc1 #ahdg4 ,general ,hardin was a man of brilliant parts4 ,he was an able lawyer1 and at the time of his death had risen to the leadership of the ,whig party in his ,state4 ,it was through his intercession1 aided by ,dr4 ,r4,w4 ,english1 that the unpleasantness between ,lincoln and ,shields in #ahdb was amicably settled and a duel prevented4--,j4 ,mc,can ,davis4 ,illustration3 ,,colonel ,,edward ,d4 ,,baker4 ,from the ,civil ,war collection of ,mr4 ,robert ,coster4 ,edward ,dickinson ,baker was born in ,london1 ,february #bd1 #ahaa4 ,in his infancy his parents emigrated to ,america1 and his father became a teacher at ,philadelphia4 ,there ,edward was apprenticed to a weaver2 but he disliked the trade1 and soon gave it up and left home4 ,he drifted to ,belleville1 ,illinois1 about #ahbf1 and was followed a year later by his parents4 ,for several months he drove a dray in ,st4 ,louis1 ,missouri2 then removed to ,carrollton1 ,illinois1 and studied law4 ,his early experience at the bar was disheartening1 and upon becoming a member of the ,christian church he resolved to enter the ministry2 but political success about this time caused a change of mind1 and robbed the pulpit of a splendid ornament4 ,in #ahce he removed to ,springfield1 and in #ahcg was elected to the legislature4 ,he achieved immediate distinction as an orator1 and for the ensuing fifteen years he ranked among the foremost lawyers and politicians of the ,state4 ,he was reflected to the ,house in #ahch1 served in the ,state ,senate from #ahdj to #ahdd1 and was then elected to ,congress4 ,upon the breaking out of the ,mexican ,war he returned home1 and raised a regiment of which he was commissioned colonel4 ,after the war he removed to ,galena1 and was there sent back to ,congress4 ,in #ahea he went to the ,isthmus of ,panama with four hundred laborers to engage in the construction of the ,panama ,railroad4 ,in #aheb he went to ,san ,francisco1 ,california1 where he at once became the leader of the bar4 ,he was not successful there in any of his political aspirations1 and removed to ,oregon4 ,that ,state at once made him a ,united ,states ,senator4 ,the ,civil ,war coming on1 he resigned his seat in the ,senate1 raised the ,california regiment1 immediately went to the front1 and was killed at ,ball's ,bluff1 ,october #bj1 #ahfa4--4 ,j4 ,mc,can ,davis4 ,in #ahdd1 being a presidential elector1 ,lincoln entered the canvass with ardor4 ,henry ,clay was the candidate1 and ,lincoln shared the popular idolatry of the man4 ,his devotion was not merely a sentiment1 however4 ,he had been an intelligent student of ,clay's public life1 and his sympathy was all with the principles of the gallant ,harry of the ,west4 ,throughout the campaign he worked zealously1 travelling all over the ,state1 speaking and talking4 ,as a rule he was accompanied by a ,democrat4 ,the two went unannounced1 simply stopping at some friendly house4 ,on their arrival the word was sent around1 the candidates are here1 and the men of the neighborhood gathered to hear the discussion1 which was carried on in the most informal way1 the candidates frequently sitting tipped back against the side of the house1 or perched on a rail1 whittling during the debates4 ,nor was all of this electioneering done by argument4 ,many votes were still cast in ,illinois out of personal liking1 and the wily candidate did his best to make himself agreeable1 particularly to the women of the household4 ,the ,hon4 ,william ,l4,d4 ,ewing1 a ,democrat who travelled with ,lincoln in one campaign1 used to tell a story of how he and ,lincoln were eager to win the favor of one of their hostesses1 whose husband was an important man in his neighborhood4 ,neither had made much progress until at milking-time ,mr4 ,ewing started after the woman of the house as she went to the yard1 took her pail1 and insisted on milking the cow himself4 ,he naturally felt that this was a master stroke4 ,but receiving no reply from the hostess1 to whom he had been talking loudly as he milked1 he looked around1 only to see her and ,lincoln leaning comfortably over the bars1 engaged in an animated discussion4 ,by the time he had his self-imposed task done1 ,lincoln had captivated the hostess1 and all ,mr4 ,ewing received for his pains was hearty thanks for giving her a chance to have so pleasant a talk with ,mr4 ,lincoln4#e ,footnote #e3 ,interview with ,judge ,william ,ewing of ,chicago4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,carter ,,schoolhouse ,,precinct1 ,,indiana1 ,,where ,,lincoln ,,renewed ,,acquaintance ,,with ,,old ,,neighbors ,,in #ahdd4 ,lincoln's speeches at this time were not confined to his own ,state4 ,he made several in ,indiana1 being invited thither by prominent ,whig politicians who had heard him speak in ,illinois4 ,the first and most important of his meetings in ,indiana was at ,bruceville4 ,the ,democrats1 learning of the proposed ,whig gathering1 arranged one1 for the same evening1 with ,lieutenant ,william ,w4 ,carr of ,vincennes as speaker4 ,as might have been expected from the excited state of politics at the moment1 the proximity of the two mass-meetings aroused party loyalty to a fighting pitch4 ,each party was determined to break up the other's speaking1 writes ,miss ,o',flynn1 in a description of the ,bruceville meeting prepared for this ,magazine from interviews with those who took part in it4 ,the night was made hideous with the rattle of tin pans and bells and the blare of cow-horns4 ,in spite of all the din and uproar of the younger element1 a few grown-up male radicals and partisan women sang and cheered loudly for their favorites1 who kept on with their flow of political information4 ,lieutenant ,carr stood in his carriage1 and addressed the crowd around him1 while a local politician acted as grand marshal of the night1 and urged the yelling ,democratic legion to surge to the schoolhouse1 where ,abraham ,lincoln was speaking1 and run the ,whigs from their headquarters4 ,old men now living1 who were big boys then1 cannot remember any of the burning eloquence of either speaker4 ,as they now laughingly express it3 ',we were far more interested in the noise and fussing than the success of the speakers1 and we ran backward and forward from one camp to the other4' ,fortunately1 the remaining speeches in ,indiana were made under more dignified conditions4 ,one was delivered at ,rockport2 another from the door of a harness shop near ,gentryville1 ,lincoln's old home in ,indiana2 and a third at the ,old ,carter ,school in the same neighborhood4 ,at the delivery of the last many of ,lincoln's old neighbors were present1 and they still tell of the cordial way in which he greeted them and of the interest he showed in every familiar spot4 ',i was a young fellow1' ,mr4 ,redmond ,grigsby says1 'and took a long time to get to the speaking4 ,when ,i got to the out-skirts of the crowd1 ,mr4 ,lincoln saw me1 and called out3 ,if that isn't ,red ,grigsby1 then ,i'm a ghost4 ,he then came through the crowd and met me4 ,we shook hands and talked a little4 ,his speech was good1 and was talked about for a long while around in this section4 ,the last words of his speech at the ,carter schoolhouse were3 ',my fellow-citizens1 ,i may not live to see it1 but give us protective tariff1 and we will have the greatest country on the globe4' ,after the speaking was over1 ,mr4 ,josiah ,crawford invited ,abraham ,lincoln and ,john ,w4 ,lamar to go home with him4 ,as they rode along1 ,mr4 ,lincoln talked over olden times4 ,he asked about a saw pit in which he had worked when a young boy4 ,mr4 ,crawford said it was still in existence1 and that he would drive around near it4 ,the three men1 ,lincoln1 ,crawford1 and ,lamar1 went up into the woods where the old pit was4 ,it had partly fallen down2 the northwest corner1 where ,lincoln used to stand when working1 was propped up by a large forked stick against a tree4 ,mr4 ,lincoln said3 ',this looks more natural than ,i thought it would after so many years since ,i worked here4' ,during the time spent at ,mr4 ,crawford's home1 ,mr4 ,lincoln went around inspecting everything4#f ,footnote #f3 ,lincoln in ,indiana in #ahdd4 ,unpublished ,,ms4 by ,anna ,o',flynn4 ,so vivid were the memories which this visit to ,gentryville aroused1 so deep were ,lincoln's emotions1 that he even attempted to express them in verse4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,rev4 ,,peter ,,cartwright4 ,the ,rev4 ,peter ,cartwright1 the most famous itinerant preacher of the pioneer era1 was born in ,amherst ,county1 ,virginia1 on ,james ,river1 ,september #a1 #aghe4 ,his father was a ,revolutionary soldier1 and soon after peace was declared the family moved to the wildest region of ,kentucky4 ,the migrating party consisted of two hundred families1 guarded by an armed escort of one hundred men4 ,peter was a wild boy2 but in his sixteenth year he was persuaded by his mother to join the ,methodist ,church4 ,he at once displayed a wonderful talent for exhorting1 and at the age of seventeen he became a licensed exhorter4 ,a year later he became a regular travelling preacher4 ,his reputation soon spread over ,kentucky and ,ohio4 ,he hated slavery1 and in #ahbc1 to get into a free ,state1 he and his wife 7he had married ,frances ,gaines in #ahjh7 and their seven children removed to ,illinois4 ,they settled in the ,sangamon valley1 near ,springfield4 ,for the next forty years he travelled over the ,state1 most of the time on horseback1 preaching the gospel in his unique and rugged fashion4 ,his district was at first so large 7extending from ,kaskaskia to ,galena7 that he was unable to traverse the whole of it in the same year4 ,he was elected to the legislature in #ahbh and again in #ahcb2 ,lincoln1 in the latter year1 being an opposing candidate4 ,in #ahdf he was the ,democratic nominee for ,congress against ,lincoln1 and was badly beaten4 ,peter ,cartwright enjoyed1 perhaps1 a larger personal acquaintance with the people of ,illinois than any other man ever had4 ,his name was familiar in every household in the ,west4 ,up to #ahef 7he wrote an autobiography in that year7 he had baptized twelve thousand persons and preached five hundred funeral sermons4 ,his personality was quaint and original4 ,a native vigor of intellect largely overbalanced the lack of education4 ,he was a great wit1 and often said startling things4 ,his religion sometimes bordered upon fanaticism4 ,he was fearless and aggressive1 and was no respecter of persons4 ,it was not a rare thing for him to descend from the pulpit1 and by sheer physical force subdue a disorderly member of his congregation4 ,on one occasion1 attending a dinner given by ,governor ,edwards1 he requested the governor to say grace1 observing that the ceremony was about to be dispensed with4 ,the wife of a ,methodist brother objected to family worship2 ,peter ,cartwright shut her outdoors and kept her there until she became convinced of her error4 ,at ,nashville1 ,tennessee1 as he was about to begin a sermon1 a distinguished-looking stranger entered the church2 some one whispered to him that it was ,andrew ,jackson2 whereupon he at once blurted out1 ,who is ,general ,jackson8 ,if he don't get his soul converted1 ,god will damn him as quick as he would a ,guinea nigger6 ,attending the general conference in ,new ,york1 he astonished the hotel clerk by asking for an axe to blaze his way up the six flights of stairs1 so that he would not get lost on the return trip4 ,he died in #ahgb1 after having been a member of the ,methodist ,church for more than seventy-one years4--,j4 ,mc,can ,davis4 ,,lincoln',s ,,position ,,in #ahde ,,on ,,the ,,slavery ,,question4 ,in this campaign of #ahdd the annexation of ,texas was one of the most hotly discussed questions4 ,the ,whigs opposed annexation1 but their ground was not radical enough to suit the growing body of ,abolitionists in the country1 who nominated a third candidate1 ,james ,g4 ,birney4 ,lincoln was obliged to meet the arguments of the ,abolitionists frequently in his campaigning4 ,in #ahde1 while working for ,congress1 he found the abolition sentiment stronger than ever4 ,prominent among the leaders of the third party in the ,state were two brothers1 ,williamson and ,madison ,durley of ,hennepin1 ,illinois4 ,they were outspoken advocates of their principles1 and even operated a station of the underground railroad4 ,lincoln knew the ,durleys1 and1 when visiting ,hennepin to speak1 solicited their support4 ,they opposed their liberty principles4 ,when ,lincoln returned to ,springfield he wrote ,williamson ,durley a letter which has never before been published1#g and which sets forth with admirable clearness his exact position on the slavery question at that period4 ,it must be regarded1 we think1 as the most valuable document on the question which we have up to this point in ,lincoln's life4 ,footnote #g3 ,this letter is dated ,october #c1 #ahde4 ,it is now owned by the son of ,williamson ,durley1 ,mr4 ,a4,w4 ,durley of ,west ,superior1 ,wisconsin4 ,mr4 ,c4,w4 ,durley of ,princeton1 ,illinois1 kindly secured the copy for us from his brother4 ,illustration3 ,,schoolhouse ,,at ,,bruceville1 ,,indiana1 ,,where ,,lincoln ,,spoke ,,for ,,clay ,,in #ahdd4 ,when ,i saw you at home1 ,lincoln began1 it was agreed that ,i should write to you and your brother ,madison4 ,until ,i then saw you ,i was not aware of your being what is generally called an ,abolitionist1 or1 as you call yourself1 a ,liberty man1 though ,i well knew there were many such in your county4 ,i was glad to hear that you intended to attempt to bring about1 at the next election in ,putnam1 a union of the ,whigs proper and such of the ,liberty men as are ,whigs in principle on all questions save only that of slavery4 ,so far as ,i can perceive1 by such union neither party need yield anything on the point in difference between them4 ,if the ,whig abolitionists of ,new ,york had voted with us last fall1 ,mr4 ,clay would now be ,president1 ,whig principles in the ascendant1 and ,texas not annexed2 whereas1 by the division1 all that either had at stake in the contest was lost4 ,and1 indeed1 it was extremely probable1 beforehand1 that such would be the result4 ,as ,i always understood1 the ,liberty men deprecated the annexation of ,texas extremely2 and this being so1 why they should refuse to cast their votes so as to prevent it1 even to me seemed wonderful4 ,what was their process of reasoning1 ,i can only judge from what a single one of them told me4 ,it was this3 ',we are not to do evil that good may come4' ,this general proposition is doubtless correct2 but did it apply8 ,if by your votes you could have prevented the extension1 etc41 of slavery1 would it not have been good1 and not evil1 so to have used your votes1 even though it involved the casting of them for a slave-holder8 ,by the fruit the tree is to be known4 ,an evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit4 ,if the fruit of electing ,mr4 ,clay would have been to prevent the extension of slavery1 could the act of electing have been evil8 ,but ,i will not argue further4 ,i perhaps ought to say that individually ,i never was much interested in the ,texas question4 ,i never could see much good to come of annexation1 inasmuch as they were already a free republican people on our own model4 ,on the other hand1 ,i never could very clearly see how the annexation would augment the evil of slavery4 ,it always seemed to me that slaves would be taken there in about equal numbers1 with or without annexation4 ,and if more were taken because of annexation1 still there would be just so many the fewer left where they were taken from4 ,it is possibly true1 to some extent1 that1 with annexation1 some slaves may be sent to ,texas and continued in slavery that otherwise might have been liberated4 ,to whatever extent this may be true1 ,i think annexation an evil4 ,i hold it to be a paramount duty of us in the free ,states1 due to the ,union of the ,states1 and perhaps to liberty itself 7paradox though it may seem71 to let the slavery of the other ,states alone2 while1 on the other hand1 ,i hold it to be equally clear that we should never knowingly lend ourselves1 directly or indirectly1 to prevent that slavery from dying a natural death--to find new places for it to live in1 when it can no longer exist in the old4 ,of course ,i am not now considering what would be our duty in cases of insurrection among the slaves4 ,to recur to the ,texas question1 ,i understand the ,liberty men to have viewed annexation as a much greater evil than ever ,i did2 and ,i would like to convince you1 if ,i could1 that they could have prevented it1 without violation of principle1 if they had chosen4 ,i intend this letter for you and ,madison together2 and if you and he or either shall think fit to drop me a line1 ,i shall be pleased4 ,yours with respect1 ,a4 ,,lincoln4 ,,lincoln ,,and ,,hardin4 ,as the time drew near for the convention of #ahdf ,lincoln learned that ,hardin proposed to contest the nomination with him4 ,hardin certainly was free to do this4 ,he had voluntarily declined the nomination in #ahdd1 because of the events of the ,pekin convention1 but he had made no promise to do so in #ahdf4 ,many of the ,whigs of the district had not expected him to be a candidate1 however1 arguing that ,lincoln1 because of his relation to the party1 should be given his turn4 ,we do not entertain a doubt1 wrote the editor of the ,sangamo ,journal1 in ,february1 #ahdf1 that if we could reverse the positions of the two men1 a very large portion of those who now support ,mr4 ,lincoln most warmly would support ,general ,hardin quite as warmly4 ,although ,lincoln had anticipated that ,hardin would enter the race1 it made him anxious and a little melancholy4 ,since ,i saw you last fall1 he wrote on ,january #g1 #ahdf1 to his friend ,dr4 ,robert ,boal of ,lacon1 ,illinois1 in a letter hitherto unpublished#h1 ,i have often thought of writing you1 as it was then understood ,i would2 but1 on reflection1 ,i have always found that ,i had nothing new to tell you4 ,all has happened as ,i then told you ,i expected it would--,baker's declining1 ,hardin's taking the track1 and so on4 ,footnote #h3 ,this letter is still in the possession of ,dr4 ,boal of ,lacon1 ,illinois1 and the right of publication was secured for the ,magazine by ,w4,b4 ,powell of that city4 ,if ,hardin and ,i stood precisely equal--that is1 if neither of us had been to ,congress1 or if we both had--it would not only accord with what ,i have always done1 for the sake of peace1 to give way to him2 and ,i expect ,i should do it4 ,that ,i can voluntarily postpone my pretensions1 when they are no more than equal to those to which they are postponed1 you have yourself seen4 ,but to yield to ,hardin under present circumstances seems to me as nothing else than yielding to one who would gladly sacrifice me altogether4 ,this ,i would rather not submit to4 ,that ,hardin is talented1 energetic1 unusually generous and magnanimous1 ,i have1 before this1 affirmed to you1 and do not now deny4 ,you know that my only argument is that 'turn about is fair play4' ,this he1 practically at least1 denies4 ,if it would not be taxing you too much1 ,i wish you would write me1 telling the aspect of things in your county1 or rather your district2 and also send the names of some of your ,whig neighbors to whom ,i might1 with propriety1 write4 ,unless ,i can get some one to do this1 ,hardin1 with his old franking list1 will have the advantage of me4 ,my reliance for a fair shake 7and ,i want nothing more7 in your county is chiefly on you1 because of your position and standing1 and because ,i am acquainted with so few others4 ,let me hear from you soon4 ,illustration3 ,,henry ,,clay4 ,from a carbon reproduction1 by ,sherman and ,mc,hugh of ,new ,york ,city1 of a daguerreotype in the collection of ,peter ,gilsey1 ,esq41 and here reproduced through his courtesy4 ,lincoln followed the vibrations of feeling in the various counties with extreme nicety1 studying every individual whose loyalty he suspected or whose vote was not yet pledged4 ,nathan ,dresser is here1 he wrote to his friend ,bennett1 on ,january #ae1 #ahdf1 and speaks as though the contest between ,hardin and me is to be doubtful in ,menard ,county4 ,i know he is candid1 and this alarms me some4 ,i asked him to tell me the names of the men that were going strong for ,hardin2 he said ,morris was about as strong as any4 ,now tell me1 is ,morris going it openly8 ,you remember you wrote me that he would be neutral4 ,nathan also said that some man 7who1 he could not remember7 had said lately that ,menard ,county was again to decide the contest1 and that made the contest very doubtful4 ,do you know who that was8 ,don't fail to write me instantly on receiving1 telling me all--particularly the names of those who are going strong against me#i4 ,footnote #i3 ,this letter1 hitherto unpublished1 is owned by ,e4 ,r4 ,oeltjen of ,petersburg1 ,illinois4 ,in ,january1 ,general ,hardin suggested that1 since he and ,mr4 ,lincoln were the only persons mentioned as candidates1 there be no convention1 but the selection be left to the ,whig voters of the district4 ,lincoln refused4 ,it seems to me1 he wrote ,hardin1 that on reflection you will see the fact of your having been in ,congress has1 in various ways1 so spread your name in the district as to give you a decided advantage in such a stipulation4 ,i appreciate your desire to keep down excitement2 and ,i promise you to 'keep cool' under all circumstances4444 ,i have always been in the habit of acceding to almost any proposal that a friend would make1 and ,i am truly sorry that ,i cannot in this4 ,i perhaps ought to mention that some friends at different places are endeavoring to secure the honor of the sitting of the convention at their towns respectively1 and ,i fear that they would not feel much complimented if we shall make a bargain that it should sit nowhere4#aj ,footnote #aj3 ,from a letter published in the ,sangamo ,journal of ,february #bf1 #ahdf1 and which is not found in any collection of ,lincoln's letters and speeches4 ,after ,general ,hardin received this refusal he withdrew from the contest1 in a manly and generous letter which was warmly approved by the ,whigs of the district4 ,both men were so much loved that a break between them would have been a disastrous thing for the party4 ,we are truly glad that a contest which in its nature was calculated to weaken the ties of friendship has terminated amicably1 said the ,sangamo ,journal4 ,illustration3 ,,robert ,c4 ,,winthrop1 ,,speaker ,,of ,,the ,,thirtieth ,,congress4 ,born in ,boston in #ahji1 graduated at ,harvard1 and studied law with ,daniel ,webster4 ,winthrop's career as a statesman began with his election to the ,massachusetts ,house of ,representatives in #ahcd4 ,he remained there until elected to ,congress in #ahdj1 where he served ten years4 ,in #ahdg he was elected ,speaker by the ,whigs4 ,in #ahej ,winthrop was appointed ,senator to take ,daniel ,webster's place1 but he was defeated in his efforts to be re-elected4 ,candidate for governor in the same year1 he was also defeated4 ,he retired from politics after this1 though often offered various candidacies4 ,winthrop was especially noted as an orator4 ,the charge that ,hardin1 ,baker1 and ,lincoln tried to ruin one another in this contest for ,congress has often been denied by their associates1 and never more emphatically than by ,judge ,gillespie1 an influential politician of the ,state4 ,in an unpublished letter ,judge ,gillespie says3 ,hardin was one of the most unflinching and unfaltering ,whigs that ever drew the breath of life4 ,he was a mirror of chivalry1 and so was ,baker4 ,lincoln had boundless respect for1 and confidence in1 them both4 ,he knew they would sacrifice themselves rather than do an act that could savor in the slightest degree of meanness or dishonor4 ,those men1 ,lincoln1 ,hardin1 and ,baker1 were bosom friends1 to my certain knowledge4444 ,lincoln felt that they could be actuated by nothing but the most honorable sentiments towards him4 ,for although they were rivals1 they were all three men of the most punctilious honor1 and devoted friends4 ,i knew them intimately1 and can say confidently that there never was a particle of envy on the part of one towards the other4 ,the rivalry between them was of the most honorable and friendly character1 and when ,hardin and ,baker were killed 7,hardin in ,mexico1 and ,baker at ,ball's ,bluff7 ,lincoln felt that in the death of each he had lost a dear and true friend#aa4 ,footnote #aa3 ,from an unpublished letter by ,joseph ,gillespie1 owned by ,mrs4 ,ellen ,hardin ,walworth of ,new ,york ,city4 ,illustration3 ,,courthouse ,,at ,,petersburg1 ,,menard ,,county1 ,,where ,,lincoln ,,was ,,nominated ,,for ,,congress4 ,after ,hardin's withdrawal1 ,lincoln went about in his characteristic way trying to soothe his and ,hardin's friends4 ,previous to ,general ,hardin's withdrawal1 he wrote one of his correspondents1#ab some of his friends and some of mine had become a little warm2 and ,i felt 444 that for them now to meet face to face and converse together was the best way to efface any remnant of unpleasant feeling1 if any such existed4 ,i did not suppose that ,general ,hardin's friends were in any greater need of having their feelings corrected than mine were4 ,footnote #ab3 ,from an unpublished letter to ,judge ,james ,berdan of ,jacksonville1 ,illinois1 dated ,april #bf1 #ahdf4 ,the original is now owned by ,mrs4 ,mary ,berdan ,tiffany of ,springfield1 ,illinois4 ,in ,may1 ,lincoln was nominated4 ,his ,democratic opponent was ,peter ,cartwright1 the famous ,methodist exhorter4 ,cartwright had been in politics before1 and made an energetic canvass4 ,his chief weapon against ,lincoln was the old charges of deism and aristocracy2 but they failed of effect1 and in ,august1 ,lincoln was elected4 ,the contest over1 sudden and characteristic disillusion seized him4 ,being elected to ,congress1 though ,i am grateful to our friends for having done it1 has not pleased me as much as ,i expected1 he wrote ,speed4 ,,lincoln ,,goes ,,to ,,washington4 ,in ,november1 #ahdg1 ,lincoln started for ,washington4 ,the city in #ahdh was little more than the outline of the ,washington of #ahif4 ,the ,capitol was without the present wings1 dome1 or western terrace4 ,the ,white ,house1 the ,city ,hall1 the ,treasury1 the ,patent ,office1 and the ,post-,office were the only public buildings standing then which have not been rebuilt or materially changed4 ,the streets were unpaved1 and their dust in summer and mud in winter are celebrated in every record of the period4 ,the parks and circles were still unplanted4 ,near the ,white ,house were a few fine old homes1 and ,capitol ,hill was partly built over4 ,although there were deplorable wastes between these two points1 the majority of the people lived in this part of the city1 on or near ,pennsylvania ,avenue4 ,the winter that ,lincoln was in ,washington1 ,daniel ,webster lived on ,louisiana ,avenue1 near ,sixth ,street2 ,speaker ,winthrop and ,thomas ,h4 ,benton on ,c ,street1 near ,third2 ,john ,quincy ,adams and ,james ,buchanan1 the latter then ,secretary of ,state1 on ,f ,street1 between ,thirteenth and ,fourteenth4 ,many of the senators and congressmen were in hotels1 the leading ones of which were ,willard's1 ,coleman's1 ,gadsby's1 ,brown's1 ,young's1 ,fuller's1 and the ,united ,states4 ,stephen ,a4 ,douglas1 who was in ,washington for his first term as senator1 lived at ,willard's4 ,so inadequate were the hotel accommodations during the sessions that visitors to the town were frequently obliged to accept most uncomfortable makeshifts for beds4 ,seward1 visiting the city in #ahdg1 tells of sleeping on a cot between two beds occupied by strangers4 ,the larger number of members lived in messes1 a species of boarding-club1 over which the owner of the house occupied usually presided4 ,the ,national ,intelligencer of the day is sprinkled with announcements of persons prepared to accommodate a mess of members4 ,lincoln went to live in one of the best known of these clubs1 ,mrs4 ,sprigg's1 in ,duff ,green's ,row1 on ,capitol ,hill4 ,this famous row has now entirely disappeared1 the ground on which it stood being occupied by the new ,congressional ,library4 ,illustration3 ,,robert ,,smith1 ,,colleague ,,of ,,lincoln',s ,,in ,,congress4 ,born in ,new ,hampshire in #ahjb2 removed to ,illinois in #ahcb4 ,a member of the legislature from #ahcf to #ahdj1 and of ,congress from #ahdc to #ahdi4 ,during the war1 paymaster in the ,united ,states ,army at ,st4 ,louis4 ,died at ,alton in #ahfh4 ,at ,mrs4 ,sprigg's1 ,lincoln had as mess-mates several ,congressmen3 ,a4,r4 ,mc,ilvaine1 ,james ,pollock1 ,john ,strohm1 and ,john ,blanchard1 all of ,pennsylvania1 ,patrick ,tompkins of ,mississippi1 ,joshua ,r4 ,giddings of ,ohio1 and ,elisha ,embree of ,indiana4 ,among his neighbors in messes on ,capitol ,hill were ,andrew ,johnson of ,tennessee1 ,alexander ,h4 ,stephens of ,georgia1 and ,jefferson ,davis of ,mississippi4 ,only one of the members of the mess at ,mrs4 ,sprigg's in the winter of #ahdg-ahdh is now living1 ,dr4 ,s4,c4 ,busey of ,washington1 ,d4,c4 ,he sat nearly opposite ,lincoln at the table4 ,i soon learned to know and admire him1 says ,dr4 ,busey#ac1 for his simple and unostentatious manners1 kind-heartedness1 and amusing jokes1 anecdotes1 and witticisms4 ,when about to tell an anecdote during a meal he would lay down his knife and fork1 place his elbows upon the table1 rest his face between his hands1 and begin with the words1 ',that reminds me1' and proceed4 ,everybody prepared for the explosions sure to follow4 ,i recall with vivid pleasure the scene of merriment at the dinner after his first speech in the ,house of ,representatives1 occasioned by the descriptions1 by himself and others of the ,congressional mess1 of the uproar in the ,house during its delivery4 ,footnote #ac3 ,personal ,reminiscences and ,recollections1 by ,samuel ,c4 ,busey1 ,m4,d41 ,,ll4,d41 ,washington1 ,d4,c41 #ahie4 ,illustration3 ,,long ,,john ,,wentworth1 ,,colleague ,,of ,,lincoln',s ,,in ,,congress4 ,wentworth removed to ,chicago from ,new ,hampshire in #ahcf1 where he published the ,chicago ,democrat4 ,he was twice ,mayor of ,chicago1 and served in ,congress from #ahdc to #ahea4 ,he was an ardent anti-slavery man4 ,he died in #ahhh4 ,congressman ,lincoln was always neatly but very plainly dressed1 very simple and approachable in manner1 and unpretentious4 ,he attended to his business1 going promptly to the ,house and remaining till the session adjourned1 and appeared to be familiar with the progress of legislation4 ,the town offered then little in the way of amusement4 ,the ,adelphi ,theatre was opened that winter for the first time1 and presented a variety of mediocre plays4 ,at the ,olympia were lively and beautiful exhibitions of model artists4 ,herz and ,sivori1 the pianists1 then touring in the ,united ,states1 played several times in the season2 and there was a ,chinese ,museum4 ,add the exhibitions of ,brown's paintings of the heroes of ,palo ,alto1 ,resaca1 ,monterey1 and ,buena ,vista1 and of ,powers's ,greek ,slave1 the performances of ,dr4 ,valentine1 ,delineator of ,eccentricities1 a few lectures1 and numerous church socials1 and you have about all there was in the way of public entertainment in ,washington in #ahdh4 ,but of dinners1 receptions1 and official gala affairs there were many4 ,lincoln's name appears frequently in the ,national ,intelligencer on committees to offer dinners to this or that great man4 ,he was1 in the spring of #ahdi1 one of the managers of the inaugural ball given to ,taylor4 ,his simple1 sincere friendliness and his quaint humor won him soon a sure1 if quiet1 social position4 ,he was frequently invited to ,mr4 ,webster's ,saturday breakfasts1 where his stories were highly relished for their originality and drollery4 ,illustration3 ,,stephen ,a4 ,,douglas1 ,,colleague ,,of ,,lincoln',s ,,in ,,congress4 ,member of the ,united ,states ,house of ,representatives during the twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth ,congresses4 ,in #ahdf ,douglas was chosen ,senator by the ,democrats4 ,illustration3 ,,william ,a4 ,,richardson1 ,,colleague ,,of ,,lincoln',s ,,in ,,congress4 ,richardson removed to ,illinois from ,kentucky about #ahca4 ,he was a prominent ,democratic politician1 serving in the state legislature and in ,congress4 ,he was a captain in the ,mexican ,war1 ,governor of the territory of ,nebraska in #aheh1 and in #ahfc the successor of ,douglas in the ,united ,states ,senate4 ,he died in #ahge4 ,illustration3 ,,sidney ,,breese1 ,,colleague ,,of ,,lincoln',s ,,in ,,congress4 ,sidney ,breese was born at ,whitesboro1 ,new ,york1 ,july #ae1 #ahjj2 graduated from ,union ,college1 ,new ,york1 in #ahah2 and at once removed to ,illinois1 where he was admitted to the bar4 ,he became active in the ,democratic party1 and served in many important positions3 ,united ,states ,district ,attorney1 ,judge of the ,supreme ,court1 and ,united ,states ,senator4 ,he died in #ahgh4 ,dr4 ,busey recalls his popularity at one of the leading places of amusement on ,capitol ,hill4 ,congressman ,lincoln was very fond of bowling1 he says1 and would frequently join others of the mess1 or meet other members in a match game1 at the alley of ,james ,casparis1 which was near the boarding-house4 ,he was a very awkward bowler1 but played the game with great zest and spirit1 solely for exercise and amusement1 and greatly to the enjoyment and entertainment of the other players and bystanders by his criticisms and funny illustrations4 ,he accepted success and defeat with like good nature and humor1 and left the alley at the conclusion of the game without a sorrow or disappointment4 ,when it was known that he was in the alley1 there would assemble numbers of people to witness the fun which was anticipated by those who knew of his fund of anecdotes and jokes4 ,when in the alley1 surrounded by a crowd of eager listeners1 he indulged with great freedom in the sport of narrative1 some of which were very broad4 ,his witticisms seemed for the most part to be impromptu1 but he always told the anecdotes and jokes as if he wished to convey the impression that he had heard them from some one2 but they appeared very many times as if they had been made for the immediate occasion4 ,another place where he became at home and was much appreciated was in the post-office at the ,capitol4 ,during the ,christmas holidays1 says ,ben3 ,perley ,poore1 ,mr4 ,lincoln found his way into the small room used as the post-office of the ,house1 where a few jovial raconteurs used to meet almost every morning1 after the mail had been distributed into the members' boxes1 to exchange such new stories as any of them might have acquired since they had last met4 ,after modestly standing at the door for several days1 ,mr4 ,lincoln was reminded of a story1 and by ,new ,year's he was recognized as the champion story-teller of the ,capitol4 ,his favorite seat was at the left of the open fireplace1 tilted back in his chair1 with his long legs reaching over to the chimney jamb4 ,he never told a story twice1 but appeared to have an endless rpertoire of them always ready1 like the successive charges in a magazine gun1 and always pertinently adapted to some passing event4 ,it was refreshing to us correspondents1 compelled as we were to listen to so much that was prosy and tedious1 to hear this bright specimen of ,western genius tell his inimitable stories1 especially his reminiscences of the ,black ,hawk ,war4 ,illustration3 ,,orlando ,b4 ,,ficklin1 ,,colleague ,,of ,,lincoln',s ,,in ,,congress4 ,ficklin was a ,kentuckian who settled in ,illinois in #ahcj4 ,he served four terms in the state legislature1 four terms in ,congress1 and filled many important posts in the ,democratic party1 of which he was a leader4 ,he died in #ahhe4 ,,lincoln',s ,,work ,,in ,,the ,,thirtieth ,,congress4 ,but ,lincoln had gone to ,washington for work1 and he at once interested himself in the ,whig organization formed to elect the officers of the ,house4 ,there was only a small ,whig majority1 and it took skill and energy to keep the offices in the party4 ,lincoln's share in achieving this result was generally recognized4 ,as late as #ahfj1 twelve years after the struggle1 ,robert ,c4 ,winthrop of ,massachusetts1 who was elected speaker1 said in a speech in ,boston wherein he discussed ,lincoln's nomination to the ,presidency3 ,you will be sure that ,i remember him with interest1 if ,i may be allowed to remind you that he helped to make me the speaker of the ,thirtieth ,congress1 when the vote was a very close and strongly contested vote4 ,illustration3 ,,general ,,john ,a4 ,,mcclernand1 ,,colleague ,,of ,,lincoln',s ,,in ,,congress4 ,came to ,illinois from ,kentucky when a boy4 ,served in ,black ,hawk ,war1 and was one of the earliest editors of the ,state4 ,served three terms in the state legislature1 and in ,congress4 ,was active in the war1 rising to the rank of major-general4 ,general ,mc,clernand is still living in ,springfield1 ,illinois4 ,a week after ,congress organized1 ,lincoln wrote to ,springfield3 ,as you are all so anxious for me to distinguish myself1 ,i have concluded to do so before long2 and he did it--but not exactly as his ,springfield friends wished4 ,the ,united ,states were then at war with ,mexico1 a war that the ,whigs abhorred4 ,lincoln had used his influence against it2 but1 hostilities declared1 he had publicly affirmed that every loyal man must stand by the army4 ,many of his friends1 ,hardin1 ,baker1 and ,shields1 among others1 were at that moment in ,mexico4 ,lincoln had gone to ,washington intending to say nothing in opposition to the war4 ,but the administration wished to secure from the ,whigs not only votes of supplies and men1 but a resolution declaring that the war was just and right4 ,lincoln1 with others of his party in ,congress1 refused his sanction1 voting a resolution that the war had been unnecessarily and unconstitutionally begun4 ,on ,december #bb;d he made his debut in the ,house by the famous ,spot ,resolutions1 a series of searching questions so clearly put1 so strong historically and logically1 that they drove the administration step by step from the spot where the war began1 and showed that it had been the aggressor in the conquest4 ,in ,january ,lincoln followed up these resolutions with a speech in support of his position4 ,his action was much criticised in ,illinois1 where the sound of the drum and the intoxication of victory had completely turned attention from the moral side of the question1 and ,lincoln found himself obliged to defend his position with even his oldest friends4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,capitol ,,at ,,washington ,,in #ahdf ,the routine work assigned him in the ,thirtieth ,congress was on the ,committee on the ,post-office and ,post ,roads4 ,several reports were made by him from this committee4 ,these reports1 with a speech on internal improvements1 cover his published work in the ,house up to ,july4 ,then he made a speech which was at the time quoted far and wide4 ,in ,july ,zachary ,taylor had been nominated at ,philadelphia for ,president by the ,whigs4 ,lincoln had been at the convention1 and went back to ,washington full of enthusiasm4 ,in my opinion we shall have a most overwhelming1 glorious triumph1 he wrote a friend4 ,one unmistakable sign is that all the odds and ends are with us--,barnburners1 ,native ,americans1 ,tyler men1 disappointed office-seekers1 ,locofocos1 and the ,lord knows what4 ,this is important1 if in nothing else1 in showing which way the wind blows4 ,in connection with ,alexander ,h4 ,stephens1 with whom he had become a warm friend1 ,toombs1 and ,preston1 ,lincoln formed the first ,congressional ,taylor ,club1 known as the ,young ,indians4 ,campaigning had already begun on the floor of ,congress1 and the members were daily making speeches for the various candidates4 ,on ,july #bgth ,lincoln made a speech for ,taylor4 ,it was a boisterous election speech1 full of merciless caricaturing1 and delivered with inimitable drollery4 ,it kept the ,house in an uproar1 and was reported the country over by the ,whig press4 ,the ,baltimore ,american1 in giving a synopsis of it1 called it the crack speech of the day1 and said of ,lincoln3 ,he is a very able1 acute1 uncouth1 honest1 upright man1 and a tremendous wag1 withal4444 ,mr4 ,lincoln's manner was so good-natured1 and his style so peculiar1 that he kept the ,house in a continuous roar of merriment for the last half hour of his speech4 ,he would commence a point in his speech far up one of the aisles1 and keep on talking1 gesticulating1 and walking until he would find himself1 at the end of a paragraph1 down in the centre of the area in front of the clerk's desk4 ,he would then go back and take another head1 and work down again4 ,and so on1 through his capital speech4 ,,lincoln ,,goes ,,to ,,new ,,england4--,a ,,new ,,speech4 ,this speech1 as well as the respect ,lincoln's work in the ,house had inspired among the leaders of the party1 brought him an invitation to deliver several campaign speeches in ,new ,england at the close of ,congress1 and he went there early in ,september4 ,there was in ,new ,england1 at that date1 much strong anti-slavery feeling4 ,the ,whigs claimed to be ,free ,soilers as well as the party which appropriated that name1 and ,lincoln1 in the first speech he made1 defined carefully his position on the slavery question4 ,this was at ,worcester1 ,massachusetts1 on ,september #abth4 ,the ,whig ,state convention had met to nominate a candidate for governor1 and the most eminent ,whigs of ,massachusetts were present4 ,curiously enough the meeting was presided over by ex-,governor ,levi ,lincoln1 a descendant1 like ,abraham ,lincoln1 from the original ,samuel of ,hingham4 ,there were many brilliant speeches made2 but if we are to trust the reports of the day1 ,lincoln's was the one which by its logic1 its clearness1 and its humor1 did most for the ,whig cause4 ,gentlemen inform me1 says one ,boston reporter1 who came too late for the exercises1 that it was one of the best speeches ever heard in ,worcester1 and that several ,whigs who had gone off on the ,free ,soil fizzle have come back again to the ,whig ranks4 ,a report was made and printed in the ,boston ,advertiser1 though it has hitherto been entirely overlooked by biographers of ,lincoln4 ,a search made for this magazine through the files of the ,boston and ,worcester papers of the year brought it to light1 and we reprint it here for the first time4 ,it gives concisely what ,lincoln thought about the slavery question in #ahdh4 ,the report reads3 ,mr4 ,lincoln has a very tall and thin figure1 with an intellectual face1 showing a searching mind and a cool judgment4 ,he spoke in a clear and cool and very eloquent manner for an hour and a half1 carrying the audience with him in his able arguments and brilliant illustrations--only interrupted by warm and frequent applause4 ,he began by expressing a real feeling of modesty in addressing an audience this 'side of the mountains1' a part of the country where1 in the opinion of the people of his section1 everybody was supposed to be instructed and wise4 ,but he had devoted his attention to the question of the coming ,presidential election1 and was not unwilling to exchange with all whom he might the ideas to which he had arrived4 ,he then began to show the fallacy of some of the arguments against ,general ,taylor1 making his chief theme the fashionable statement of all those who oppose him 7the old ,locofocos as well as the new71 that he has no principles1 and that the ,whig party have abandoned their principles by adopting him as their candidate4 ,he maintained that ,general ,taylor occupied a high and unexceptionable ,whig ground1 and took for his first instance and proof of this his statement in the ,allison letter--with regard to the ,bank1 ,tariff1 ,rivers and ,harbors1 etc4--that the will of the people should produce its own results1 without executive influence4 ,the principle that the people should do what--under the ,constitution--they please1 is a ,whig principle4 ,all that1 ,general ,taylor not only consents to1 but appeals to the people to judge and act for themselves4 ,and this was no new doctrine for ,whigs4 ,it was the 'platform' on which they had fought all their battles1 the resistance of executive influence1 and the principle of enabling the people to frame the government according to their will4 ,general ,taylor consents to be the candidate1 and to assist the people to do what they think to be their duty1 and think to be best in their national affairs2 but because he don't want to tell what we ought to do1 he is accused of having no principles4 ,the ,whigs have maintained for years that neither the influence1 the duress1 nor the prohibition of the executive should control the legitimately expressed will of the people2 and now that on that very ground ,general ,taylor says that he should use the power given him by the people to do1 to the best of his judgment1 the will of the people1 he is accused of want of principle and of inconsistency in position4 ,mr4 ,lincoln proceeded to examine the absurdity of an attempt to make a platform or creed for a national party1 to all parts of which all must consent and agree1 when it was clearly the intention and the true philosophy of our government1 that in ,congress all opinions and principles should be represented1 and that when the wisdom of all had been compared and united1 the will of the majority should be carried out4 ,on this ground he conceived 7and the audience seemed to go with him7 that ,general ,taylor held correct1 sound republican principles4 ,illustration3 ,,levi ,,lincoln1 ,,governor ,,of ,,massachusetts ,,from #ahbe ,,to #ahcd4 ,from a photograph kindly loaned by ,miss ,frances ,m4 ,lincoln of ,worcester1 ,massachusetts1 after a painting by ,chester ,harding4 ,levi ,lincoln was born in ,worcester1 ,massachusetts1 in #aghb1 and died there in #ahfh4 ,he was a fourth cousin of ,thomas ,lincoln1 father of the ,president1 being descended from the oldest son of ,samuel ,lincoln of ,hingham1 ,massachusetts1 from whose fourth son1 ,mordecai1 ,abraham ,lincoln descended4 ,levi ,lincoln was a graduate of ,harvard1 and studied law1 practising in ,worcester4 ,he filled many important public positions in the ,state1 serving in the legislature1 and as lieutenant-governor1 judge of the ,supreme ,court1 and from #ahbe to #ahcd as governor4 ,he represented the ,whigs in ,congress from #ahce to #ahda1 and after the expiration of his term was made collector of the port of ,boston4 ,levi ,lincoln was an active member of several learned societies1 and prominent in all the public functions of his ,state4 ,in #ahdh1 when ,abraham ,lincoln1 then member of ,congress1 spoke in ,worcester1 ex-,governor ,lincoln presided4 ,mr4 ,lincoln then passed to the subject of slavery in the ,states1 saying that the people of ,illinois agreed entirely with the people of ,massachusetts on this subject1 except1 perhaps1 that they did not keep so constantly thinking about it4 ,all agreed that slavery was an evil1 but that we were not responsible for it1 and cannot affect it in ,states of this ,union where we do not live4 ,but the question of the extension of slavery to new territories of this country is a part of our responsibility and care1 and is under our control4 ,in opposition to this ,mr4 ,lincoln believed that the self-named ',free ,soil' party was far behind the ,whigs4 ,both parties opposed the extension4 ,as he understood it1 the new party had no principle except this opposition4 ,if their platform held any other1 it was in such a general way that it was like the pair of pantaloons the ,yankee peddler offered for sale1 'large enough for any man1 small enough for any boy4' ,they therefore had taken a position calculated to break down their single important declared object4 ,they were working for the election of either ,general ,cass or ,general ,taylor4 ,the speaker then went on to show1 clearly and eloquently1 the danger of extension of slavery likely to result from the election of ,general ,cass4 ,to unite with those who annexed the new territory1 to prevent the extension of slavery in that territory1 seemed to him to be in the highest degree absurd and ridiculous4 ,suppose these gentlemen succeed in electing ,mr4 ,van ,buren1 they had no specific means to prevent the extension of slavery to ,new ,mexico and ,california2 and ,general ,taylor1 he confidently believed1 would not encourage it1 and would not prohibit its restriction4 ,but if ,general ,cass was elected1 he felt certain that the plans of farther extension of territory would be encouraged1 and those of the extension of slavery would meet no check4 ,the ',free ,soil' men1 in claiming that name1 indirectly attempt a deception1 by implying that ,whigs were not ,free ,soil men4 ,in declaring that they would 'do their duty and leave the consequences to ,god1' they merely gave an excuse for taking a course they were not able to maintain by a fair and full argument4 ,to make this declaration did not show what their duty was4 ,if it did1 we should have no use for judgment2 we might as well be made without intellect2 and when divine or human law does not clearly point out what is our duty1 we have no means of finding out what it is but using our most intelligent judgment of the consequences4 ,if there were divine law or human law for voting for ,martin ,van ,buren1 or if a fair examination of the consequences and first reasoning would show that voting for him would bring about the ends they pretended to wish1 then he would give up the argument4 ,but since there was no fixed law on the subject1 and since the whole probable result of their action would be an assistance in electing ,general ,cass1 he must say that they were behind the ,whigs in their advocacy of the freedom of the soil4 ,mr4 ,lincoln proceeded to rally the ,buffalo convention for forbearing to say anything--after all the previous declarations of those members who were formerly ,whigs--on the subject of the ,mexican ,war because the ,van ,burens had been known to have supported it4 ,he declared that of all the parties asking the confidence of the country1 this new one had less of principle than any other4 ,he wondered whether it was still the opinion of these ,free ,soil gentlemen1 as declared in the 'whereas' at ,buffalo1 that the ,whig and ,democratic parties were both entirely dissolved and absorbed into their own body4 ,had the ,vermont election given them any light8 ,they had calculated on making as great an impression in that ,state as in any part of the ,union1 and there their attempts had been wholly ineffectual4 ,their failure there was a greater success than they would find in any other part of the ,union4 ,mr4 ,lincoln went on to say that he honestly believed that1 if all those who wished to keep up the character of the ,union1 who did not believe in enlarging our field1 but in keeping our fences where they are1 and cultivating our present possessions1 making it a garden1 improving the morals and education of the people1 devoting the administrations to this purpose--all real ,whigs1 friends of good honest government--will unite1 the race was ours4 ,he had opportunities of hearing from almost every part of the ,union1 from reliable sources1 and had not heard of a county in which we had not received accessions from other parties4 ,if the true ,whigs come forward and join these new friends1 they need not have a doubt4 ,we had a candidate whose personal character and principles he had already described1 whom he could not eulogize if he would4 ,general ,taylor had been constantly1 perseveringly1 quietly standing up1 doing his duty1 and asking no praise or reward for it4 ,he was and must be just the man to whom the interests1 principles1 and prosperity of the country might be safely intrusted4 ,he had never failed in anything he had undertaken1 although many of his duties had been considered almost impossible4 ,mr4 ,lincoln then went into a terse though rapid review of the origin of the ,mexican ,war1 and the connection of the administration and ,general ,taylor with it1 from which he deduced a strong appeal to the ,whigs present to do their duty in the support of ,general ,taylor1 and closed with the warmest aspirations for and confidence in a deserved success4 ,at the close of this truly masterly and convincing speech1 the audience gave three enthusiastic cheers for ,illinois1 and three more for the eloquent ,whig member from that ,state4 ,after the speech at ,worcester1 ,lincoln spoke at ,dorchester1 ,dedham1 ,roxbury1 and ,chelsea1 and on ,september #bb;d1 in ,tremont ,temple1 ,boston1#ad following a splendid oration by ,governor ,seward4 ,his speech on this occasion was not reported1 though the ,boston papers united in calling it powerful and convincing4 ,his success at ,worcester and ,boston was such that invitations came from all over ,new ,england asking him to speak1 and ,the ,atlas1 to which many of these requests were sent1 was obliged finally to print the following note3 ,footnote #ad3 ,at this meeting the secretary was ,ezra ,lincoln1 also a descendant of ,samuel ,lincoln of ,hingham4 ,,hon4 ,,abraham ,,lincoln4 ,in answer to the many applications which we daily receive from different parts of the ,state for this gentleman to speak1 we have to say that he left ,boston on ,saturday morning on his way home to ,illinois4 ,but ,lincoln won something in ,new ,england of vastly deeper importance than a reputation for making popular campaign speeches4 ,he for the first time caught a glimpse of the utter irreconcilableness of the ,northern conviction that slavery was evil and unendurable1 and the ,southern claim that it was divine and necessary2 and he began here to realize that something must be done4 ,listening to ,seward's speech in ,tremont ,temple1 he seems to have had a sudden insight into the truth1 a quick illumination2 and that night1 as the two men sat talking1 he said gravely to the great anti-slavery advocate3 ,governor ,seward1 ,i have been thinking about what you said in your speech4 ,i reckon you are right4 ,we have got to deal with this slavery question1 and got to give much more attention to it hereafter than we have been doing4 ,,begun ,,in ,,the ,,april ,,number4 ,illustration3 ,,phroso ,a ,,tale ,,of ,,brave ,,deeds ,,and ,,perilous ,,ventures ,,by ,,anthony ,,hope1 ,author of ,the ,prisoner of ,zenda1 ,the ,dolly ,dialogues1 etc4 ,,summary ,,of ,,chapters ,,already ,,published4 ,lord ,charles ,wheatley1 having taken leave in ,london 7in a parting not overcharged with emotion7 of ,miss ,beatrice ,hipgrave1 to whom he is to be married in a year2 of her mother1 ,mrs4 ,kennett ,hipgrave4 and of ,mr4 ,bennett ,hamlyn1 a rich young man who gives promise of seeing that ,miss ,hipgrave does not wholly lack a man's attentions in the absence of her lover1--sets put to enter possession of a remote ,greek island1 ,neopalia1 which he has purchased of the hereditary lord1 ,stefanopoulos4 ,but on arriving he finds himself anything but welcome4 ,he and his companions1--namely1 his cousin1 ,denny ,swinton2 his factotum1 ,hogvardt2 and his servant1 ,watkins1--are at once locked up2 and though released soon1 it is with a warning from the populace1 headed by ,vlacho1 the innkeeper1 that if found on the island after six o'clock the next morning1 their lives will not be worth much4 ,toward midnight1 little disposed to sleep1 and curious to look about somewhat before leaving the island1 they stroll inland1 and come by chance upon the manor-house1 still and apparently deserted4 ,curiosity drives them to enter4 ,they find ,lord ,stefanopoulos1 whom ,vlacho had reported to them as recently dead of a fever1 not dead1 but on the point of dying--from a dagger wound4 ,and the wound1 they learn from his own lips1 was given him by his nephew1 ,constantine1 in a tumult that arose a few hours before when the people came up to protest against the sale of the island1 and to persuade the lord to send the strangers away4 ,constantine1 it further appears1 is making them all their trouble1 having come to the island just ahead of them to that end1 after learning their plans by overhearing ,wheatley talking in a ,london restaurant4 ,in the darkness1 on their way up1 they have met a man and a woman going toward the village4 ,the man1 by his voice1 they knew to be ,constantine4 ,the woman1 they now learn1 was the ,lady ,euphrosyne1 cousin of ,constantine and heiress to the island4 ,from talk overheard between her and ,constantine1 she had seemed to be1 while desirous of their departure1 also anxious to spare them harm4 ,in full possession of the house1 they decide to stand siege1 though scant of provisions and ammunition1 and armed only with their own revolvers and a rifle left behind by ,constantine4 ,soon ,stefanopoulos dies1 and by an old serving-woman they send warning to ,constantine that he shall be brought to justice for his crime4 ,thus passes the night4 ,next morning ,wheatley's attention is engaged by a woman studying them through a field-glass from before a small bungalow1 higher up the mountain4 ,then ,vlacho1 the innkeeper1 presents himself for a parley1 of which nothing comes but the disclosure that ,constantine is pledged to marry ,euphrosyne1 while already secretly married to another woman4 ,the evening falls with the death-chant sounding in the air--a chant made by ,alexander the ,bard when an earlier ,lord ,stefanopoulos was killed by the people for having tried to sell the island4 ,lord ,wheatley himself tells the story4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,a ,,raid ,,and ,a ,,raider4 ,it was between eight and nine o'clock when the first of the enemy appeared on the road1 in the persons of two smart fellows in gleaming kilts and braided jackets4 ,it was no more than just dusk1 and ,i saw that they were strangers to me4 ,one was tall and broad1 the other shorter1 and of very slight build4 ,they came on towards us confidently enough4 ,i was looking over ,denny's shoulder2 he held ,constantine's rifle1 and ,i knew that he was impatient to try it4 ,but inasmuch as might was certainly not on our side1 ,i was determined that right should abide with us1 and was resolute not to begin hostilities4 ,constantine had at least one powerful motive for wishing our destruction2 ,i would not furnish him with any plausible excuse for indulging his desire4 ,so we stood1 ,denny and ,i at one window1 ,hogvardt and ,watkins at the other1 and watched the approaching figures4 ,no more appeared2 the main body did not show itself1 and the sound of the fierce chant had suddenly died away4 ,but all at once a third man appeared1 running rapidly after the first two4 ,he caught the shorter by the arm1 and seemed to argue or expostulate with him4 ,for a while the three stood thus talking2 then ,i saw the last comer make a gesture of protest1 and they all came on together4 ,push the barrel of that rifle a little farther out1 said ,i to ,denny1 ,it may be useful to them to know it's there4 ,denny obeyed4 ,the result was a sudden pause in our friends' advance2 but they were near enough now for me to distinguish the last comer1 and ,i discerned in him1 although he wore the native costume1 and had discarded his tweed suit1 ,constantine ,stefanopoulos himself4 ,here's an exercise of self-control1 ,i groaned1 laying a detaining hand on ,denny's shoulder4 ,as ,i spoke1 ,constantine put a whistle to his lips and blew loudly4 ,the blast was followed by the appearance of five more fellows4 ,in three of them ,i recognized old acquaintances--,vlacho1 ,demetri1 and ,spiro4 ,these three all carried guns2 and the whole eight came forward again1 till they were within a hundred yards of us4 ,there they halted1 and1 with a sudden1 swift movement1 three barrels were levelled at the window where ,denny and ,i were looking out4 ,well1 we ducked4 ,there is no use in denying it4 ,for we thought that the fusillade had really begun4 ,yet no shot followed1 and1 after an instant1 holding ,denny down1 ,i peered out cautiously myself4 ,the three stood motionless1 their aim full on us4 ,the other five were advancing cautiously1 well under the shelter of the rock1 two on one side of the road and three on the other4 ,the slim1 boyish fellow was with ,constantine1 on our right hand2 a moment later the other three dashed across the road and joined them4 ,suddenly what military men call the objective1 the aim of these manoeuvres1 flashed across me4 ,it was simple almost to ludicrousness2 yet it was very serious1 for it showed a reasoned plan of campaign1 with which we were very ill prepared to cope4 ,while the three held us in check1 the five were going to carry off our cows4 ,and without our cows we should soon be hard put to it for food4 ,for the cows had formed in our plans a most important pice de rsistance4 ,this won't do1 said ,i4 ,they're after the cows4 ,and ,i took the rifle from ,denny's hand1 cautioning him not to show his face at the window4 ,then ,i stood in the shelter of the wall1 so that ,i could not be hit by the three1 and levelled the rifle1 not at any human enemies1 but at the unoffending cows4 ,a dead cow1 ,i remarked1 is a great deal harder to move than a live one4 ,the five had now come quite near the pen of rude hurdles in which the cows were4 ,as ,i spoke1 ,constantine appeared to give some order2 and while he and the boy stood looking on1 ,constantine leaning on his gun1 the boy's hand resting with jaunty elegance on the handle of the knife in his girdle1 the others leaped over the hurdles4 ,crack1 went the rifle6 ,a cow fell6 ,i reloaded hastily4 ,crack6 ,and the second cow fell4 ,it was very fair shooting in such a bad light1 for ,i hit both mortally2 and my skill was rewarded by a shout of anger from the robbers 7for robbers they were2 ,i had bought the live stock74 ,carry them off now6 ,i cried1 carelessly showing myself at the window4 ,but ,i did not stay there long1 for three shots rang out1 and the bullets pattered on the masonry above me4 ,luckily the covering party had aimed a trifle too high4 ,no more milk1 my lord1 observed ,watkins1 in a regretful tone4 ,he had seen the catastrophe from the other window4 ,the besiegers were checked4 ,they leaped out of the pen with alacrity4 ,i suppose they realized that they were exposed to my fire1 while at that particular angle ,i was protected from the attack of their friends4 ,they withdrew to the middle of the road1 selecting a spot at which ,i could not take aim without showing myself at the window4 ,i dared not look out to see what they were doing4 ,but presently ,hogvardt risked a glance1 and called out that they were in retreat1 and had rejoined the three1 and that the whole body stood together in consultation1 and were no longer covering my window4 ,so ,i looked out1 and saw the boy standing in an easy1 graceful attitude1 while ,constantine and ,vlacho talked a little apart4 ,it was growing considerably darker now1 and the figures became dim and indistinct4 ,i think the fun's over for to-night1 said ,i1 glad to have it over so cheaply4 ,indeed1 what ,i said seemed to be true1 for the next moment the group turned1 and began to retreat along the road1 moving briskly out of our sight4 ,we were left in the thick gloom of a moonless evening and the peaceful silence of still air4 ,they'll come back and fetch the cows1 said ,hogvardt4 ,could we not drag one in1 my lord1 and put it where the goat is1 behind the house8 ,i approved of this suggestion1 and ,watkins having found a rope1 ,i armed ,denny with the rifle1 took from the wall a large1 keen hunting-knife1 opened the door1 and stole out1 accompanied by ,hogvardt and ,watkins1 who carried their revolvers4 ,we reached the pen without interruption1 tied our rope firmly round the horns of one of the dead beasts1 and set to work to drag it along4 ,it was no child's play1 and our progress was very slow2 but the carcass moved1 and ,i gave a shout of encouragement as we got it down to the smoother ground of the road and hauled it along with a will4 ,alas6 that shout was a great indiscretion4 ,i had been too hasty in assuming that our enemy was quite gone4 ,we heard suddenly the rush of feet2 shots whistled over our heads2 we had but just time to drop the rope and turn round when ,denny's rifle rang out1 and then--somebody was at us6 ,i really do not know exactly how many there were4 ,i had two at me1 but by great good luck ,i drove my big knife into one fellow's arm at the first hazard1 and ,i think that was enough for him4 ,in my other assailant ,i recognized ,vlacho4 ,the fat innkeeper had got rid of his gun1 and had a knife much like the one ,i carried myself4 ,i knew him more by his voice1 as he cried fiercely1 ,come on1 than by his appearance1 for the darkness was thick now4 ,parrying his fierce thrusts--he was very active for so stout a man--,i called out to our people to fall back as quickly as they could1 for ,i did not know but that we might be taken in the rear also4 ,but discipline is hard to maintain in such a force as mine4 ,bosh6 cried ,denny's voice4 ,mein ,gott1 no6 exclaimed ,hogvardt4 ,watkins said nothing1 but for once in his life he also disobeyed me4 ,well1 if they would not do as ,i said1 ,i must do as they did4 ,the line advanced--the whole line1 as at ,waterloo4 ,we pressed them hard4 ,i heard a revolver fired and a cry follow4 ,fat ,vlacho slackened in his attack1 wavered1 halted1 turned and ran4 ,a shout of triumph from ,denny told me that the battle was going well there4 ,fired with victory1 ,i set myself for a chase4 ,but1 alas6 my pride was checked4 ,before ,i had gone two yards ,i fell headlong over the body for which we had been fighting 7as ,greeks and ,trojans fought for the body of ,hector71 and came to an abrupt stop1 sprawling most ignominiously over the cow's broad back4 ,stop6 stop6 ,i cried4 ,wait a bit1 ,denny4 ,i'm down over this infernal cow6 ,it was an inglorious ending to the exploits of the evening4 ,prudence1 or my cry1 stopped them4 ,the enemy were in full retreat2 their steps pattered quick along the rocky road1 and ,denny observed in a tone of immense satisfaction3 ,i think that's our trick1 ,charlie1 ,are you hurt8 ,i asked1 scrambling to my feet4 ,watkins owned to a crack from the stock of a gun on his right shoulder2 ,hogvardt to a graze of a knife on the arm4 ,denny was unhurt4 ,we had reason to suppose that we had left our mark on at least two of the enemy4 ,for so great a victory it was cheaply bought4 ,we'll just drag in the cow1 said ,i--,i like to stick to my point--and then we might see if there's anything in the cellar4 ,we did drag in the cow2 we dragged it through the house1 and finally bestowed it in the compound behind4 ,hogvardt suggested that we should fetch the other also2 but ,i had no mind for another surprise1 which might not end so happily1 and ,i decided to run the risk of leaving the second animal till the morning4 ,so ,watkins went off to seek for some wine1 for which we all felt very ready1 and ,i went to the door with the intention of securing it4 ,but before ,i did so ,i stood for a moment on the step1 looking out into the night1 and snuffing the sweet1 clear1 pure air4 ,it was in quiet moments like this1 not in the tumult that had just passed1 that ,i had pictured my beautiful island2 and the love of it came on me now1 and made me swear that these fellows and their arch ruffian ,constantine should not drive me out of it without some more and more serious blows than had been struck that night4 ,if ,i could get away safely1 and return with enough force to keep them quiet1 ,i would pursue that course4 ,if not--well1 ,i believe ,i had very blood-thirsty thoughts in my mind1 as even the most peaceable man will have1 when he has been served as ,i had and his friends roughly handled on his account4 ,having registered these determinations1 ,i was about to proceed with my task of securing the door1 when ,i heard a sound that startled me4 ,there was nothing hostile or alarming about it1 rather it was pathetic and appealing2 and1 in spite of my previous truculence of mind1 it caused me to exclaim3 ,hullo1 is that one of those poor beggars mauled8 ,for the sound was a slight1 painful sigh1 as of somebody in suffering1 and it seemed to come from out of the darkness about a dozen yards ahead of me4 ,my first impulse was to go straight to the spot2 but ,i had begun by now to doubt whether the ,neopalians were not unsophisticated in quite as peculiar a sense as that in which they were good-hearted2 so ,i called ,denny and ,hogvardt1 bidding the latter to bring his lantern with him4 ,thus protected1 ,i stepped out of the door1 in the direction from which the sigh had come4 ,apparently we were to crown our victory by the capture of a wounded enemy4 ,an exclamation from ,hogvardt told me that he1 aided by the lantern1 had come upon the quarry2 but ,hogvardt spoke in disgust rather than triumph4 ,oh1 it's only the little one6 said he4 ,what's wrong with him1 ,i wonder4 ,he stooped down1 and examined the prostrate form4 ,by heaven1 ,i believe he's not touched6 ,yes1 there's a bump on his forehead2 but not big enough for any of us to have given it4 ,by this time ,denny and ,i were with him1 and we looked down on the boy's pale face1 which seemed almost death-like in the glare of the lantern4 ,the bump was not such a very small one1 but it would not have been made by any of our weapons1 for the flesh was not cut4 ,a moment's further inspection showed that it must be the result of a fall on the hard1 rocky road4 ,perhaps he tripped on the cord1 as you did on the cow2 suggested ,denny1 with a grin4 ,it seemed likely enough1 but ,i gave very little thought to it1 for ,i was busy studying the boy's face4 ,no doubt1 said ,hogvardt1 he fell in running away1 and was stunned2 and they did not notice it in the dark1 or were afraid to stop4 ,but they'll be back1 my lord1 and soon4 ,carry him inside1 said ,i4 ,it won't hurt us to have a hostage4 ,denny lifted the lad in his long arms--,denny was a tall1 powerful fellow--and strode off with him4 ,i followed1 wondering who it was that we had got hold of2 for the boy was strikingly handsome4 ,i was last in1 and barred the door4 ,denny had set our prisoner down in an armchair1 where he sat now1 conscious again1 but still with a dazed look in his large1 dark eyes1 as he looked from me to the rest1 and back again to me1 finally fixing a long glance on my face4 ,well1 young man1 said ,i1 you've begun this sort of thing early4 ,lifting cattle and taking murder in the day's work is pretty good for a youngster like you4 ,who are you8 ,where am ,i8 he cried1 in that blurred1 indistinct kind of voice that comes with mental bewilderment4 ,you're in my house1 said ,i1 and the rest of your infernal gang's outside1 and going to stay there4 ,so you must make the best of it4 ,the boy turned his head away and closed his eyes4 ,suddenly ,i snatched the lantern from ,hogvardt4 ,but ,i paused before ,i brought it close to the boy's face1 as ,i had meant to do1 and ,i said3 ,you fellows go and get something to eat and a snooze1 if you like4 ,i'll look after this youngster4 ,i'll call you if anything happens outside4 ,after a few unselfish protests1 they did as ,i bade them4 ,i was left alone in the hall with the prisoner1 and merry voices from the kitchen told me that the battle was being fought again over the wine4 ,i set the lantern close to the boy's face4 ,h'm6 said ,i1 after a prolonged scrutiny4 ,then ,i sat down on the table1 and began to hum softly that wretched chant of ,one-eyed ,alexander's1 which had a terrible trick of sticking in a man's head4 ,for a few minutes ,i hummed4 ,the lad shivered1 stirred uneasily1 and opened his eyes4 ,i had never seen such eyes1 and ,i could not conscientiously except even ,beatrice ,hipgrave's1 which were in their way quite fine4 ,i hummed away1 and the boy said1 still in a dreamy voice1 but with an imploring gesture of his hand3 ,ah1 no1 not that6 ,not that1 ,constantine6 ,he's a tender-hearted youth1 said ,i2 and ,i was smiling now4 ,the whole episode was singularly unusual and interesting4 ,the boy's eyes were on mine again4 ,i met his glance full and square4 ,then ,i poured out some water1 and gave it to him4 ,he took it with trembling hand--the hand did not escape my notice--and drank it eagerly1 setting the glass down with a sigh4 ,i am ,lord ,wheatley1 said ,i1 nodding to him4 ,you came to steal my cattle1 and murder me1 if it happened to be convenient1 you know4 ,the boy flashed out at me in a minute3 ,i didn't4 ,i thought you'd surrender1 if we got the cattle away4 ,you thought1 said ,i1 scornfully4 ,i suppose you did as you were bid4 ,no2 ,i told ,constantine that they weren't to-- ,the boy stopped short1 looked round him1 and said in a questioning voice3 ,where are all the rest of my people8 ,the rest of your people1 said ,i1 have run away4 ,you are in my hands4 ,i can do just as ,i please with you4 ,his lips set in an obstinate curve1 but he made no answer4 ,i went on as sternly as ,i could3 ,and when ,i think of what ,i saw here yesterday--of that poor old man stabbed by your blood-thirsty crew-- ,it was an accident1 he cried1 sharply2 the voice had lost its dreaminess1 and sounded clear now4 ,we'll see about that when we get ,constantine and ,vlacho before a judge1 ,i retorted grimly4 ,anyhow1 he was foully stabbed in his own house1 for doing what he had a perfect right to do4 ,he had no right to sell the island1 cried the boy2 and he rose for a moment to his feet1 with a proud air1 only to sink back again into the chair and stretch out his hand for water again4 ,now at this moment ,denny1 refreshed by meat and drink1 and in the highest of spirits1 bounded into the hall4 ,how's the prisoner8 he cried4 ,oh1 he's all right4 ,there's nothing the matter with him1 ,i said2 and1 as ,i spoke1 ,i moved the lantern1 so that the boy's face and figure were again in shadow4 ,that's all right1 observed ,denny1 cheerfully4 ,because ,i thought1 ,charlie1 we might get a little information out of him4 ,perhaps he won't speak1 ,i suggested1 casting a glance at the captive1 who sat now motionless in the chair4 ,oh1 ,i think he will1 said ,denny1 confidently2 and ,i observed for the first time that he held a very substantial looking whip in his hand2 he must have found it in the kitchen4 ,we'll give the young ruffian a taste of this1 if he's obstinate1 said ,denny2 and ,i cannot say that his tone witnessed any great desire that the boy should prove at once compliant4 ,i shifted my lantern so that ,i could see the proud young face while ,denny could not4 ,the boy's eyes met mine defiantly4 ,you hear what he proposes8 ,i asked4 ,will you tell us all we want to know8 ,the boy made no answer1 but ,i saw trouble in his face1 and his eyes did not meet mine so boldly now4 ,we'll soon find a tongue for him1 said ,denny1 in cheerful barbarity2 upon my word1 he richly deserves a thrashing4 ,say the word1 ,charlie4 ,we haven't asked him anything yet1 said ,i4 ,oh1 ,i'll ask him something4 ,look here1 who was the fellow with you and ,vlacho8 ,the boy was silent2 defiance and fear struggled in the dark eyes4 ,you see1 he's an obstinate beggar1 said ,denny1 as though he had observed all necessary forms and could now get to business2 and he drew the lash of the whip through his fingers4 ,i am afraid ,denny was rather looking forward to executing justice with his own hands4 ,the boy rose again1 and stood facing that heartless young ruffian1 ,denny--it was thus that ,i thought of ,denny at the moment--then once again he sank back into his seat1 and covered his face with his hands4 ,well1 ,i wouldn't go out killing if ,i hadn't more pluck than that1 said ,denny1 scornfully4 ,you're not fit for the trade1 my lad4 ,the boy had no retort4 ,his face was buried in those slim hands of his4 ,for a moment he was quite still4 ,then he moved a little2 it was a movement that spoke of helpless pain1 and ,i heard something very like a stifled sob4 ,just leave us alone a little1 ,denny1 said ,i4 ,he may tell me what he won't tell you4 ,are you going to let him off8 demanded ,denny1 suspiciously4 ,you never can be stiff in the back1 ,charlie4 ,i must see if he won't speak to me first1 ,i pleaded1 meekly4 ,but if he won't8 insisted ,denny4 ,if he won't1 said ,i1 and you still wish it1 you may do what you like4 ,denny sheered off to the kitchen1 with an air that did not seek to conceal his opinion of my foolish tender-heartedness4 ,again ,i was alone with the boy4 ,my friend is right1 said ,i1 gravely4 ,you are not fit for the trade4 ,how came you to be in it8 ,my question brought a new look1 as the boy's hands dropped from his face4 ,how came you1 said ,i1 who ought to restrain these rascals1 to be at their head8 ,how came you1 who ought to shun the society of men like ,constantine ,stefanopoulos and his tool ,vlacho1 to be working with them8 ,i got no answer2 only a frightened look appealed to me in the white glare of ,hogvardt's lantern4 ,i came a step nearer1 and leaned forward to ask my next question3 ,who are you8 ,what's your name8 ,my name--my name8 stammered the prisoner4 ,i won't tell my name4 ,you'll tell me nothing8 ,you heard what ,i promised my friend8 ,yes1 ,i heard1 said the lad1 with a face utterly pale1 but with eyes that were again set in fierce determination4 ,i laughed a low laugh4 ,i believe you are fit for the trade1 after all1 said ,i2 and ,i looked with mingled distaste and admiration on him4 ,but ,i had my last weapon still1 my last question4 ,i turned the lantern full on his face2 ,i leaned forward again1 and said1 in distinct1 low tones--and the question sounded an absurd one to be spoken in such an impressive way3 ,do you generally wear clothes like these8 ,i had got home with that question4 ,the pallor vanished2 the haughty eyes sank4 ,i saw long1 drooping lashes and a burning flush2 and the boy's face once again sought his hands4 ,at the moment ,i heard chairs pushed back in the kitchen4 ,in came ,hogvardt1 with an amused smile on his broad face2 in came ,watkins1 with his impassive acquiescence in anything that his lordship might order2 in came ,master ,denny1 brandishing his whip in jovial relentlessness4 ,well1 has he told you anything8 cried ,denny4 ,it was plain that he hoped for the answer ,no4 ,i have asked him half a dozen questions1 said ,i1 and he has not answered one4 ,all right1 said ,denny1 with wonderful emphasis4 ,had ,i been wrong to extort this much punishment for my most inhospitable reception8 ,sometimes now ,i think that it was cruel4 ,in that night much had occurred to breed viciousness in a man of the most equable temper4 ,but the thing had now gone to the extreme limit to which it could2 and ,i said to ,denny3 ,it's a gross case of obstinacy1 of course1 ,denny2 but ,i don't see very well how we can horsewhip the lady6 ,a sudden1 astounded cry1 ,the lady6 rang from three pairs of lips2 the lady herself dropped her head on the table1 and fenced her face round about with her protecting arms4 ,you see1 said ,i1 this lad is the ,lady ,euphrosyne4 ,for who else could it be that would give orders to ,constantine ,stefanopoulos1 and ask where my people were8 ,who else1 ,i also asked myself1 save the daughter of the noble house1 would boast the air1 the hands1 the face1 that graced our young prisoner8 ,in all certainty it was ,lady ,euphrosyne4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,the ,,cottage ,,on ,,the ,,hill4 ,the effect of my remark was curious4 ,denny turned scarlet1 and flung his whip down on the table2 the others stood for a moment motionless1 then turned tail and slunk back to the kitchen4 ,euphrosyne's face remained invisible4 ,however1 ,i felt quite at my ease4 ,i had a triumphant conviction of the importance of my capture1 and a determination that no misplaced chivalry should rob me of it4 ,politeness is1 no doubt1 a duty1 but only a relative duty2 and1 in plain ,english1 men's lives were at stake here4 ,therefore ,i did not make my best bow1 fling open the door1 and tell the lady that she was free to go whither she would2 but ,i said to her in a dry1 severe voice3 ,you had better go1 madam1 to that room you usually occupy here1 while we consider what to do with you4 ,you know where the room is2 ,i don't4 ,she raised her head1 and said in tones that sounded almost eager3 ,my own room8 ,may ,i go there8 ,certainly1 said ,i4 ,i shall accompany you as far as the door2 and when you've gone in1 ,i shall lock the door4 ,this programme was duly carried out1 ,euphrosyne not favoring me with a word during its progress4 ,then ,i returned to the hall1 and said to ,denny3 ,rather a trump card1 isn't she8 ,yes1 but they'll be back pretty soon to look for her1 ,i expect4 ,denny accompanied this remark with such a yawn that ,i suggested he should go to bed4 ,and aren't you going to bed8 he asked4 ,i'll take first watch1 said ,i4 ,it's nearly twelve now4 ,i'll wake you at two1 and you can wake ,hogvardt at five1 and ,watkins will be fit and well at breakfast time1 and can give us roast cow4 ,thus ,i was left alone again2 and ,i sat1 reviewing the position4 ,would the islanders fight for their lady8 ,or would they let us go8 ,they would only let us go1 ,i felt sure1 if ,constantine were outvoted1 for he could not afford to see me leave ,neopalia with a head on my shoulders and a tongue in my mouth4 ,then they probably would fight4 ,well1 ,i calculated that as long as our provisions held out1 we could not be stormed2 our stone fortress was too strong4 ,but we could be beleaguered and starved out1 and should be very soon1 unless the lady's influence could help us4 ,i had just arrived at the conclusion that ,i would talk very seriously to her in the morning1 when ,i heard a remarkable sound4 ,there never was such a place for queer noises1 said ,i1 pricking up my ears4 ,the noise seemed to come from directly above my head2 it sounded as though a light1 stealthy tread were passing over the roof of the hall in which ,i sat4 ,but the only person in the house besides ourselves was the prisoner2 she had been securely locked in her room2 how then could she be on the top of the hall8 ,for her room was in the turret over the door4 ,yet the steps crept over my head1 going toward the kitchen4 ,i snatched up my revolver1 and trod with a stealth equal to the stealth of the steps overhead1 across the hall and into the kitchen beyond4 ,my three companions slept the sleep of tired men1 but ,i ruthlessly roused ,denny4 ,go on guard in the hall1 said ,i2 ,i want to have a look round4 ,denny was sleepy1 but obedient4 ,i saw him start for the hall1 and went on till ,i reached the compound behind the house4 ,here ,i stood1 deep in the shadow of the wall4 ,the steps were now over my head again4 ,i glanced up cautiously1 and above me1 on the roof1 three yards to the right1 ,i saw the flutter of a white kilt4 ,there are more ways out of this house than ,i know1 ,i thought to myself4 ,i heard next a noise as though of something being pushed cautiously along the flat roof4 ,then there protruded from between two of the battlements the end of a ladder6 ,i crouched closer under the wall4 ,the light flight of steps was let down2 it reached the ground2 the kilted figure stepped on it and began to descend4 ,here was the ,lady ,euphrosyne again6 ,her eagerness to go to her own room was fully explained2 there was a way from it across the house and out on to the roof of the kitchen2 the ladder showed that the way was kept in use4 ,i stood still4 ,she reached the ground1 and as her foot touched it she gave the softest possible little laugh of gleeful triumph4 ,a pretty little laugh it was4 ,then she stepped briskly across the compound1 till she reached the rocks on the other side4 ,i crept forward after her1 for ,i was afraid of losing sight of her in the darkness1 and yet did not desire to arrest her progress till ,i saw where she was going4 ,on she went1 skirting the perpendicular drop of rock1 ,i was behind her now4 ,at last she came to the angle formed by the rock running north and that which1 turning to the east1 enclosed the compound4 ,how's she going to get up8 ,i asked myself4 ,but up she began to go--her right foot on the north rock1 her left foot on the east4 ,she ascended with such confidence that it was evident that steps were ready for her feet4 ,she gained the top4 ,i began to mount in the same fashion1 finding steps cut in the face of the cliff4 ,i reached the top1 and ,i saw her standing still1 ten yards ahead of me4 ,she went on4 ,i followed4 ,she stopped1 looked1 saw me1 screamed4 ,i rushed on her4 ,her arms dealt a blow at me--,i caught her hand1 and in her hand there was a little dagger4 ,seizing her other hand1 ,i held her fast4 ,where are you going8 ,i asked in a matter-of-fact tone1 taking no notice of her hasty resort to the dagger4 ,no doubt that was purely a national trait4 ,seeing that she was caught1 she made no attempt to struggle4 ,i was trying to escape1 she said4 ,did you hear me8 ,yes1 ,i heard you4 ,where were you going8 ,why should ,i tell you8 ,shall you threaten me with the whip again8 ,i loosed her hands4 ,she gave a sudden glance up the hill4 ,she seemed to measure the distance4 ,why do you want to go to the top of the hill8 ,i asked4 ,have you friends there8 ,she denied the suggestion1 as ,i thought she would4 ,no1 ,i have not4 ,but anywhere is better than with you4 ,yet there is some one in the cottage up there1 ,i observed4 ,it belongs to ,constantine1 doesn't it8 ,yes1 it does1 she answered1 defiantly4 ,dare you go and seek him there8 ,or dare you only skulk behind the walls of the house8 ,as long as we are only four against a hundred ,i dare only skulk1 ,i answered4 ,she did not annoy me at all by her taunts4 ,but do you think he's there8 ,there6 ,no1 he's in the town--and he'll come from the town to kill you to-morrow4 ,there is nobody there8 ,i pursued4 ,nobody1 she answered4 ,you're wrong1 said ,i4 ,i saw somebody there to-day4 ,oh1 a peasant1 perhaps4 ,well1 the dress didn't look like it4 ,do you really want to go there now8 ,haven't you mocked me enough8 she burst out4 ,take me back to my prison4 ,her tragedy air was quite delightful4 ,but ,i had been leading her up to something which ,i thought she ought to know4 ,there's a woman in that cottage1 said ,i4 ,not a peasant--a woman in some dark-colored dress1 who uses opera glasses4 ,i saw her draw back with a start of surprise4 ,it's false1 she cried4 ,there's no one there4 ,constantine told me no one went there except ,vlacho1 and sometimes ,demetri4 ,do you believe all ,constantine tells you8 ,i asked4 ,why should ,i not8 ,he's my cousin and-- ,and your suitor8 ,she flung her head back proudly4 ,i have no shame in that1 she answered4 ,you would accept his offer8 ,since you ask1 ,i will answer4 ,yes2 ,i have promised my uncle ,i would4 ,good ,god6 said ,i1 for ,i was very sorry for her4 ,the emphasis of my exclamation seemed to startle her afresh4 ,i felt her glance rest on me in puzzled questioning4 ,did ,constantine let you see the old woman whom ,i sent to him8 ,i demanded4 ,no1 she murmured4 ,he told me what she said4 ,that ,i told him he was his uncle's murderer8 ,did you tell her to say that8 she asked1 with a sudden inclination of her body toward me4 ,i did4 ,did he give you the message8 ,she made no answer4 ,i pressed my advantage4 ,on my honor ,i saw what ,i have told you at the cottage1 ,i said4 ,i know what it means no more than you do4 ,but before ,i came here ,i saw ,constantine in ,london4 ,and there ,i heard a lady say she would come with him4 ,did any lady come with him8 ,are you mad8 she asked2 but ,i could hear her breathing quickly1 and ,i knew that her scorn was assumed4 ,i drew suddenly away from her1 and put my hands behind my back4 ,go to the cottage if you like1 said ,i4 ,but ,i won't answer for what you'll find there4 ,you set me free8 she cried with eagerness4 ,free to go to the cottage4 ,you must promise to come back4 ,or ,i'll go to the cottage1 if you'll promise to go back to your room and wait till ,i return4 ,she hesitated1 looking again toward where the cottage was2 but ,i had stirred suspicion and disquietude in her4 ,she dared not face what she might find in the cottage4 ,i'll go back and wait for you1 she said4 ,if ,i went to the cottage and--and all was well1 ,i'm afraid ,i shouldn't come back4 ,the tone sounded softer4 ,i would have sworn a smile or a half smile accompanied the words1 but it was too dark to be sure2 and when ,i leaned forward to look1 ,euphrosyne drew back4 ,then you mustn't go1 said ,i decisively1 ,i can't afford to lose you1 ,but if you let me go1 ,i could let you go1 she cried4 ,could you8 ,without asking ,constantine8 ,besides1 it's my island1 you see4 ,it's not1 she cried1 with a stamp of her foot4 ,and without more she walked straight by me and disappeared over the ledge of rock4 ,two minutes later ,i saw her figure defined against the sky1 a black shadow on the deep gray ground4 ,then she disappeared4 ,i set my face straight for the cottage under the summit of the hill4 ,i knew that ,i had only to go straight1 and ,i must come to the little plateau1 scooped out of the hillside1 on which the cottage stood4 ,i found not a path1 but a sort of rough track that led in the desired direction1 and along this ,i made my way very cautiously4 ,at one point it was joined at right angles by another track1 from the side of the hill where the main road across the island lay4 ,this1 of course1 afforded an approach to the cottage without passing by my house4 ,in twenty minutes the cottage loomed1 a blurred mass1 before me4 ,i fell on my knees and peered at it4 ,there was a light in one of the windows2 ,i crawled nearer4 ,now ,i was on the plateau2 a moment later ,i was under the wooden veranda and beneath the window where the light glowed4 ,my hand was on my revolver4 ,if ,constantine or ,vlacho caught me here1 neither side would be able to stand on trifles2 even my desire for legality would fail under the strain4 ,but for the minute everything was quiet1 and ,i began to fear that ,i should have to return empty-handed2 for it would be growing light in another hour or so1 and ,i must be gone before the day began to appear4 ,ah6 ,there was a sound--a sound that appealed to me after my climb--the sound of wine poured into a glass2 and then came a voice ,i knew4 ,probably they have caught her1 said ,vlacho the innkeeper4 ,what of that8 ,they will not hurt her4 ,and she'll be kept safe4 ,you mean she can't come spying about here8 ,exactly4 ,and that1 my lord1 is an advantage4 ,if she came here-- ,oh the deuce6 laughed ,constantine4 ,but won't the men want me to free her by letting that infernal crew go8 ,not if they think ,wheatley will go to ,rhodes and get soldiers and return4 ,they love the island more than her4 ,it will all go well1 my lord4 ,and this other here8 ,i strained my ears to listen4 ,no answer came2 yet ,vlacho went on as though he had received an answer4 ,these cursed fellows make that difficult1 too1 he said4 ,it would be an epidemic4 ,then he laughed1 seeming to see wit in his own remark4 ,curse them1 yes4 ,we must move cautiously1 said ,constantine4 ,what a nuisance women are1 ,vlacho4 ,ay1 too many of them1 laughed ,vlacho4 ,i had to swear my life out that no one was here--and then1 ',if no one's there1 why mayn't ,i come8' ,you know the sort of thing4 ,indeed1 no1 my lord4 ,you wrong me1 protested ,vlacho1 humorously2 and ,constantine joined in his laugh4 ,you've made up your mind which1 ,i gather8 asked ,vlacho4 ,oh1 this one1 beyond doubt1 answered his master4 ,now1 ,i thought that ,i understood most of this conversation1 and ,i was very sorry that ,euphrosyne was not by my side to listen to it4 ,but ,i had heard about enough for my purpose1 and ,i had turned to crawl away stealthily--it is not well to try fortune too far--when ,i heard the sound of a door opening in the house4 ,constantine's voice followed directly on the sound4 ,ah1 my darling1 my sweet wife1 he cried1 not sleeping yet8 ,where will your beauty be4 ,vlacho and ,i must plot and plan for your sake1 but you need not spoil your eyes with sleeplessness4 ,constantine did it uncommonly well4 ,his manner was a pattern for husbands4 ,i was guilty of a quiet laugh all to myself1 in the veranda4 ,for me8 ,you're sure it's for me8 came in that ,greek tongue with a strange accent which had first fallen on my ears in the ,optimum restaurant4 ,she's jealous1 she's most charmingly jealous6 cried ,constantine1 in playful rapture4 ,does your wife pay you such compliments1 ,vlacho8 ,she has not cause1 my lord4 ,now my ,lady ,francesca thinks she has cause to be jealous of the ,lady ,euphrosyne4 ,constantine laughed scornfully at the suggestion4 ,where is she now8 came swift and sharp from the woman4 ,where is ,euphrosyne8 ,why1 she's a prisoner to that ,englishman1 answered ,constantine4 ,i suppose explanations passed on this point1 for the voices fell to a lower level1 as is apt to happen in the telling of a long story1 and ,i could not catch what passed till ,constantine's tones rose again1 as he said3 ,oh1 yes1 we must have a try at getting her out1 just to satisfy the people4 ,for me1 she might stay there as long as she likes1 for ,i care for her just as little as1 between ourselves1 ,i believe she cares for me4 ,really1 this fellow was a very tidy villain2 as a pair1 ,vlacho and he would be hard to beat--in ,england1 at all events4 ,about ,neopalia ,i had learned to reserve my opinion4 ,such were my reflections as ,i turned to resume my interrupted crawl to safety4 ,but in an instant ,i was still again--still1 and crouching close under the wall1 motionless as an insect that feigns death1 holding my breath1 my hand on the trigger4 ,for the door of the cottage was flung open1 and ,constantine and ,vlacho appeared on the threshold4 ,ah1 said ,vlacho1 dawn is nearly on us4 ,see1 it grows lighter on the horizon4 ,a more serious matter was that1 owing to the opened door and the lamp inside1 it had grown lighter on the veranda1 so light that ,i saw the three figures--for the woman had come also--in the doorway2 so light that my huddled shape would be seen if any of the three turned an eye towards it4 ,i could have picked off both men before they could move2 but a civilized education has drawbacks2 it makes a man scrupulous2 ,i did not fire4 ,i lay still1 hoping that ,i should not be noticed4 ,and ,i should not have been noticed but for one thing4 ,acting up to his part in the ghastly farce which these two ruffians were playing with the wife of one of them1 ,constantine turned to bestow kisses on the woman before he parted from her4 ,vlacho1 in a mockery that was horrible to me who knew his heart1 must needs be facetious4 ,with a laugh he drew back2 he drew back farther still2 he was but a couple of feet from the wall of the house1 and that couple of feet ,i filled4 ,in a moment1 with one step backward1 he would be upon me4 ,perhaps he would not have made that step2 perhaps ,i should have gone1 by grace of that narrow interval1 undetected4 ,but the temptation was too strong for me4 ,the thought of the thing threatened to make me laugh4 ,i had a penknife in my pocket2 ,i opened it1 and ,i dug it hard into that portion of ,vlacho's frame which came most conveniently 7and prominently7 to my hand4 ,then1 leaving the penknife where it was1 ,i leaped up1 gave the howling ruffian a mighty shove1 and with a loud laugh of triumph bolted for my life down the hill4 ,but when ,i had gone twenty yards ,i dropped on my knees1 for bullet after bullet whistled over my head4 ,constantine1 the outraged ,vlacho too1 perhaps1 carried a revolver4 ,and the barrels were being emptied after me4 ,i rose and turned one hasty glance behind me4 ,yes1 ,i saw their dim shapes like moving trees4 ,i fired once1 twice1 thrice1 in my turn1 and then went crashing and rushing down the path that ,i had ascended so cautiously4 ,i cannoned against the tree trunks2 ,i tripped over trailing branches2 ,i stumbled over stones4 ,once ,i paused and fired the rest of my barrels2 a yell told me ,i had hit--but ,vlacho1 alas6 not ,constantine4 ,at the same instant my fire was answered1 and a bullet went through my hat4 ,i was defenceless now1 save for my heels1 and to them ,i took again with all speed4 ,but as ,i crashed along1 one1 at least1 of them came crashing after me4 ,yes1 it was only one4 ,i had checked ,vlacho's career4 ,it was ,constantine alone4 ,i suppose one of your heroes of romance would have stopped and faced him1 for with them it is not etiquette to run away from one man4 ,ah1 well1 ,i ran away4 ,for all ,i knew1 ,constantine might still have a shot in the locker4 ,i had none4 ,and if ,constantine killed me1 he would kill the only man who knew all his secrets4 ,so ,i ran4 ,and just as ,i got within ten yards of the drop into my own territory ,i heard a wild cry1 ,charlie1 ,charlie6 ,where the devil are you1 ,charlie8 ,why1 here1 of course1 said ,i1 coming to the top of the bank and dropping over4 ,i have no doubt that it was the cry uttered by ,denny which gave pause to ,constantine's pursuit4 ,he would not desire to face all four of us4 ,at any rate the sound of his pursuing feet died away and ceased4 ,i suppose he went back to look after ,vlacho and show himself safe and sound to that most unhappy woman1 his wife4 ,as for me1 when ,i found myself safe and sound in the compound1 ,i said1 ,thank ,god6 ,and ,i meant it1 too4 ,then ,i looked round4 ,certainly the sight that met my eyes had a touch of comedy in it4 ,denny1 ,hogvardt1 and ,watkins stood in the compound4 ,their backs were toward me1 and they were all staring up at the roof of the kitchen1 with expressions which the cold light of morning revealed in all their puzzled foolishness4 ,on the top of the roof1 unassailable and out of reach--for no ladder ran from roof to ground now--stood ,euphrosyne1 in her usual attitude of easy grace4 ,and ,euphrosyne was not taking the smallest notice of the helpless three below1 but stood quite still1 with unmoved face1 gazing up toward the cottage4 ,the whole thing reminded me of nothing so much as of a pretty1 composed cat in a tree1 with three infuriated1 helpless terriers barking round the trunk4 ,i began to laugh4 ,what's all the shindy8 called out ,denny4 ,who's doing revolver practice in the wood8 ,and how the dickens did she get there1 ,charlie8 ,but when the still figure on the roof saw me1 the impassivity of it vanished4 ,euphrosyne leant forward1 clasping her hands1 and said to me3 ,have you killed him8 ,the question vexed me4 ,it would have been civil to accompany it1 at all events1 with an inquiry as to my own health4 ,killed him8 ,i answered gruffly4 ,no1 he's sound enough4 ,and-- she began2 but now she glanced1 seemingly for the first time1 at my friends below4 ,you must come and tell me1 she said2 and with that she turned and disappeared from our gaze behind the battlements4 ,i listened intently4 ,no sound came from the wood that rose gray in the new light behind us4 ,what have you been doing8 demanded ,denny1 surlily2 he had not enjoyed ,euphrosyne's scornful attitude4 ,i have been running for my life1 said ,i1 from the biggest scoundrels unhanged4 ,denny1 make a guess who lives in that cottage4 ,constantine8 ,i don't mean him4 ,not ,vlacho--he's at the inn4 ,no1 ,i don't mean ,vlacho4 ,who1 then1 man8 ,some one you've seen4 ,oh1 ,i give it up4 ,it's not the time of day for riddles4 ,the lady who dined at the next table to us at the ,optimum1 said ,i4 ,denny jumped back in amazement1 with a long1 low whistle4 ,what1 the one who was with ,constantine8 he cried4 ,yes1 said ,i4 ,the one who was with ,constantine4 ,they were all three round me now2 and1 thinking that it would be better that they should know what ,i knew1 and four lives instead of one stand between a ruffian and the impunity he hoped for1 ,i raised my voice and went on in an emphatic tone3 ,yes4 ,she's there1 and she's his wife4 ,a moment's astonished silence greeted my announcement4 ,it was broken by none of our party4 ,but there came from the battlemented roof above us a low1 long1 mournful moan that made its way straight to my heart1 armed with its dart of outraged pride and trust betrayed4 ,it was not thus1 boldly and abruptly1 that ,i should have told my news4 ,but ,i did not know that ,euphrosyne was still above us1 hidden by the battlements2 nor had ,i known that she understood ,english4 ,we all looked up4 ,the moan was not repeated4 ,presently we heard slow steps retreating with a faltering tread across the roof2 and we also went into the house in silence and sorrow4 ,for a thing like that gets hold of a man2 and when he has heard it1 it's hard for him to sit down and be merry till the fellow that caused it has paid his reckoning--as ,i swore then and there that ,constantine ,stefanopoulos should pay his4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,the ,,poem ,,of ,,one-,,eyed ,,alexander4 ,there is a matter on my conscience which ,i can't excuse1 but may as well confess4 ,to deceive a maiden is a very sore thing--so sore that it had made us all hot against ,constantine2 but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse1 nay1 whether it is as bad1 as to contrive the murder of a lawful wife4 ,poets have paid more attention to the first--maybe they know more about it2 the law finds greater employment on the whole in respect to the latter4 ,for me1 ,i admit that it was not till ,i found myself stretched on a mattress in the kitchen1 with the idea of getting a few hours' sleep1 that it struck me that ,constantine's wife deserved a share of my concern and care4 ,her grievance against him was at least as great as ,euphrosyne's2 her peril was far greater4 ,for ,euphrosyne was his object1 ,francesca 7for that appeared from ,vlacho's mode of address to be her name7 was an obstacle that prevented his attaining that object4 ,for myself1 ,i should have welcomed a cutthroat if it came as an alternative to ,constantine's society2 but probably his wife would not agree with me2 and the conversation ,i had heard left me in little doubt that her life was not safe4 ,they could not have an epidemic1 ,vlacho had prudently reminded his master2 the island fever could not kill ,constantine's wife and our party all in a day or two4 ,men suspect such obliging maladies1 and the old lord had died of it1 pat to the happy moment1 already4 ,but if the thing could be done1 if it could be so managed that ,london1 ,paris1 and the ,riviera would find nothing strange in the disappearance of one ,madame ,stefanopoulos and the appearance of another1 why1 to a certainty1 done the thing would be1 unless ,i could warn or save the woman in the cottage4 ,but ,i did not see how to do either4 ,so 7as ,i set out to confess7 ,i dropped the subject4 ,and when ,i went to sleep ,i was thinking1 not how to save ,francesca1 but how to console ,euphrosyne1 a matter really of less urgency1 as ,i should have seen had not the echo of that sad little cry still filled my ears4 ,the news that ,hogvardt brought me1 when ,i woke in the morning and was enjoying a slice of cow steak1 by no means cleared my way4 ,an actual attack did not seem imminent--,i fancy these fierce islanders were not too fond of our revolvers--but the house was1 if ,i may use the term1 carefully picketed2 and that both before and behind4 ,along the road that approached it in front1 there stood sentries at intervals4 ,they were stationed just out of range of our only effective long-distance weapon1 but it was evident that egress on that side was barred2 and the same was the case on the other4 ,hogvardt had seen men moving in the wood1 and had heard their challenges to one another1 repeated at regular intervals4 ,we were shut off from the sea2 we were shut off from the cottage4 ,a blockade would reduce us as well as an attack4 ,i had nothing to offer except the release of ,euphrosyne4 ,and to release ,euphrosyne would in all likelihood not save us1 while it would leave ,constantine free to play out his ghastly game to its appointed end4 ,i finished my breakfast in some perplexity of spirit4 ,then ,i went and sat in the hall1 expecting that ,euphrosyne would appear from her room before long4 ,i was alone1 for the rest were engaged in various occupations1 ,hogvardt being particularly busy over a large handful of hunting-knives that he had gleaned from the walls2 ,i did not understand what he wanted with them1 unless he meant to arm himself in porcupine fashion4 ,presently ,euphrosyne came1 but it was a transformed ,euphrosyne4 ,the kilt1 knee breeches1 and gaiters were gone2 in their place was the white linen garment with flowing sleeves and the loose jacket over it1 the national dress of the ,greek woman2 but ,euphrosyne's was ornamented with a rare profusion of delicate embroidery1 and of so fine a texture that it seemed rather like some delicate1 soft1 yielding silk4 ,the change of attire seemed reflected in her altered manner4 ,defiance was gone and appeal glistened from her eyes as she stood before me4 ,i sprang up1 but she would not sit4 ,she stood there1 and1 raising her glance to my face1 asked simply3 ,is it true8 ,in a business-like way ,i told her the whole story1 starting from the every-day scene at home in the restaurant1 ending with the villainous conversation and the wild chase of the night before4 ,when ,i related how ,constantine had called ,francesca his wife1 ,euphrosyne shivered2 while ,i sketched lightly my encounter with him and ,vlacho1 she eyed me with a sort of grave curiosity2 and at the end she said3 ,i'm glad you weren't killed4 ,it was not an emotional speech1 nor delivered with any empressement2 but ,i took it for thanks1 and made the best of it4 ,then at last she sat down and rested her head on her hand4 ,her absent air allowed me to study her closely1 and ,i was struck by a new beauty which the bizarre boy's dress had concealed4 ,moreover1 with the doffing of that1 she seemed to have put off her extreme hostility2 but perhaps the revelation ,i had made to her1 which showed her the victim of an unscrupulous schemer1 had more to do with her softened air4 ,yet she bore the story firmly1 and a quivering lip was her extreme sign of grief or anger4 ,and her first question was not of herself4 ,do you mean that they will kill this woman8 she asked4 ,i'm afraid it's not unlikely that something will happen to her1 unless1 of course-- ,i paused1 but her quick wit supplied the omission4 ,unless1 she said1 he lets her live now1 because ,i am out of his hands4 ,will you stay out of his hands8 ,i asked4 ,i mean1 as long as ,i can keep you out of them4 ,she looked round with a troubled expression4 ,how can ,i stay here8 she said in a low tone4 ,you will be as safe here as you were in your mother's arms1 ,i answered4 ,she acknowledged my promise with a movement of her head2 but a moment later she cried3 ,but ,i am not with you--,i am with the people6 ,the island is theirs and mine4 ,it is not yours4 ,i will have no part in giving it to you4 ,i wasn't proposing to take pay for my hospitality1 said ,i4 ,it'll be hardly handsome enough for that1 ,i'm afraid4 ,but mightn't we leave that question for the moment8 ,and ,i described briefly to her our present position4 ,so that1 ,i concluded1 while ,i maintain my claim to the island1 ,i am at present more interested in keeping a whole skin on myself and my friends4 ,if you will not give it up1 ,i can do nothing1 said she4 ,though they knew ,constantine to be all you say1 yet they would follow him and not me if ,i yielded the island4 ,indeed1 they would most likely follow him in any case4 ,for the ,neopalians like a man to follow1 and they like that man to be a ,stefanopoulos2 so they would shut their eyes to much1 in order that ,constantine might marry me and become lord4 ,she stated all this in a matter-of-fact way1 disclosing no great horror of her countrymen's moral standard4 ,the straightforward barbarousness of it perhaps appealed to her a little2 she loathed the man who would rule on those terms1 but had some toleration for the people who set the true dynasty above all else4 ,and she spoke of her proposed marriage as though it were a natural arrangement4 ,i shall have to marry him1 ,i expect1 in spite of everything1 she said4 ,i pushed my chair back violently4 ,my ,english respectability was appalled4 ,marry him8 ,i cried4 ,why1 he murdered the old lord6 ,that has happened before among the ,stefanopouloi1 said ,euphrosyne1 with a calmness dangerously near to pride4 ,and he proposes to murder his wife1 ,i added4 ,perhaps he will get rid of her without that4 ,she paused2 then came the anger ,i had looked for before4 ,ah1 but how dared he swear that he had thought of no one but me and loved me passionately8 ,he shall pay for that4 ,again it was injured pride that rang in her voice1 as in her first cry4 ,it did not sound like love1 and for that ,i was glad4 ,the courtship had probably been an affair of state rather than affection4 ,i did not ask how ,constantine was to be made to pay1 whether before or after marriage4 ,i was struggling between horror and amusement at my guest's point of view4 ,but ,i take leave to have a will of my own1 even sometimes in matters that are not exactly my concern1 and ,i said now1 with a composure that rivalled ,euphrosyne's3 ,it is out of the question that you should marry him4 ,i'm going to get him hanged1 and1 anyhow1 it would be atrocious4 ,she smiled at that1 but then she leant forward and asked3 ,how long have you provisions for8 ,that's a good retort1 ,i admitted4 ,a few days2 that's all4 ,and we can't get out to procure any more2 and we can't go shooting1 because the wood's infested with these ruff--,i beg pardon--with your countrymen4 ,then it seems to me1 said ,euphrosyne1 that you and your friends are more likely to be hanged4 ,well1 on a dispassionate consideration1 it did seem more likely2 but she need not have said so4 ,and she went on with an equally discouraging good sense3 ,there will be a boat from ,rhodes in about a month or six weeks4 ,the officer will come then to take the tribute2 perhaps the governor will come4 ,but till then nobody will visit the island1 unless it be a few fishermen from ,cyprus4 ,fishermen8 ,where do they land8 ,at the harbor8 ,no4 ,my people do not like them1 though the governor threatens to send troops if we do not let them land4 ,so they come to a little creek at the opposite end of the island1 on the other side of the mountain4 ,ah1 what are you thinking of8 ,as ,euphrosyne perceived1 her words had put a new idea in my mind4 ,if ,i could reach that creek and find the fishermen and persuade them to help me1 or to carry me and my party off1 that hanging might happen to the right man1 after all4 ,you're thinking you can reach them8 she cried4 ,you don't seem sure that you want me to1 ,i observed4 ,oh1 how can ,i tell what ,i want8 ,if ,i help you1 ,i am betraying the island4 ,if ,i do not-- ,you'll have a death or two at your door1 and you'll marry the biggest scoundrel in ,europe1 said ,i4 ,she hung her head1 and plucked fretfully at the embroidery on the neck of her dress4 ,but1 anyhow1 you couldn't reach them1 she said4 ,you are close prisoners here4 ,that1 again1 seemed true1 so true that it put me in a very bad temper4 ,therefore ,i rose1 and1 leaving her without much ceremony1 strolled into the kitchen4 ,here ,i found ,watkins dressing the cow's head1 ,hogvardt surrounded by knives1 and ,denny lying on a rug on the floor with a small book1 which he seemed to be reading4 ,he looked up with a smile that he4 considered knowing4 ,well1 what does the captive queen say8 he asked with levity4 ,she proposes to marry ,constantine1 ,i answered1 and added quickly to ,hogvardt3 ,what's the game with those knives1 ,hog8 ,well1 my lord1 said ,hogvardt1 surveying his dozen murderous instruments1 ,i thought there was no harm in putting an edge on them1 in case we should find a use for them2 and he fell to grinding one with great energy4 ,i say1 ,charlie1 ,i wonder what this yarn's about8 ,i can't construe half of it4 ,it's in ,greek1 and it's something about ,neopalia1 and there's a lot about a ,stefanopoulos4 ,is there8 ,let's see2 and taking the book ,i sat down to look at it4 ,it was a slim old book1 bound in calfskin4 ,the ,greek was written in an antique style2 it was verse4 ,i turned to the title-page4 ,hullo1 this is rather interesting1 ,i exclaimed4 ,it's about the death of old ,stefanopoulos--the man they sing that song about1 you know4 ,in fact1 ,i had got hold of the poem which ,one-eyed ,alexander composed4 ,its length was about three hundred lines1 exclusive of the refrain which the islanders had chanted1 and which was inserted six times1 occurring at the end of each fifty lines4 ,the rest was written in rather barbarous iambics2 and the sentiments were quite as barbarous as the verse4 ,it told the whole story1 and ,i ran rapidly over it1 translating here and there for the benefit of my companions4 ,the arrival of the ,baron d',ezonville recalled our own with curious exactness1 except that he came with one servant only4 ,he had been taken to the inn1 as ,i had1 but he had never escaped from there1 and had been turned adrift the morning after his arrival4 ,i took more interest in ,stefan1 and followed eagerly the story of how the islanders had come to his house1 and demanded that he should revoke the sale4 ,stefan1 however1 was obstinate2 it lost the lives of four of his assailants before his house was forced4 ,thus far ,i read1 and expected to find next an account of a mle in the hall4 ,but here the story took a turn unexpected by me1 one that might make the reading of the old poem more than a mere pastime4 ,but when they had broken in1 said ,one-eyed ,alexander1 behold1 the hall was empty and the house empty6 ,and they stood amazed4 ,but the two cousins of the lord1 who had been the hottest in seeking his death1 put all the rest to the door1 and were themselves alone in the house2 for the secret was known to them who were of the blood of the ,stefanopouloi4 ,unto me1 the bard1 it is not known4 ,yet men say they went beneath the earth1 and there in the earth found the lord4 ,and certain it is they slew him1 for in a space they came forth to the door bearing his head1 and they showed it to the people1 who answered with a great shout4 ,but the cousins went back1 barring the door again2 and again1 when but a few minutes had passed1 they came forth1 and opened the door1 and the elder of them1 being now by the traitor's death become lord1 bade the people in and made a great feast for them4 ,but the head of ,stefan none saw again1 nor did any see his body2 but the body and head were gone1 whither none know saving the noble blood of the ,stefanopouloi2 for utterly they disappeared1 and the secret was securely kept4 ,i read this passage aloud1 translating as ,i went4 ,at the end ,denny drew a breath4 ,well1 if there aren't ghosts in this house1 there ought to be1 he remarked4 ,what the deuce did those rascals do with the old gentleman1 ,charlie8 ,it says 'they went beneath the earth4' ,the cellar1 suggested ,hogvardt1 who had a prosaic mind4 ,but they wouldn't leave the body in the cellar1 ,i objected2 and if1 as this fellow says1 they were only away a few minutes1 they couldn't have dug a grave for it4 ,and then it says that they 'there in the earth found the lord'6 ,it would have been more interesting1 said ,denny1 if they'd told ,alexander a bit more about it4 ,however1 ,i suppose he consoles himself with his chant again8 ,he does4 ,it follows immediately on what ,i've read1 and so the thing ends4 ,and ,i sat looking at the little yellow volume4 ,where did you find it1 ,denny8 ,i said4 ,oh1 on a shelf in the corner of the hall1 between the ,bible and a ,life of ,byron4 ,i got up and walked back to the hall4 ,i looked round4 ,euphrosyne was not there4 ,i inspected the hall door2 it was still locked on the inside4 ,i mounted the stairs1 and called at the door of her room2 when no answer came ,i pushed it open and took the liberty of glancing round2 she was not there4 ,i called again1 for ,i thought she might have passed along the way over the hall and reached the roof1 as she had done before4 ,this time ,i called loudly4 ,silence followed for a moment4 ,then came an answer1 in a hurried1 rather apologetic tone1 ,here ,i am4 ,but then the answer came1 not from the direction that ,i had expected1 but from the hall4 ,and looking over the balustrade1 ,i saw ,euphrosyne sitting in the armchair4 ,this1 said ,i1 going down-stairs1 taken in conjunction with this1 and ,i patted ,one-eyed ,alexander's book1 which ,i held in my hand1 is certainly curious and suggestive4 ,here ,i am1 said ,euphrosyne1 with an air that added1 ,i've not moved4 ,what are you shouting for8 ,yes1 but you weren't there a minute ago1 ,i observed1 reaching the hall and walking across to her4 ,she looked disturbed and embarrassed4 ,where have you been8 ,i asked4 ,must ,i give an account of every movement8 said she1 trying to cover her confusion with a show of haughty offence4 ,the coincidence was really a remarkable one2 it was as hard to account for ,euphrosyne's disappearance and reappearance as for the vanished head and body of old ,stefan4 ,i had a conviction1 based on a sudden intuition1 that one explanation must lie at the root of both these curious things1 that the secret of which ,alexander spoke was a secret still hidden1 hidden from my eyes but known to the girl before me1 the daughter of the ,stefanopouloi4 ,i won't ask you where you've been1 if you don't wish to tell me1 said ,i1 carelessly4 ,she bowed her head in recognition of my indulgence4 ,but there is one question ,i should like to ask you1 ,i pursued1 if you'll be so kind as to answer it4 ,well1 what is it8 ,where was ,stefan ,stefanopoulos killed1 and what became of his body8 ,as ,i put my question ,i flung ,one-eyed ,alexander's book open on the table beside her4 ,she started visibly1 crying1 ,where did you get that8 ,i told her how ,denny had found it1 and ,i added3 ,now1 what does 'beneath the earth' mean8 ,you are one of the house1 and you must know4 ,yes1 ,i know1 but ,i must not tell you4 ,we are all bound by the most sacred oath to tell no one4 ,who told you8 ,my uncle4 ,the boys of our house are told when they are fifteen1 the girls when they are sixteen4 ,no one else knows4 ,and why is that8 ,she hesitated1 fearing perhaps that her answer would itself tend to betray the secret4 ,i dare tell you nothing1 she said4 ,the oath binds me2 and it binds every one of my kindred to kill me if ,i break it4 ,but you've no kindred left except ,constantine1 ,i objected4 ,he is enough4 ,he would kill me4 ,sooner than marry you8 ,i suggested1 rather maliciously4 ,yes1 if ,i broke the oath4 ,hang the oath6 said ,i1 impatiently4 ,the thing might help us4 ,did they bury ,stefan somewhere under the house8 ,no1 he was not buried1 she answered4 ,then they brought him up1 and got rid of his body when the islanders had gone8 ,you must think what you will4 ,i'll find it out1 said ,i4 ,if ,i pull the house down1 ,i'll find it4 ,is it a secret door or-- ,she had colored at the question4 ,i put the latter part in a low1 eager voice1 for hope had come to me4 ,is it a way out8 ,i asked1 leaning over to her4 ,she sat mute1 but irresolute1 embarrassed and fretful4 ,heavens6 ,i cried1 impatiently1 it may mean life or death to all of us1 and you boggle over your oath6 ,my rude impatience met with a rebuke that it perhaps deserved4 ,with a glance of the utmost scorn1 ,euphrosyne asked1 coldly3 ,and what are the lives of all of you to me8 ,true1 ,i forgot1 said ,i with a bitter politeness4 ,i beg your pardon4 ,i did you all the service ,i could last night1 and now ,i and my friends may as well die as live6 ,but ,i'll pull this place to ruin but ,i'll find your secret4 ,i was walking up and down now in a state of some excitement4 ,my brain was fired with the thought of stealing a march on ,constantine through the discovery of his own family secret4 ,suddenly ,euphrosyne gave a little soft clap with her hands4 ,it was over in a minute1 and she sat blushing1 confused1 trying to look as if she had not done it at all4 ,what did you do that for8 ,i asked1 stopping in front of her4 ,nothing1 said ,euphrosyne4 ,oh1 ,i don't believe that1 said ,i4 ,she looked at me4 ,i didn't mean to do it1 she said again4 ,but can't you guess why8 ,there's too much guessing to be done here1 said ,i1 impatiently2 and ,i started walking again4 ,but presently ,i heard a voice say softly1 and in a tone that seemed to address nobody in particular--me least of all3 ,we ,neopalians like a man who can be angry1 and ,i began to think you never would4 ,i am not the least angry1 said ,i1 with great indignation4 ,i hate being told that ,i am angry when ,i am merely showing firmness4 ,now1 at this protest of mine ,euphrosyne saw fit to laugh--the most hearty laugh she had given since ,i had known her4 ,the mirthfulness of it undermined my wrath4 ,i stood still opposite her1 biting the end of my mustache4 ,you may laugh1 said ,i1 but ,i'm not angry2 and ,i shall pull this house down--or dig it up--in cold blood1 in perfectly cold blood4 ,you are angry1 said ,euphrosyne1 and you say you're not4 ,you are like my father4 ,he would stamp his foot furiously like that and say1 ',i am not angry1 ,i am not angry1 ,phroso4' ,phroso6 ,i had forgotten that diminutive of my guest's classical name4 ,it rather pleased me1 and ,i repeated it gently after her1 ,phroso1 ,phroso1 and ,i'm afraid ,i eyed the little foot that had stamped so bravely4 ,he always called me ,phroso4 ,oh1 ,i wish he were alive6 ,then ,constantine-- ,since he isn't1 said ,i1 sitting by ,phroso 7,i must write it1 it's a deal shorter7--by ,phroso's elbow--since he isn't1 ,i'll look after ,constantine4 ,it would be a pity to spoil the house1 wouldn't it8 ,i've sworn1 said ,phroso4 ,circumstances alter oaths1 said ,i1 bending till ,i was very near ,phroso's ear4 ,ah1 said ,phroso1 reproachfully1 that's what lovers say when they find another more beautiful than their old love4 ,i shot away from ,phroso's ear with a sudden backward start4 ,her remark1 somehow1 came home to me with a very remarkable force4 ,i got off the table1 and stood opposite to her1 in an awkward and stiff attitude4 ,i am compelled to ask you for the last time if you will tell me the secret1 said ,i1 in the coldest of tones4 ,she looked up with surprise4 ,my altered manner may well have amazed her4 ,she did not know the reason of it4 ,you asked me kindly and--and pleasantly1 and ,i would not4 ,now you ask me as if you threatened1 she said4 ,is it likely ,i should tell you now8 ,well1 ,i was angry with myself1 and with her because she had made me angry with myself2 and1 the next minute1 ,i became furiously angry with ,denny1 whom ,i found standing in the doorway that led to the kitchen1 with a grin of intense amusement on his face4 ,what are you grinning at8 ,i demanded fiercely4 ,oh1 nothing1 said ,denny1 and his face strove to assume a prudent gravity4 ,bring a pickaxe1 said ,i4 ,denny's face wandered toward ,phroso4 ,is she as annoying as that8 he seemed to ask4 ,a pickaxe8 he repeated in surprised tones4 ,yes1 two pickaxes6 ,i'm going to have this floor up1 and see if ,i can find out the great ,stefanopoulos secret4 ,i spoke with an accent of intense scorn4 ,again ,phroso laughed2 her hands beat very softly against one another4 ,heavens1 what did she do that for when ,denny was there1 watching everything with those shrewd eyes of his8 ,the pickaxes6 ,i roared4 ,denny turned and fled2 a moment elapsed2 ,i did not know what to do1 how to look at ,phroso1 or how not to look at her4 ,i took refuge in flight4 ,i rushed into the kitchen on pretence of aiding or hastening ,denny's search4 ,i found him taking up an old pick that stood near the door leading to the compound4 ,i seized it from his hand4 ,confound you6 ,i cried1 for ,denny laughed openly at me2 and ,i rushed back to the hall6 ,but on the threshold ,i paused--and said what ,i will not write4 ,for1 though there came from somewhere just the last ripple of a mirthful laugh1 the hall was empty6 ,phroso was gone6 ,i flung the pickaxe down with a clatter on the boards1 and exclaimed in my haste3 ,i wish to heaven ,i'd never bought the island6 ,but ,i did not mean that really4 7,to be continued47 ,,climbing ,,mont ,,blanc ,,in ,a ,,blizzard4 ,,caught ,,in ,a ,,blinding ,,snow ,,storm ,,on ,a ,,narrow ,,cliff1 ,,two ,,and ,a ,,half ,,miles ,,above ,,sea ,,level4 ,,by ,,garrett ,p4 ,,serviss1 ,author of ,astronomy with an ,opera ,glass1 ,climbing the ,matterhorn1#ae etc4 ,footnote #ae3 ,see ,,mcclure',s ,,magazine for ,september1 #ahie4 ,standing on the spindling tower of the ,matterhorn early one ,august morning in #ahid ,i saw1 for the first time1 the white crown of ,europe1 ,mont ,blanc1 with its snows sparkling high above the roof of clouds that covered the dozing summer in the valleys of ,piedmont4 ,just one year later ,i started from ,chamonix to climb to that cool world in the blue4 ,my guide was ,ambroise ,couttet1 whose family name is famous in the mountaineering annals of ,savoy4 ,an earlier ,ambroise ,couttet lies in the icy bosom of ,mont ,blanc1 fallen1 years ago1 down a crevasse so profound that his would-be rescuers were drawn1 baffled1 awe-struck1 and with shaking nerves1 from its horrible depths1 whose bottom they could not find4 ,even before that time ,pierre ,couttet had been whirled to death on the great peak1 and his body1 embedded and preserved in a glacier1 was found nearly half a century afterward at its foot4 ,and two other ,couttets of past years escaped1 by the merest hair of miraculous fortune1 from a catastrophe on the same dreadful slopes in which three of their comrades were swallowed up4 ,yet the ,ambroise ,couttet of to-day is never so happy as when he is on the mountain4 ,his eyes sparkle if he hears the thunder of an avalanche1 and he smiles as he watches its tossing white crest ploughing swiftly across some snowy incline which he has just traversed4 ,one porter sufficed1 for my only traps consisted of a hand camera1 a field-glass1 and a few extra woollen shirts and stockings4 ,having had no serious exercise since climbing the ,matterhorn a year before1 ,i deemed it prudent to spare my strength for the more important work above by taking a mule to the ,pierre ,pointue4 ,it was a fine morning1 offering a promise of favorable weather after several days of mist and rain4 ,monsieur ,janssen1 the ,french astronomer1 who was waiting at ,chamonix for his porters to complete their long and wearisome labor of transporting piecemeal his telescope and other instruments of observation to the summit1 before making the ascent himself1 said1 grasping my arm at parting3 ,i wish you good luck2 good weather you are sure of4 ,illustration3 ,,col ,,de ,,blanc1 ,,mont ,,blanc4 ,from a photograph loaned by ,mr4 ,frank ,hegger1 ,new ,york4 ,it was high authority1 for ,monsieur ,janssen has studied the weather all his life1 and knows the atmosphere of mountain peaks and of the airy levels where balloons float2 yet if he could have foreseen what was to occur on ,mont ,blanc within twenty hours1 he would have wished me the good fortune of being somewhere else4 ,it was past the middle of the forenoon of the #ajth of ,august when1 with ,couttet and the porter1 ,i left ,chamonix4 ,dismissing my tired mule at the ,pierre ,pointue1 which hangs with its flag nearly seven thousand feet above sea level1 and high over the sracs of the ,glacier des ,bossons1 we began the ascent by way of the ,pierre a l',echelle and over the missile-scarred foot of the ,aiguille du ,midi4 ,the upper part of this mountain as seen from ,chamonix looks quite sharp-pointed enough to deserve its name of the ,needle of the ,south4 ,the side toward the ,glacier des ,bossons is exceedingly steep1 and when the snows are melting the peak becomes a perfect catapult1 volleys of ice and stones being discharged from its lofty precipices4 ,the falling rocks1 dropping1 as some of them do1 from ledge to ledge half a mile1 acquire the velocity of cannon shots4 ,nobody ever lingers on this part of the route1 and we had no desire to pause1 although the ,aiguille sends comparatively few stones down so late in the summer4 ,the sun beat furiously while we were scrambling on the rocks1 and the latter were warm to the touch1 although1 thousands of feet below1 the immense cleft in the mountain side was choked with masses of never-melted ice4 ,never mind1 said ,couttet1 as ,i stopped to wipe the perspiration from my face1 it will be cool enough when we get onto the glacier4 ,and it was--so cool in fact that ,i hastily pulled on my coat4 ,having passed out of range of the ,aiguille du ,midi1 we found comfortable going on the ice4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,mauvais ,,pas1 ,,mont ,,blanc4 ,,difficulties ,,and ,,dangers ,,of ,,the ,,route4 ,the northern slope of ,mont ,blanc is hollowed into a vast cavernous channel1 half filled with glaciers1 and edged on the east by the ,mont ,maudit1 the ,aiguille de ,saussure1 and the ,aiguille du ,midi1 and on the west by the ,dome and ,aiguille du ,gouter and the ,gros ,bechat4 ,down this tremendous gutter crowd the eternal snows of ,mont ,blanc1 compressed toward the bottom into the ,glacier des ,bossons and the ,glacier de ,taconnaz4 ,these immense ice streams are separated by the projecting nose of the ,montagne de la ,cote1 which rises from the valley of ,chamonix and lies in a long1 dark ridge on the foot of ,mont ,blanc4 ,above the ,montagne de la ,cote several gigantic rock masses1 shooting into pinnacles1 push up through the ice from the bottom and near the centre of the channel4 ,these are called the ,grands ,mulets1 from the resemblance which they present1 when seen from ,chamonix1 to a row of huge black mules tramping up the white mountain side4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,glacier ,,des ,,bossons1 ,,mont ,,blanc4 ,i mention these features because the best route to the summit of ,mont ,blanc lies over the glaciers and snow fields and between the walls of the great trough ,i have described1 and the first station is at the ,grands ,mulets1 where a cabin for the accommodation of climbers has existed for many years4 ,from the foot of the ,aiguille du ,midi1 at the ,pierre a l',echelle1 across the ,glacier des ,bossons to the rocks of the ,grands ,mulets the distance is about a mile and a quarter1 and the perpendicular increase of elevation nearly two thousand feet4 ,the passage seldom presents any difficulty1 except to inexperienced persons1 although at times many crevasses must be crossed1 particularly at what is called the ,junction1 just above the point where the ,glacier des ,bossons and the ,glacier de ,taconnaz are divided by the ,montagne de la ,cote4 ,here some underlying irregularity of the rocks1 deep beneath the surface of the mighty river of ice1 causes the formation of a labyrinth of fissures and crevasses1 overhung with towering sracs1 or ice turrets2 and the ice descends between the ,grands ,mulets and the rock wall in front of the ,gros ,bechat in a sort of motionless cascade--motionless1 that is to say1 except when cracks break apart into yawning chasms1 and massive blocks tumble into the depths4 ,even a practised climber is occasionally compelled to look to his steps in passing the ,junction4 ,on my return ,i witnessed an accident in this place which proved at the same time the reality of the danger and the usefulness in sudden crises of the mountaineer's rope4 ,a tourist descending from the ,grands ,mulets was passing1 under an impending srac1 around the head of a crevasse1 where the only footway was a few inches of ice hewn with the axe4 ,being heedless or nervous1 his feet shot from under him1 and with a yell he plunged into the pit4 ,luckily1 he was tied to the rope between two guides1 one of whom had passed the dangerous corner1 while the other1 behind1 had also a safe footing4 ,as he fell the guides braced themselves1 the rope zipped1 and the unfortunate adventurer hung clutching and kicking at the polished blue wall4 ,he had really descended but a few feet into the crevasse1 though to him doubtless it seemed a hundred1 and with a surprising display of strength1 or skill1 the guides hauled him out by simply tightening the rope4 ,one of them pulled back and the other forward1 and between them the sprawling victim rose with the strain to the brink of the chasm1 where a third man dexterously caught and landed him4 ,illustration3 ,,refuge ,,station ,,at ,,the ,,grands ,,mulets1 ,,mont ,,blanc4 ,madame ,marke and ,olivier ,gay were not so fortunate near this spot in #ahgj4 ,a bridge of snow spanning a crevasse gave way beneath them1 and1 the rope breaking1 they disappeared and perished in the abyss4 ,we reached the ,grands ,mulets in the middle of the afternoon4 ,here the great majority of amateur climbers are content to terminate their ascent of ,mont ,blanc4 ,the experience of getting as far as this point and back again is1 as the incidents just related show1 anything but insignificant1 and may prove not only exciting but even tragic4 ,yet1 of course1 the real work1 the tug of war between human endurance and the obstacles of untamed nature1 is above4 ,the ,grands ,mulets formed the stopping place in some of the earliest attempts to climb ,mont ,blanc1 more than a hundred years ago4 ,here ,jacques ,balmat1 the hero of the first ascent1 passed an awful night alone1 amid the cracking of glaciers and the shaking of avalanches1 before his final victory over the peak in #aghf4 ,in the spirit which led the ,romans to surname the conqueror of ,hannibal ,scipio ,africanus1 the exultant ,chamonniards called their hero ,balmat de ,mont ,blanc4 ,he1 too1 finally perished by a fall from a precipice in #ahcd1 and to-day there are those who whisper that his spirit can be seen flitting over the snowy wastes before every new catastrophe4 ,the cabin at the ,grands ,mulets is furnished with rough bunks and cooking apparatus1 and during the summer a woman1 ,adle ,balmat1 assisted by the guides1 acts as hostess for this high-perched inn1 ten thousand feet above sea level4 ,it is customary to leave the ,grands ,mulets for the ascent to the summit soon after midnight1 in order to get over the immense snow slopes before the action of the sun has loosened the avalanches and weakened the crevasse bridges4 ,but we did not start until half-past three in the morning4 ,the waning moon1 hanging over the ,dome du ,gouter1 gave sufficient light to render a lantern unnecessary1 and dawn was near at hand4 ,threatening bands of clouds attracted anxious glances from ,couttet1 and it was evident that a change of weather impended4 ,but we clambered over the rocks to the crevassed slopes below the ,gouter1 and pushed upward4 ,we were now approaching the higher and narrower portion of the immense cleft or channel in the mountain that ,i have described4 ,on our right towered the ,dome du ,gouter1 and on the left the walls of the ,mont ,maudit and its outlying pinnacles4 ,snowy ridges and peaks shone afar in the moonlight on all sides4 ,it was a wilderness of white4 ,illustration3 ,,ad,,le ,,balmat1 ,,hostess ,,at ,,the ,,grands ,,mulets ,,station4 ,at the height of twelve thousand feet we came upon the ,petit ,plateau1 a comparatively horizontal lap of snow which is frequently swept clear across with avalanches of ice descending from the enormous sracs that hang like cornices upon the precipices above4 ,the frosty splinters of a recent downfall sparkled and crunched under our feet4 ,it is one of the most dangerous places on the mountain4 ,men have lost their lives here and will again lose them1 is the remark of ,mr4 ,conway1 the ,himalayan climber1 in describing his passage of the place4 ,many times ,i have crossed it1 said ,monsieur ,vallot1 the mountain meteorologist1 last summer1 but never without a sinking of the heart1 and the moment we are over the ,petit ,plateau ,i always hear my guides1 trained and fearless men1 mutter1 ',once more we are out of it4' ,knowing these things1 it is needless to say that ,i found the ,petit ,plateau keenly interesting4 ,the menacing sracs leaned from the cliffs1 glittering icily1 and threw black shadows upon the nv beneath1 but suffered us to pass unmolested4 ,above the ,petit ,plateau is a steep ascent called the ,grands ,montes which taxes the breath4 ,having surmounted this1 we were on the ,grand ,plateau1 a much wider level than the other1 edged with tremendous ice cliffs and crevasses1 and situated at an elevation of thirteen thousand feet4 ,for some time now it had been broad day1 but the clouds had thickened rapidly1 and the summit was wrapped and completely hidden in them4 ,blasts of frigid wind began to whistle about us1 driving stinging pellets of ice into our faces4 ,we quickened our steps1 for it would not do to be caught in a storm here4 ,the ,grand ,plateau has taken more lives than its ill-starred neighbor below4 ,a ,,blinding ,,storm ,,of ,,snow ,,and ,,wind4 ,we now bore off to the right1 in order to clamber up the side of the great channel1 or depression1 that we had thus far followed1 because at its upper end1 where it meets the base of the crowning pyramid of ,mont ,blanc1 it abuts against ice-covered precipices that no mortal will ever scale4 ,snow commenced to fall1 and the wind rose4 ,as we neared the crest of the ridge connecting the ,dome du ,gouter with the ,bosses du ,dromadaire and the summit1 the tempest burst fiercely upon us4 ,in an instant we were enveloped by a cloud of whirling snow that blotted out sky and mountains alike4 ,it drove into my eyes1 and half blinded me4 ,it was so thick that objects a few yards away would have been concealed even without a violent wind to confuse the vision4 ,at times ,couttet1 close ahead of me1 was visible only in a kind of gray outline1 like a wraith4 ,on an open plain such a storm in such a temperature would have had its dangers for a traveller seeking his way4 ,we were seeking our way1 not on an open plain1 but two miles and a half above sea level1 in a desert of snow and ice1 encompassed with precipices1 chasms1 and pitfalls1 treading on we knew not what1 assailed by a wild storm1 all landmarks obliterated1 and our footsteps filling so fast with drifted snow that in two minutes we could not see from what direction we had last come4 ,in such a situation the imagination becomes dramatic4 ,the night before ,i had been reading the account of the loss1 in #ahgj1 of ,dr4 ,bean1 ,mr4 ,randall1 and the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,corkendale1 together with five guides and three porters1 eleven persons in all1 in just such a storm and within sight of this spot4 ,and now as we stumbled along ,i repeated to myself1 almost word for word1 ,dr4 ,bean's message to his wife1 found when his body was discovered3 ,september #g1 evening--,my dear ,hessie3 ,we have been two days on ,mont ,blanc in the midst of a terrible hurricane of snow2 we have lost our way1 and are in a hole scooped in the snow at an altitude of fifteen thousand feet4 ,i have no longer any hope of descending4 ,perhaps this notebook will be found and sent to you4 ,we have nothing to eat1 my feet are already frozen1 and ,i am exhausted4 ,i have strength to write only a few words more4 ,i have left means for ,c4's education2 ,i know you will employ them wisely4 ,i die with faith in ,god and with loving thoughts of you4 ,farewell to all4 ,we shall meet again in heaven--,i think of you always4 ,the bodies of five of these victims were found but a few feet aside from the proper route which in clear weather would have led to safety2 the other six had disappeared4 ,while such cheerful recollections were running through my mind ,i noticed that we were no longer ascending1 and that ,couttet1 whom ,i had not troubled with questions as long as he showed no hesitation1 was bearing now this way and now that1 and occasionally stopping and peering about with spread nostrils1 like a dog seeking a trail4 ,clearly we were on the top of the highest elevation in our neighborhood1 for the wind now came point blank in our faces out of the white abyss of the atmosphere1 and almost blew me off my feet4 ,have you lost the way8 ,i asked4 ,i'll find it1 ,couttet replied4 ,where are we8 ,near the ,bosses4 ,isn't there a refuge hut on the ,bosses8 ,yes4 ,can we reach it8 ,couttet did not immediately reply1 but looked up and about1 as if trying to pierce the driving snow with his gaze4 ,if ,i could catch sight of the rocks1 at length he said4 ,suddenly the gale seemed to split the clouds1 and for an instant a vision opened of blue sky over our heads1 and endless slopes of snow1 falling one below another1 under our feet4 ,i saw that we were standing on the rounded back of a snowy ridge4 ,just in front the white surface dipped and disappeared in a vast gulf of air1 where flying clouds were torn against the black jagged points of lower mountains4 ,above our level1 to the left1 rocks appeared projecting through the covering of snow4 ,i knew that these must belong to the ,bosses du ,dromadaire1 and that the hut we sought was perched on one of them4 ,all this the eye caught in a twinkling1 for the storm curtain was lifted only to be as quickly dropped again1 shutting out both the upper and the lower world1 and leaving us isolated on the slippery roof ridge of ,europe4 ,at the same time the wind increased its violence1 and the cold became more penetrating4 ,i pulled my fingers out of the digits of my woollen gloves1 and gripped my iron-shod baton between thumb and knuckles4 ,we now had our bearings1 thanks to the momentary glance1 and it behooved us not to lose them1 for the storm was every instant growing worse4 ,at times it was not the simplest thing in the world to keep one's feet in the face of the blasts4 ,i was too fresh from reading the history of ,mont ,blanc not to remember that a few years ago ,count ,villanova and two guides were blown from another nearby ridge into the very abyss whose jaws had just opened before us1 where their bodies lie undiscovered to this day4 ,moving cautiously1 we began to descend1 in order to cross the neck which stretches between the ,dome du ,gouter and the ,bosses4 ,when we wandered a little to the right the surface commenced to pitch off1 and we knew what that meant--beware6 ,once when we had veered too far to the left1 staggering down hill under the blows of the storm1 and able to see but a few feet away1 we stopped as if a shot had arrested us4 ,another step or two would have carried us over a precipice of ice1 whose blue wall fell perpendicularly from the brittle edge at our feet into cloud-choked depths4 ,we had gone down our roof to the eaves4 ,not a word was spoken1 but with instant unanimity we turned and scrambled up again1 ,couttet in the lead1 and the porter breathing hard at my heels4 ,such a scene in the fraction of a second is photographed on the memory for a lifetime4 ,in a little while we began to ascend another slope1 to which we had felt our way1 and this was surely the swelling hump of the first of the ,bosses1 and the rocks must be near at hand4 ,another opportune gap in the clouds1 which left us for an instant surrounded with retreating walls of vapor1 confirmed that opinion1 and vindicated the mountaineering skill of ,couttet1 who had found the way though way there was none4 ,a quick1 breathless scramble up a confused heap of ice and slippery points of rock brought us at last to the refuge4 ,illustration3 ,,passage ,,of ,a ,,crevasse1 ,,mont ,,blanc4 ,a ,,night ,,of ,,scant ,,shelter ,,and ,,no ,,food4 ,couttet shook and banged the door1 making a noise that did not penetrate far through the whistling air1 and1 with cold fingers1 began fumbling at the latch1 when1 to my surprise1 the door opened and a muffled voice bade us enter4 ,an ,englishman who had started with his guides at midnight from the ,grands ,mulets1 and three or four of ,monsieur ,janssen's porters1 had already sought refuge in the hut4 ,icicles hung about my face1 and my clothes were as stiff as chain armor4 ,there was no fire in the little hut and no means of making any4 ,my watch1 when ,i was able to get it out of my pocket1 showed the time to be a quarter to nine ,a4,m4 ,pulling off our shoes and putting on dry stockings as quickly as possible1 we imitated the example of the man who had let us in1 and who no sooner closed the door than he tumbled back into his bunk and buried himself in the rough woollen blankets which the ,alpine ,club has provided for the use of those who may need them4 ,in about an hour the storm lightened1 and the ,englishman and the porters started back to the ,grands ,mulets4 ,i consulted ,couttet about making a dash for the summit2 but he thought it would be better to wait awhile1 and better still to follow the others down the mountain4 ,to this last proposition ,i decidedly objected1 although ,couttet was right1 as it turned out2 for in another hour the storm1 which had not entirely ceased at any time1 whipped itself into renewed fury1 and before noon the wind was howling and shrieking with demoniac energy1 and flinging gritty snow and ice in blinding clouds against the hut1 which1 situated on a ridge1 was completely exposed4 ,fortunately it is strongly built and solidly anchored4 ,while ,i entertained no reasonable doubt of its security1 yet when a blast of extraordinary fierceness made it tremble1 as if it were holding itself with desperate grip upon the rocks1 ,i could not help picturing it1 in imagination1 taking flight at last1 and sailing high over the mountains in the wild embrace of the tempest4 ,time moved with a dreadfully slow pace4 ,the only way to keep warm was to remain in the bunk under a pile of blankets4 ,once1 in my impatience1 ,i got out and painfully hauled on my shoes1 which were as cold as ice1 and as hard almost2 but my feet were blistered through lack of previous exercise1 and after hobbling and shivering for a few minutes on the narrow floor1 which was partly covered with a constantly accumulating deposit of snow1 as fine and dry as flour and as frigid as though it had come straight from the ,arctic ,circle1 ,i hurried back under the blankets4 ,the invading snow penetrated through cracks that one could hardly see1 around the door and the little square window4 ,at last noon came1 and we ate our remaining morsels of dry bread1 which finished our provisions4 ,we had brought along only enough to provide a lunch on the way to the summit1 intending to be back at the ,grands ,mulets not later than midday4 ,then the long afternoon dragged its weary hours1 while the storm got higher1 shriller1 and colder1 and the sense of our isolation became keener4 ,finally daylight began to fade4 ,slowly the light grew dim in the window at my feet1 until it was a mere glimmer4 ,since we had to stay1 we thanked the storm for hastening the fall of night4 ,when the gloom became so dense that even the window had disappeared1 ,couttet lit a tallow dip1 but it would not remain upright in its improvised holder1 and the freezing draughts that stole through the hut kept it flickering so that he finally put it out1 and we remained in the dark1 not seein' things1 like ,eugene ,field's youthful hero1 but hearing things no less uncanny4 ,the wind whistled1 moaned1 screeched1 growled1 and occasionally shouted with such startling imitation of human voices that ,i once asked ,couttet if some one were not calling for help4 ,but investigation showed that we were alone on our tempestuous perch1 and that the cry of agony had been uttered by the hurricane1 or the wind-lashed rocks4 ,illustration3 ,,passage ,,of ,a ,,crevasse4 ,,mont ,,blanc4 ,supperless1 we wrapped our blankets closer1 got ears and noses under1 and tried to sleep4 ,i had a few naps1 but the roar outside1 and the shaking of the hut as the storm smote it again and again1 rendered continuous sleep impossible4 ,something had been loosened on the roof close overhead1 and it rattled and banged as if the destruction of the hut had actually begun4 ,it was a queer sound1 angry1 imperious1 menacing1 and it produced a quaking sensation4 ,sometimes it would die down1 and1 with a final rap or two1 entirely cease4 ,then it would resume1 with perhaps five strokes to the second1 increasing to ten1 then to twenty1 and quickly rising to an ear-splitting r-r-r-h1 terminated with a bang6 bang66 bang666 that made the heart leap1 while the hut seemed to rock on its foundations4 ,getting out of the bunk1 ,i found by the sense of touch that the powdery snow-drifts were becoming steadily deeper on the floor4 ,this recalled another incident which had greatly interested me during my preliminary reading at ,chamonix4 ,the winter before1 ,monsieur ,janssen's men had stored some of the heavier materials for his observatory near these rocks4 ,at the opening of summer they could not be found1 and no one knew what had become of them4 ,finally1 as the snows melted and fell from the peak in slides and avalanches1 the missing articles were uncovered1 having been buried in a white grave forty feet deep4 ,and so the wild night passed1 until with tedious deliberation the little window made a hole in the darkness1 and ,i knew that morning was at hand4 ,the howling without was as loud as ever1 and the fine snow was packed high upon the window1 shutting out a good share of the light4 ,the floor was covered with white drifts1 and my shoes had swallowed snow2 but being hard and dry1 it was easily shaken out4 ,there was no fire to be built and no breakfast to be prepared4 ,but it was impossible to lie still1 even for the sake of keeping warm1 and pulling on our shoes we stamped about the floor1 and occasionally opened the door to see what the storm was about4 ,along about eight o'clock it began to lighten1 and my hopes rose4 ,we could catch an occasional glimpse of the crowning peak and of the observatory1 which we knew contained two or three of ,janssen's men and some provisions4 ,an hour later1 when the storm seemed about at an end1 and we were preparing to ascend to the top1 we saw the men from the observatory coming down4 ,they warned us that the snow above was in bad condition1 and1 believing that more foul weather was to come1 they were embracing this opportunity to get down4 ,couttet proposed that we should accompany them1 especially as they reported nothing left to eat at the observatory1 but ,i declined4 ,again the event proved that he was right1 for while we waited a little before starting out1 the storm fell upon us once more4 ,then ,couttet insisted upon descending1 and ,i did not think it wise to oppose his decision1 knowing that it was based upon experience and that he had nothing to gain and something to lose in returning without having conducted his monsieur to the summit4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,birthplace ,,of ,,avalanches1 ,,mont ,,blanc4 ,a ,,second ,,attempt ,,for ,,the ,,summit4 ,we put on the rope and scrambled down1 but when we got upon the neck below the ,bosses the clouds whirled off and the burnished sun stood over the white peak1 too splendid to be looked upon4 ,couttet1 we must go up1 ,i exclaimed4 ,as you say1 he replied2 and we turned upon our track4 ,we had got back to the hut and started up the steep arte above it1 when the sun disappeared1 the air turned white1 and the wind resumed its wrestle4 ,so powerful was it that on our narrow ridge it had the advantage of us1 and we crouched behind a projecting point4 ,it is too perilous1 said ,couttet1 and we must descend4 ,i will not take the risk4 ,i saw it was necessary to yield1 and down we went4 ,hunger was beginning to tell1 and we made haste4 ,where the slopes were not seamed with open crevasses we glissaded1 which is a very expeditious and exhilarating method of getting down a mountain1 although unsafe unless one is certain of his ground4 ,sometimes we slid on our feet1 steadying ourselves with our batons or ice-axes1 and sometimes ,i sat on the hard snow and glided like a ,turk on a toboggan slide1 the tassel of my woollen cap fluttering behind in the wind4 ,we took the unbridged crevasses with flying leaps1 and so plunged rapidly downward1 with frequent keen regrets on my part1 because the weather seemed mending again4 ,but it would not do to turn back now in our half-famished condition1 and we were glad when the ,grands ,mulets hove in sight below1 a black squadron in a sea of snow4 ,illustration3 ,m4 ,,janssen',s ,,observatory ,,on ,,top ,,of ,,mont ,,blanc4 ,in ,chamonix ,i took a day or two to thaw out and mend bruises1 and then ran over to ,martigny1 crossed the ,grand ,st4 ,bernard1 the ,st4 ,gotthard1 and the ,grimsel passes1 spent a week in ,william ,tell's country1 prowling about the ruins of old castles and the sites of legendary battles1 and finally settled down in ,milan to feast my eyes on the pinnacles of its wondrous cathedral4 ,but my failure to reach the top of ,mont ,blanc cast a perceptible shadow over everything ,i saw4 ,one day1 the #bgth of ,august1 as ,i stood on the cathedral spire1 the sun lay warm upon the ,alps1 and ,mont ,blanc shone in the distance4 ,it is time to go1 ,i said to myself2 and descending1 ,i hurried to my hotel and packed a gripsack4 ,the night express via ,mont ,cenis placed me in ,geneva the next morning in time to catch the first train for ,cluses4 ,the same evening the diligence landed me in ,chamonix4 ,i sent for ,couttet4 ,mont ,blanc in the morning1 ,i said4 ,delighted1 monsieur2 we'll do it this time4 ,storm or no storm8 ,yes4 ,it so happened that ,i was to hear one more story of disaster before getting to the top of ,mont ,blanc4 ,while ,i watched the distant mountain from the ,milan cathedral spire the closing scene of a new tragedy was being enacted amid its merciless crevasses4 ,dr4 ,robert ,schnurdreher1 an advocate of ,prague1 accompanied by ,michael ,savoye1 guide1 and ,laurent ,brou1 porter1 ascended ,mont ,blanc from the ,italian side on ,august #agth1 and passed the night in the hut on the ,bosses du ,dromadaire where1 six days before1 ,i had had a stormy experience4 ,but now the weather was superb1 and when1 on the morning of the #ahth1 they started to descend to ,chamonix1 no thought of impending evil could have oppressed their minds4 ,they passed the ,grand ,plateau and the ,petit ,plateau in safety1 and reached the labyrinth of crevasses between the cliffs of the ,dome du ,gouter and the ,grands ,mulets4 ,just what happened then no one will ever know1 but there they disappeared from the world of the living4 ,illustration3 ,,view ,,from ,,the ,,summit ,,of ,,mont ,,blanc1 ,,showing ,,the ,,matterhorn ,,in ,,the ,,distance4 ,eight days went by1 and then a telegram was received at ,chamonix from the family of the guide ,savoye1 in ,courmayer1 ,italy1 inquiring if he and his party had been seen4 ,all ,chamonix comprehended in an instant the significance of that telegram1 and thirty guides started post haste for the mountains4 ,the fact was now recalled that several days before some of ,monsieur ,janssen's porters had noticed an ice axe lying on the snow a little aside from the ordinary route4 ,they thought nothing of it at the time1 supposing that the implement had either been thrown away1 or left behind by some one who would return to get it4 ,this abandoned axe now became the first object of the search4 ,having discovered it1 the guides knew well where to look for its owner4 ,the axe lay on a slope of snow almost as hard as ice1 and at the foot of the slope was the inevitable crevasse2 not one of the largest1 being only fifteen feet wide by two hundred long1 and one hundred deep1 but all too sufficient4 ,they crept to the edge1 and peered into the gloomy depths4 ,there lay the missing men1 still tied together4 ,schnurdreher and ,savoye had apparently been killed at once2 but there was heart-rending evidence that ,brou had survived the fall1 and made a pitiful effort to scale the perpendicular walls of the ice chasm4 ,enclosed in bags of rough sacking1 the bodies were dragged with ropes down to the ,pierre ,pointue1 and thence carried to ,chamonix4 ,this is a time-honored procedure in such cases4 ,every boy in ,chamonix understands how a body should be brought down from ,mont ,blanc4 ,on the night of my arrival ,savoye and ,brou had just been buried at ,chamonix1 and money was being raised for the relief of their almost destitute families4 ,but ,schnurdreher1 in his mountain dress1 with his spiked shoes on his feet1 still lay at the undertaker's1 awaiting the coming of his relatives4 ,a ,,race ,,for ,,the ,,summit4 ,the morning of ,august #bith was cloudless1 and with the same outfit as before1 but with a scion of the house of ,balmat for porter in place of the man who had filled that office on the first occasion1 ,i started once more for the frosty topknot of ,europe4 ,at the ,grands ,mulets we found two ,germans with their retinue of guides and porters1 six persons in all1 who were also bound for the summit4 ,they left the ,grands ,mulets at midnight1 and we followed them three-quarters of an hour later4 ,there was no moon1 and ,couttet carried a lantern4 ,on reaching the ,petit ,plateau we saw the lights of the other party flashing ahead of us1 and at the foot of the ,grands ,montes we overtook them4 ,they had talked confidently of making the ascent in extraordinarily quick time1 and some good-natured chaffing now passed between ,couttet and the rival guides4 ,i had had no thought of a race2 but ,i defy anybody1 under the circumstances in which we were placed1 not to experience a little spurring from the spirit of emulation4 ,jerking the rope to attract ,couttet's attention1 ,i told him in a low voice to pass the others at the first opportunity4 ,we'll do it on the ,grand ,plateau1 he whispered4 ,five minutes later1 however1 the advance party paused to take breath4 ,we immediately broke out of their tracks in the snow and started to pass around them2 but they instantly accepted the challenge1 and a scrambling race began up the steep slope4 ,sometimes we sank so deep that time was lost in extricating our legs1 and again we slipped back1 which was even more annoying than sticking fast4 ,the powdery snow flew about like dust1 and was occasionally dumped into my face by the piston-like action of my knees4 ,the lanterns jangled and flickered wildly1 and in their shifting and uncertain light1 with our odd habiliments1 we must have resembled a company of mad demons on a lark4 ,such a race in such a place could only last a couple of minutes1 and it was soon over1 the ,american coming out ahead4 ,getting upon the ,grand ,plateau1 we did not stop to rest1 but broke into a dog trot4 ,whatever happens1 ,couttet1 we must be first at the top4 ,very well1 monsieur4 ,from the ,grand ,plateau there are two ways to the summit3 one by the ,bosses du ,dromadaire1 which we followed on the first attempt2 the other1 which we now adopted1 by the ,corridor4 ,this is a steep furrow1 crossed by an ice precipice with a great crevasse near its foot1 which leads upward from the left-hand border of the ,grand ,plateau to a snowy saddle between the ,mont ,maudit and a precipitous out-cropping of rock called the ,mur de la ,cote4 ,a faint glimmer of approaching dawn now lay on part of the rim of mountains surrounding us4 ,when we reached the foot of the ,corridor the lights of the other party were not visible4 ,but here step-cutting became necessary1 and this delayed us so much that presently ,i caught dancing gleams from the pursuing lanterns moving rapidly at the bottom of the bowl of night out of which we were climbing4 ,they were fast gaining upon us4 ,we must hurry1 ,couttet6 ,yes1 but no man goes quick here who does not go for the last time4 ,in fact1 our position had an appearance of peril4 ,we were part way up the frozen precipice that cuts across the ,corridor1 and were balancing ourselves on an acute wedge of ice which stood off several feet in front of the precipice1 being separated from it by a deep cleft4 ,the outer side of this wedge1 whose edge we were traversing lengthwise1 pitched down into the darkness and ended1 ,i believe1 in a crevasse4 ,presently we reached a place where the precipice overhung our precarious footway1 and an inverted forest of icicles depended above us4 ,make as little noise as possible1 and step gently1 said ,couttet4 ,this is a familiar precaution in the ,high ,alps1 where the vibrations of sound sometimes act the part of the trigger of a gun and let loose terrific energies ready poised for action4 ,the clinking of particles of ice that shot from our feet into the depths distracted attention from the beautiful play of the light of the lanterns on some of the hanging masses4 ,at last we attained a point where it was possible1 by swinging round a somewhat awkward corner1 to get upon the roof of the precipice4 ,this we found so steep that occasional steps had also to be cut there4 ,the lights of the pursuers had approached the foot of the wall1 and though now invisible1 we knew the party was ascending close behind1 taking advantage of the steps we had made4 ,this spurred us on1 although ,i was beginning to suffer some inconvenience from the rarity of the air1 and had to stop to breathe much oftener than ,i liked4 ,in truth1 the spurt we had made1 beginning at the ,grands ,montes1 involved an over-expenditure of energy whose effects ,i could not escape1 and nature was already demanding usury for the loan4 ,as we approached the ridge of the saddle1 day rose blushing in the east1 and ,couttet put out the lantern4 ,turning to the right1 we hurried in zigzags up the slippery ,mur de la ,cote1 stopping to cut steps only when strictly necessary4 ,while we were ascending this wall the sun appeared1 and hung for a moment1 a great1 dazzling1 fire-colored circle1 on a distant mountain rim4 ,below us for a long time the great valleys remained filled with gloom1 while out of and around there rose hundreds of peaks1 tipped with pink and gold4 ,but very few of the towering giants now reached to our level1 and in a little while we should be above them all4 ,once on top of the ,mur we had level going again for a space1 and hurrying to the base of the crowning dome1 which swells upward another thousand feet1 we began its ascent without stopping4 ,about half way up the dome the highest visible rocks of ,mont ,blanc on this side break through the ,mur4 ,they are called the ,petits ,mulets4 ,we had nearly reached them when1 looking back1 ,i saw the heads of the other party appearing on the brink of the ,mur4 ,they looked up at us hanging right above them on the white slope1 while ,couttet carried my handkerchief1 streaming triumphantly in the morning wind1 from the end of his baton4 ,waving their hands1 they sat down and gave up the race4 ,while they lunched we pushed upward more slowly1 and at six o'clock entered the door of ,monsieur ,janssen's observatory1 fifteen thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven feet above the sea4 ,my first look was directed to the ,matterhorn1 which1 thirty-five miles away1 pierced the morning sky with its black spike4 ,glittering near it were the snow turrets of ,monte ,rosa1 the ,dent ,blanche1 and all the marvellous circle of peaks that stand around ,zermatt4 ,there was not a cloud to break the view4 ,on one side lay ,italy2 on the other ,france4 ,it would be impossible to imagine the wild scene immediately below us4 ,the tremendous slopes of snow falling away on all sides1 now in steep inclines and now in broken precipices1 ever down and down1 were not after all so imposing as the jagged pinnacles of bare rock that sprang out of them4 ,there was something peculiarly savage1 almost menacing1 in the aspect of these lower mountains1 pressing in serried ranks around their white-capped chief4 ,they seemed to shut us far away from the human world below1 and one felt that he had placed himself entirely in the hands of nature4 ,this was her realm1 where she acknowledged no laws but her own1 and was incapable of sympathy1 pity1 or remorse4 ,,fairy ,,gold4 ,,by ,,mary ,,stewart ,,cutting1 ,author of ,the ,coupons of ,fortune1 ,henry1 and other stories4 ,when ,mr4 ,william ,belden walked out of his house one wet ,october evening and closed the hall door carefully behind him1 he had no idea that he was closing the door on all the habits of his maturer life and entering the borders of a land as far removed from his hopes or his imagination as the country of the ,gadarenes4 ,he had not wanted to go out that evening at all1 not knowing what the fates had in store for him1 and being only too conscious of the comfort of the sitting-room lounge1 upon which1 after the manner of the suburban resident who travelleth daily by railways1 he had cast himself immediately after the evening meal was over4 ,the lounge was in proximity--yet not too close proximity--to the lamp on the table2 so that one might have the pretext of reading to cover closed eyelids and a general oblivion of passing events4 ,on a night when a pouring rain splashed outside on the pavements and the tin roofs of the piazzas1 the conditions of rest in the cosey little room were peculiarly attractive to a man who had come home draggled and wet1 and with the toil and wear of a long business day upon him4 ,it was therefore with a sinking of the heart that he heard his wife's gentle tones requesting him to wend his way to the grocery to purchase a pound of butter4 ,i hate to ask you to go1 ,william dear1 but there really is not a scrap in the house for breakfast1 and the butter-man does not come until to-morrow afternoon1 she said deprecatingly4 ,it really will only take you a few minutes4 ,mr4 ,belden smothered a groan1 or perhaps something worse4 ,the butter question was a sore one1 ,mrs4 ,belden taking only a stated quantity of that article a week1 and always unexpectedly coming short of it before the day of replenishment1 although no argument ever served to induce her to increase the original amount for consumption4 ,cannot ,bridget go8 he asked weakly1 gazing at the small1 plump figure of his wife1 as she stood with meek yet inexorable eyes looking down at him4 ,bridget is washing the dishes1 and the stores will be closed before she can get out4 ,can't one of the boys-- ,he stopped4 ,there was in this household a god who ruled everything in it1 to whom all pleasures were offered up1 all individual desires sacrificed1 and whose ,best ,good was the greedy and unappreciative ,juggernaut before whom ,mr4 ,belden and his wife prostrated themselves daily4 ,this idol was called ,the ,children4 ,mr4 ,belden felt that he had gone too far4 ,william6 said his wife severely1 ,i am surprised at you4 ,john and ,henry have their lessons to get1 and ,willy has a cold2 ,i could not think of exposing him to the night air2 and it is so damp1 too6 ,mr4 ,belden slowly and stiffly rose from his reclining position on the sofa4 ,there was a finality in his wife's tone before which he succumbed4 ,the night air was damp4 ,as he walked along the street the water slopped around his feet1 and ran in rills down his rubber coat4 ,he did not feel as contented as usual4 ,when he was a youngster1 he reflected with exaggerated bitterness1 boys were boys1 and not treated like precious pieces of porcelain4 ,he did not remember1 as a boy1 ever having any special consideration shown him2 yet he had been both happy and healthy1 healthier perhaps than his over-tended brood at home4 ,in his day it had been popularly supposed that nothing could hurt a boy4 ,he heaved a sigh over the altered times1 and then coughed a little1 for he had a cold as well as ,willy4 ,the streets were favorable to silent meditation1 for there was no one out in them4 ,the boughs of the trees swished backward and forward in the storm1 and the puddles at the crossings reflected the dismal yellow glare of the street lamps4 ,every one was housed to-night in the pretty detached cottages he passed1 and he thought with growing wrath of the trivial errand on which he had been sent4 ,in happy homes he saw the light1 but none of the high purpose of the youth of ,excelsior fame stirred his heart--rather a dull sense of failure from all high things4 ,what did his life amount to anyway1 that he should count one thing more trivial than another8 ,he loved his wife and children dearly1 but he remembered a time when his ambition had not thought of being satisfied with the daily grind for a living and a dreamless sleep at night4 ',our life is but a sleep and a forgetting1' he thought grimly1 in quite a different way from what ,wordsworth meant4 ,he had been one of the foremost in his class at college1 an orator1 an athlete1 a favorite in society and with men4 ,great things had been predicted for him4 ,then he had fallen in love with ,nettie2 a professional career seemed to place marriage at too great a distance1 and he had joyfully1 yet with some struggles in his protesting intellect1 accepted a position that was offered to him--one of those positions which never change1 in which men die still unpromoted1 save when a miracle intervenes4 ,it was not so good a position for a family of six as it had been for a family of two1 but he did not complain4 ,he and ,nettie went shabby1 but the children were clothed in the best1 as was their due4 ,he was too wearied at night to read anything but the newspapers1 and the gentle domestic monotony was not inspiring4 ,he and ,nettie never went out in the evenings2 the children could not be left alone4 ,he met his friends on the train in that diurnal journey to and from the great city1 and she occasionally attended a church tea2 but their immediate and engrossing world seemed to be made up entirely of persons under thirteen years of age4 ,they had dwelt in the place almost ever since their marriage1 respected and liked1 but with no real social life4 ,if ,mr4 ,belden thought of the years to come1 he may be pardoned an unwonted sinking of the heart4 ,it was while indulging in these reflections that he mechanically purchased the pound of butter1 which he could not help comparing with ,shylock's pound of flesh1 so much of life had it taken out of him1 and then found himself stepping up on the platform of the station1 led by his engrossing thoughts to pass the street corner and tread the path most familiar to him4 ,he turned with an exclamation to retrace his way1 when a man pacing leisurely up and down1 umbrella in hand1 caught sight of him4 ,is that you1 ,belden8 said the stranger4 ,what are you doing down here to-night8 ,i came out on an errand for my wife1 said ,belden sedately4 ,he recognized the man as a young lawyer1 much identified with politics2 a mere acquaintance1 yet it was a night to make any speaking animal seem a friend1 and ,mr4 ,belden took a couple of steps along beside him4 ,waiting for a train8 he said4 ,oh1 thunder1 yes6 said ,mr4 ,groper1 throwing away the stump of a cigar4 ,i have been waiting for the last half hour for the train2 it's late1 as usual4 ,there's a whole deputation from ,barnet on board1 due at the ,reform meeting in town to-night1 and ,i'm part of the committee to meet them here4 ,where is the other part of the committee8 asked ,mr4 ,belden4 ,oh1 ,jim ,crane went up to the hall to see about something1 and ,connors hasn't showed up at all2 ,i suppose the rain kept him back4 ,what kind of a meeting we're going to have ,i don't know4 ,say1 ,belden1 ,i'm not up to this sort of thing4 ,i wish you'd stay and help me out--there's no end of swells coming down1 more your style than mine4 ,why1 man alive1 ,i can't do anything for you1 said ,mr4 ,belden4 ,these carriages ,i see are waiting for the delegation1 and here comes the train now2 you'll get along all right4 ,he waited as the train slowed into the station1 smiling anew at little ,groper's perturbation4 ,he was quite curious to see the arrivals4 ,barnet had been the home of his youth1 and there might be some one whom he knew4 ,he had half intended1 earlier in the day1 to go himself to the ,reform meeting1 but a growing spirit of inaction had made him give up the idea4 ,yes1 there was quite a carload of people getting out--ladies1 too4 ,why1 ,will ,belden6 called out a voice from the party4 ,a tall fellow in a long ulster sprang forward to grasp his hand4 ,you don't say it's yourself come down to meet us4 ,here we all are1 ,johnson1 ,clemmerding1 ,albright1 ,cranston---all the old set4 ,rainsford1 you've heard of my cousin1 ,will ,belden4 ,my wife and ,miss ,wakeman are behind here2 but we'll do all the talking afterward1 if you'll only get us off for the hall now4 ,well1 ,i am glad to see you1 ,henry1 said ,mr4 ,belden heartily4 ,he thrust the pound of butter hastily into a large pocket of his mackintosh1 and found himself shaking hands with a score of men4 ,he had only time to assist his cousin's wife and the beautiful ,miss ,wakeman into a carriage1 and in another moment they were all rolling away toward the town hall1 with little ,mr4 ,groper running frantically after them1 ignored by the visitors1 and peacefully forgotten by his friend4 ,the public hall of the little town--which called itself a city--was all ablaze with light as the party entered it1 and well filled1 notwithstanding the weather4 ,there were flowers on the platform where the seats for the distinguished guests were placed1 and a general air of radiance and joyful import prevailed4 ,it was a gathering of men from all political parties1 concerned in the welfare of the ,state4 ,great measures were at stake1 and the election of governor of immediate importance4 ,the name of ,judge ,belden of ,barnet was prominently mentioned4 ,he had not been able to attend on this particular occasion1 but his son had come with a delegation from the county town1 twenty miles away1 to represent his interests4 ,on ,mr4 ,william ,belden devolved the task of introducing the visitors2 a most congenial one1 he suddenly found it to be4 ,his friends rallied around him as people are apt to do with one of their own kind when found in a foreign country4 ,they called him ,will1 as they used to1 and slapped him on the shoulder in affectionate abandon4 ,those among the group who had not known him before were anxious to claim acquaintance on the strength of his fame1 which1 it seemed1 still survived him in his native town4 ,it must not be supposed that he had not seen either his cousin or his friends during his sojourn away from them2 on the contrary1 he had met them once or so in two or three years1 in the street1 or on the ferry-boat--though they travelled by different roads--but he had then been but a passing interest in the midst of pressing business4 ,to-night he was the only one of their kind in a strange place---his cousin loved him1 they all loved him4 ,the expedition had the sentiment of a frolic under the severer political aspect4 ,in the welcome to the visitors by the home committee ,mr4 ,belden also received his part1 in their surprised recognition of him1 almost amounting to a discovery4 ,we had no idea that you were a nephew of ,judge ,belden1 one of them said to him1 speaking for his colleagues1 who stood near4 ,mr4 ,william ,belden bowed1 and smiled2 as a gentleman1 and a rather reticent one1 it had never occurred to him to parade his family connections4 ,his smile might mean anything4 ,it made the good committeeman1 who was rich and full of power1 feel a little uncomfortable1 as he tried to cover his embarrassment with effusive cordiality4 ,in the background stood ,mr4 ,groper1 wet1 and breathing hard1 but plainly full of admiration for his tall friend1 and the position he held as the centre of the group4 ,the visitors referred all arrangements to him4 ,at last they filed on to the platform--the two cousins together4 ,you must find a place for the girls1 said ,henry ,belden1 with the peculiar boyish giggle that his cousin remembered so well4 ,by ,george1 they would come2 couldn't keep 'em at home1 after they once got ,jim ,shore to say it was all right4 ,of course1 ,marie ,wakeman started it2 she said she was bound to go to a political meeting and sit on the platform2 arguing wasn't a bit of use4 ,when she got ,clara on her side ,i knew that ,i was doomed4 ,now1 you couldn't get them to do a thing of this kind at home2 but take a woman out of her natural sphere1 and she ignores conventionalities1 just like a girl in a bathing-suit4 ,there they are1 seated over in that corner4 ,i'm glad that they are hidden from the audience by the pillar4 ,of course1 there's that fool of a ,jim1 too1 with ,marie4 ,you don't mean to say she's at it yet8 said his cousin ,william4 ',at it yet'6 ,she's never stopped for a moment since you kissed her that night on the hotel piazza after the hop1 under old ,mrs4 ,trelawney's window--do you remember that1 ,will8 ,mr4 ,william ,belden did indeed remember it2 it was a salute that had echoed around their little world1 leading1 strangely enough1 to the capitulation of another heart--it had won him his wife4 ,but the little intimate conversation was broken off as the cousins took the places allotted to them1 and the business of the meeting began4 ,if he were not the chairman1 he was appealed to so often as to almost serve in that capacity4 ,he became interested in the proceedings1 and in the speeches that were made2 none of them1 however1 quite covered the ground as he understood it4 ,his mind unconsciously formulated propositions as the flow of eloquence went on4 ,it therefore seemed only right and fitting toward the end of the evening1 when it became evident that his ,honor the ,mayor was not going to appear1 that our distinguished fellow-citizen1 ,mr4 ,william ,belden1 nephew of ,judge ,belden of ,barnet1 should be asked to represent the interests of the county in a speech1 and that he should accept the invitation4 ,he stood for a moment silent before the assembly1 and then all the old fire that had lain dormant for so long blazed forth in the speech that electrified the audience1 was printed in all the papers afterward1 and fitted into a political pamphlet4 ,he began with a comprehensive statement of facts1 he drew large and logical deductions from them1 and then lit up the whole subject with those brilliant flashes of wit and sarcasm for which he had been famous in bygone days4 ,more than that1 a power unknown before had come to him2 he felt the real knowledge and grasp of affairs which youth had denied him1 and it was with an exultant thrill that his voice rang through the crowded hall1 and stirred the hearts of men4 ,for the moment they felt as he felt1 and thought as he thought1 and a storm of applause arose as he ended--applause that grew and grew until a few more pithy words were necessary from the orator before silence could be restored4 ,he made his way to the back of the hall for some water1 and then1 half exhausted1 yet tingling still from the excitement1 dropped into an empty chair by the side of ,miss ,wakeman4 ,well done1 ,billy1 she said1 giving him a little approving tap with her fan4 ,you were just fine4 ,she gave him an upward glance from her large dark eyes4 ,do you know you haven't spoken to me to-night1 nor shaken hands with me8 ,let us shake hands now1 he said1 smiling1 flushed with success1 as he looked into the eyes of this very pretty woman4 ,i shall take off my glove first--such old friends as we are6 ,it must be a real ceremony4 ,she laid a soft1 white1 dimpled hand1 covered with glistening rings1 in his outstretched palm1 and gazed at him with coquettish plaintiveness4 ,it's so lovely to see you again6 ,have you forgotten the night you kissed me8 ,i have thought of it daily1 he replied1 giving her hand a hearty squeeze4 ,they both laughed1 and he took a surreptitious peep at her from under his eyelids4 ,marie ,wakeman6 ,yes1 truly1 the same1 and with the same old tricks4 ,he had been married for nearly fourteen years1 his children were half grown1 he had long since given up youthful friskiness1 but she was at it still4 ,why1 she had been older than he when they were boy and girl2 she must be for--,he gazed at her soft1 rounded1 olive cheek1 and quenched the thought4 ,and you are very happy8 she pursued1 with tender solicitude4 ,nettie makes you a perfect wife1 ,i suppose4 ,perfect1 he assented gravely4 ,and you haven't missed me at all8 ,can you ask8 ,it was the way in which all men spoke to ,marie ,wakeman1 married or single1 rich or poor1 one with another4 ,he laughed inwardly at his lapse into the expected tone4 ,i feel that ,i really breathe for the first time in years1 now that ,i'm with you again4 ,but how is it that you are not married8 ,what1 after ,i had known you8 ,she gave him a reproachful glance4 ,and you were so cruel to me--as soon as you had made your little ,nettie jealous you cared for me no longer4 ,look what ,i've declined to6 ,she indicated ,jim ,shore1 leaning disconsolately against the cornice1 chewing his moustache4 ,now don't give him your place unless you really want to2 well1 if you're tired of me already--thank you ever so much1 and ,i am proud of you to-night1 ,billy6 ,her lustrous eyes dwelt on him lingeringly as he left her2 he smiled back into them4 ,the lines around her mouth were a little hard2 she reminded him indefinably of ,she2 but she was a handsome woman1 and he had enjoyed the encounter4 ,the sight of her brought back so vividly the springtime of life2 his hopes1 the pangs of love1 the joy that was his when ,nettie was won2 he felt an overpowering throb of tenderness for the wife at home who had been his early dream4 ,the last speeches were over1 but ,mr4 ,william ,belden's triumph had not ended4 ,as the acknowledged orator of the evening he had an ovation afterward2 introductions and unlimited hand-shakings were in order4 ,he was asked to speak at a select political dinner the next week2 to speak for the hospital fund2 to speak for the higher education of woman4 ,led by a passing remark of ,henry ,belden's to infer that his cousin was a whist player of parts1 a prominent social magnate at once invited him to join the party at his house on one of their whist evenings4 ,my wife1 er--will have great pleasure in calling on ,mrs4 ,belden1 said the magnate4 ,we did not know that we had a good whist player among us4 ,this evening has indeed been a revelation in many ways--in many ways4 ,you would have no objection to taking a prominent part in politics1 if you were called upon8 ,a reform mayor is sadly needed in our city--sadly needed4 ,your connection with ,judge ,belden would give great weight to any proposition of that kind4 ,but1 of course1 all this is in the future4 ,mr4 ,belden heard his name whispered in another direction1 in connection with the cashiership of the new bank which was to be built4 ,the cashiership and the mayoralty might be nebulous honors1 but it was sweet1 for once1 to be recognized for what he was--man of might2 a man of talent1 and of honor4 ,there was a hurried rush for the train at the last on the part of the visitors4 ,mr4 ,william ,belden snatched his mackintosh from the peg whereon it had hung throughout the evening1 and went with the crowd1 talking and laughing in buoyant exuberance of spirits4 ,the night had cleared1 the moon was rising1 and poured a flood of light upon the wet streets4 ,it was a different world from the one he had traversed earlier in the evening4 ,he walked home with ,miss ,wakeman's exaggeratedly tender ,good-by1 dear ,billy6 ringing in his ears1 to provoke irrepressible smiles4 ,the pulse of a free life1 where men lived instead of vegetating1 was in his veins4 ,his footstep gave forth a ringing sound from the pavement2 he felt himself stalwart1 alert1 his brain rejoicing in its sense of power4 ,it was even with no sense of guilt that he heard the church clocks striking twelve as he reached the house where his wife had been awaiting his return for four hours4 ,she was sitting up for him1 as he knew by the light in the parlor window4 ,he could see her through the half-closed blinds as she sat by the table1 a magazine in her lap1 her attitude1 unknown to herself1 betraying a listless depression4 ,after all1 is a woman glad to have all her aspirations and desires confined within four walls8 ,she may love her cramped quarters1 to be sure1 but can she always forget that they are cramped8 ,to what does a wife descend after the bright dreams of her girlhood6 ,does she really like above all things to be absorbed in the daily consumption of butter1 and the children's clothes1 or is she absorbed in these things because the man who was to have widened the horizon of her life only limits it by his own decadence8 ,she rose to meet her husband as she heard his key in the lock4 ,she had exchanged her evening gown for a loose1 trailing white wrapper1 and her fair hair was arranged for the night in a long braid4 ,her husband had a smile on his face4 ,you look like a girl again1 he said brightly1 as he stooped and kissed her4 ,no1 don't turn out the light1 come in and sit down a while longer1 ,i've ever so much to tell you4 ,you can't guess where ,i've been this evening4 ,at the political meeting1 she said promptly4 ,how on earth did you know8 ,the doctor came here to see ,willy1 and he told me he saw you on the way4 ,i'm glad you did go1 ,william2 ,i was worrying because ,i had sent you out2 ,i did not realize until later what a night it was4 ,well1 ,i am very glad that you did send me1 said her husband4 ,he lay back in his chair1 flushed and smiling at the recollection4 ,you ought to have been there1 too2 you would have liked it4 ,what will you say if ,i tell you that ,i made a speech--yes1 it is quite true--and was applauded to the echo4 ,this town has just waked up to the fact that ,i live in it4 ,and ,henry said--but there1 ,i'll have to tell you the whole thing1 or you can't appreciate it4 ,his wife leaned on the arm of his chair1 watching his animated face fondly1 as he recounted the adventures of the night4 ,he pictured the scene vividly1 and with a strong sense of humor4 ,and you don't say that ,marie ,wakeman is the same as ever8 she interrupted1 with a flash of special interest4 ,oh1 ,william6 ,she called me ,billy4 ,he laughed anew at the thought4 ,upon my word1 ,nettie1 she beats anything ,i ever saw or heard of4 ,did she remind you of the time you kissed her8 ,yes6 ,their eyes met in amused recognition of the past4 ,is she as handsome as ever8 ,um--yes--,i think so4 ,she isn't as pretty as you are4 ,oh1 ,will6 ,she blushed and dimpled4 ,i declare1 it is true6 ,he gazed at her with genuine admiration4 ,what has come over you to-night1 ,nettie8--you look like a girl again4 ,and you were not sorry when you saw her1 that--that-- ,sorry6 ,i have been thinking all the way home how glad ,i was to have won my sweet wife4 ,but we mustn't stay shut up at home as much as we have2 it's not good for either of us4 ,we are to be asked to join the whist club--what do you think of that8 ,you used to be a little card fiend once upon a time1 ,i remember4 ,she sighed4 ,it is so long since ,i have been anywhere6 ,i'm afraid ,i haven't any clothes1 ,will4 ,i suppose ,i might-- ,what1 dear8 ,take the money ,i had put aside for ,mary's next quarter's music lessons2 ,i do really believe a little rest would do her good4 ,it would--it would1 said ,mr4 ,belden with suspicious eagerness4 ,mary's after-dinner practising hour had tinged much of his existence with gall4 ,i insist that ,mary shall have a rest4 ,and you shall join the reading society now4 ,let us consider ourselves a little as well as the children2 it's really best for them1 too4 ,haven't we immortal souls as well as they8 ,can we expect them to seek the honey dew of paradise while they see us contented to feed on the grass of the field8 ,you call yourself an orator6 she scoffed4 ,he drew her to him by one end of the long braid1 and solemnly kissed her4 ,then he went into the hall and took something from the pocket of his mackintosh which he placed in his wife's hand--a little wooden dish covered with a paper1 through which shone a bright yellow substance--the pound of butter1 a lump of gleaming fairy gold1 the quest of which had changed a poor1 commonplace existence into one scintillating with magic possibilities4 ,fairy gold1 indeed1 cannot be coined into marketable eagles4 ,mr4 ,william ,belden might never achieve either the mayoralty or the cashiership1 but he had gained that of which money is only a trivial accessory4 ,the recognition of men1 the flashing of high thought to high thought1 the claim of brotherhood in the work of the world1 and the generous social intercourse that warms the earth--all these were to be his4 ,not even his young ambition had promised a wider field1 not the gold of the ,indies could buy him more of honor and respect4 ,at home also the spell worked4 ,he had but to speak the word1 to name the thing1 and ,nettie embodied his thought4 ,he called her young1 and happy youth smiled from her clear eyes2 beautiful1 and a blushing loveliness enveloped her2 clever1 and her ready mind leaped to match with his in thought and study2 dear1 and love touched her with its transforming fire and breathed of long-forgotten things4 ,if men only knew what they could make of the women who love them--but they do not1 as the plodding1 faded matrons who sit and sew by their household fires testify to us daily4 ,happy indeed is he who can create a paradise by naming it6 ,illustration3 ,,figure ,i4--,,apparatus ,,used ,,by ,,professor ,w4,f4 ,,magie ,,in ,,taking ,a ,,skiagraph ,,of ,a ,,hand4 ,the ,ruhmkorff coil in the background2 the ,crookes tube in front of it2 under the hand is the photographic plate in its plate-holder4 ,,the ,,use ,,of ,,the ,r,,ntgen ,x ,,rays ,,in ,,surgery4 ,,by ,w4,w4 ,,keen1 ,m4,d41 ,,ll4,d4 ,the nineteenth century resembles the sixteenth in many ways4 ,in or about the sixteenth we have the extensive use of the mariner's compass and of gunpowder1 the discovery of printing1 the discovery and exploration of ,america1 and the acquisition of territory in the ,new ,world by various ,european states4 ,in the nineteenth century we have the exploration of ,africa and the acquisition of territory in its interior1 in which the various nations of ,europe vie with each other again as three centuries before2 the discovery of steam1 and its ever-growing application to the transportation of goods and passengers on sea and land2 of the spectroscope1 and through it of many new elements1 including helium in the sun1 and1 later1 on the earth2 of argon in the earth's atmosphere2 of ansthetics and of the antiseptic methods in surgery1 and1 lastly1 the enormous recent strides in electrical science4 ,not only has electricity been applied to transportation and the development of light and power2 but the latest discovery by ,professor ,rntgen of the ,x rays seems destined1 possibly1 not only to revolutionize our ideas of radiation in all its forms on the scientific side1 but also on the practical side to be of use in the domain of medicine4 ,it is1 therefore1 with great pleasure that ,i accede to the request of the editor of this ,magazine to state briefly what has been achieved in the department of medicine up to the present time4 ,the method of investigating the body by means of the ,x rays is very simple1 as is shown in ,figure #a4 ,the ,crookes tube1 actuated from a storage battery or other source of electricity through a ,ruhmkorff coil1 is placed on one side of the body4 ,if need be1 instead of using the entire tube1 the rays from the most effective portion of it only are allowed to impinge upon the part of the body to be investigated1 through an opening in a disk of lead interposed between the ,crookes tube and the body4 ,on the other side of the part to be investigated is placed a quick photographic plate shut up in its plate-holder1 and is exposed to the rays emanating from the tube for a greater or less length of time4 ,the parts of the plate not protected by the body are acted upon by the rays1 through the lid of the plate-holder 7to which the rays are pervious71 while the tissues of the body act1 feebly or strongly1 as the case may be1 as obstacles to the rays4 ,hence1 the part of the plate thus protected is less acted upon than the rest1 and a shadow is produced upon the plate4 ,the soft tissues of the body form but a very slight obstacle to the passage of the rays1 and1 hence1 throw very faint shadows on the plate4 ,the more dense portions1 presenting a greater obstacle to the passage of the rays1 throw deeper shadows2 hence the bones are seen as dark shadows1 the soft parts as lighter ones4 ,that the flesh or soft parts are not wholly permeable to the rays is well shown in the skiagraph--i4e41 a shadow picture--of a foot4 7,figure #b47 ,where two toes overlap1 it will be observed that there is a deeper shadow1 like the section of a biconvex lens4 ,illustration3 ,,figure #b4--,,skiagraph ,,of ,a ,,foot1 ,,showing ,,an ,,extra ,,bone ,,in ,,the ,,great ,,toe1 ,,which ,,was ,,removed ,,by ,,professor ,,mosetig4 7,from the ,british ,medical ,journal47 ,when we attempt to skiagraph the thicker portions of the body1 for example1 the shoulder1 the thigh1 or the trunk1 even the parts consisting only of flesh obstruct the rays to such an extent1 by reason of their thickness1 that the shadows of the still more dense tissues1 like the thigh bone1 the arm bone1 or the bones of the trunk1 cannot be distinguished from the shadows of the thicker soft parts4 ,tesla 7,electrical ,review1 ,march #aa1 #ahif7 has to some extent overcome these difficulties by his improved apparatus1 and has skiagraphed1 though rather obscurely1 the shoulder and trunk1 and ,rowland has been able to do the same4 ,doubtless when we are able to devise apparatus of greater penetration1 and to control the effect of the rays1 we shall be able to skiagraph clearly even through the entire thickness of the body4 ,it might be supposed that clothing or surgical dressings would prove an obstacle to this new photography1 but all our preconceived notions derived from the ordinary photograph must be thrown aside4 ,the bones of the forearm or the hand can be as readily skiagraphed through a voluminous surgical dressing or through the ordinary clothing1 as when the parts are entirely divested of any covering4 ,even bed-ridden patients can be skiagraphed through the bed-clothes1 and1 therefore1 without danger from exposure4 ,illustration3 ,,figure #c4--,,sketch ,,of ,a ,,baby',s ,,foot ,,as ,,seen ,,through ,,the ,,skiascope4 7,from the ,american ,journal of the ,medical ,sciences1 ,march1 #ahif47 ,illustration3 ,,figure #d4--,,sketch ,,of ,a ,,baby',s ,,knee ,,as ,,seen ,,through ,,the ,,skiascope4 7,from the ,american ,journal of the ,medical ,sciences1 ,march1 #ahif47 ,one of the principal difficulties of the method at present is the time ordinarily required to obtain a good picture4 ,usually this time may be stated at in the neighborhood of an hour1 though many good skiagraphs have been taken in a half hour or twenty minutes4 ,it is stated that ,messrs4 ,mc,leennan1 ,wright1 and ,keele of ,toronto have reduced the necessary time to one second1 and that ,mr4 ,edison has taken even instantaneous pictures2 but ,i am not aware of the publication of any pictures showing how perfect these results are4 ,undoubtedly1 as a result of the labors of so many scores of physicists and physicians as are now working at the problem1 before long we shall be able to skiagraph at least the thinner parts of the body in a very brief interval4 ,the brevity of the exposure will also better the pictures in another way4 ,at present1 if the attempt is made to skiagraph the shoulder or parts of the trunk1 we have to deal with organs which cannot be kept motionless1 since the movements incident to breathing produce a constant to and fro movement of the shoulder1 the lungs1 the heart1 the stomach1 the liver1 and other organs which1 hereafter1 may be made accessible to this process4 ,there is no serious discomfort excepting the somewhat irksome necessity of remaining absolutely still4 ,another method of seeing the denser tissues of the body is by direct observation4 ,a means of seeing through the thinner parts of the body1 such as the fingers or the toes1 has been devised simultaneously by ,salvioni of ,italy1 and ,professor ,magie of ,princeton4 ,their instruments are practically identical1 consisting of a hollow cylinder a few inches long1 one end of which is applied to the eye1 the other end1 instead of having a lens1 being covered by a piece of paper smeared with a phosphorescent salt1 the double cyanide of platinum and barium4 ,when the hand is held before a ,crookes tube1 and is looked at through the cylinder1 we can see the bones of the hand or foot almost as clearly as is shown in ,figure #b4 ,it has not yet1 ,i believe1 been applied to thicker parts of the body4 ,figures #c and #d show a baby's foot and knee as seen through this tube4 ,the partial development of the bones accounts for the peculiar appearance4 ,there is no bony knee-pan1 or patella1 at birth1 and the bones of the toes consist only of cartilage1 which is translucent1 and therefore not seen4 ,the name given by ,professor ,salvioni to this sort of spy-glass--if one may apply this term to an instrument which has no glass--is that of cryptoscope 7seeing that which is hidden74 ,the name suggested by ,professor ,magie is skiascope 7seeing a shadow47 ,this leads me to say a word in reference to the nomenclature4 ,the very unfortunate name shadowgraph has been suggested and largely used in the newspapers1 and even in medical journals4 ,it has only the merit of clearness as to its meaning to ,english-speaking persons4 ,it is1 however1 an abominable linguistic crime1 being an unnatural compound of ,english and ,greek4 ,radiograph and its derivatives are equally objectionable as compounds of ,latin and ,greek4 ,the ,greek word for shadow is skia1 and the proper rendering1 therefore1 of shadowgraph is skiagraph1 corresponding to photograph4 ,the first question that meets us in the use of the method in medicine is what normal constituents of the body are permeable or impermeable to the ,x rays4 ,it may be stated1 in a general way1 that all of the fleshy parts of the body are partially permeable to the rays in a relatively short time2 and if the exposure is long enough1 they become entirely permeable1 so that no shadow is cast4 ,even the bones1 on prolonged exposure1 do not present a sufficient obstacle to the passage of the rays1 and the shadow originally cast becomes obliterated4 ,hence1 skiagraphs of the same object exposed to the rays for varying times may be of value in showing the different tissues4 ,the most permeable of the normal tissues are cartilage or gristle1 and fat4 ,a kidney 7out of the body7 is stated by ,dr4 ,reid of ,dundee to show the difference between the rind1 or secreting portion1 which is more transparent1 and the central portion1 consisting chiefly of conducting tubes1 which is less transparent4 ,on the contrary1 in the brain the gray cortex1 or rind1 is less transparent than the white nerve tubules in the centre4 ,the denser fibrous tissues1 such as the ligaments of joints and the tendons or sinews of muscles1 cast very perceptible shadows1 so that when we come to a thick tendon like the tendo ,achillis1 the shadow approaches even the density of the shadow cast by bone4 ,i presume that it is for the same reason 7the dense fibrous envelope1 or sclerotic coat7 that the eye-ball is not translucent to the rays1 as is seen in ,figure #e1 of a bullock's eye4 ,illustration3 ,,figure #e4--,,skiagraph ,,of ,a ,,bullock',s ,,eye4 7,from the ,american ,journal of the ,medical ,sciences1 ,march #ahif47 ,mr4 ,arthur ,h4 ,lea has ingeniously suggested that the translucency of the soft parts of the living and of those of the dead body might show a difference1 and that1 if such were the case1 it might be used as a definite test of death4 ,unfortunately ,figure #f1 of a dead hand1 when contrasted with ,figure #aa1 of a living hand1 shows virtually no difference1 and the method cannot be used as a positive proof of death4 ,that we are not able at present to skiagraph the soft parts of the body1 does not imply that we shall not be able to do it hereafter2 and should this be possible1 especially with our increasing ability to penetrate thick masses of tissue1 it is evident1 without entering into details1 that the use of the ,x rays may be of immense importance in obstetrics4 ,the bones1 however1 as is seen in nearly all of the skiagraphs illustrating this paper1 cast well-defined shadows4 ,this is at once an advantage and a hindrance4 ,to illustrate the latter first1 even one thickness of bone is difficult to penetrate1 so that the attempt to skiagraph the opening which had been made in a skull of a living person by a trephine entirely failed1 since the bone upon the opposite side of the skull formed so dense an obstacle that not the slightest indication of the trephine opening appeared4 ,to take1 therefore1 a skiagraph of a brain through two thicknesses of skull1 with our present methods1 is an impossibility4 ,even should the difficulty be overcome1 it is very doubtful whether there would be any possibility of discovering diseases of the brain1 since diseased tissues1 such as cancer1 sarcoma1 etc41 are probably as permeable to the ,x rays as the normal tissues4 ,thus ,reid 7,british ,medical ,journal1 ,february #ae1 #ahif7 states that a cancerous liver showed no difference in permeability to the rays through its cancerous and its normal portions4 ,foreign bodies1 such as bullets1 etc41 in the brain may be discovered when our processes have become perfected4 ,figure #g shows two buck-shot skiagraphed inside of a baby's skull1 and therefore through two thicknesses of bone4 ,it must be remembered1 however1 that not only are the bones of a baby's skull much less thick than those of an adult's skull1 but they are much less densely ossified1 and so throw far less of a shadow4 ,the dense shadows cast by bone are1 at least at present1 an insuperable obstacle to skiagraphing the soft translucent organs of the body which are enclosed within a more or less complete bony case1 as the rays will be intercepted by the bones4 ,efforts1 therefore1 to skiagraph the heart1 the lungs1 the liver1 and stomach1 and all the pelvic organs1 probably will be fruitless to a greater or less extent until our methods are improved4 ,while a stone in a bladder outside the body would undoubtedly be perceptible1 in the body the bones of the pelvis prevent any successful picture being taken4 ,illustration3 ,,figure #f4--,,skiagraph ,,of ,a ,,dead ,,hand ,,and ,,wrist1 ,,showing ,,two ,,buck-,,shot ,,and ,a ,,needle ,,embedded ,,in ,,the ,,flesh4 7,american ,journal of the ,medical ,sciences1 ,march1 #ahif47 ,to turn from the hindrances to the advantages of the application of the method to the bones1 one of the most important uses will be in diseases and injuries of bones4 ,in many cases it is very difficult to determine1 even under ether1 by the most careful manipulations1 whether there is a fracture or a dislocation1 or both combined4 ,when any time has elapsed after the accident1 the great swelling which often quickly follows such injuries still further obscures the diagnosis by manipulation4 ,the ,x rays1 however1 are oblivious1 or nearly so1 of all swelling1 and the bones can be skiagraphed in the thinner parts of the body at present1 say up to the elbow and the ankle1 with very great accuracy4 ,thus1 ,figure #h shows the deformity from an old fracture of the ulna 7one of the bones of the forearm7 very clearly4 ,by this means we shall be able to distinguish between fracture and dislocation in obscure cases4 ,thus ,mr4 ,gray 7,british ,medical ,journal1 ,march #g1 #ahif71 in a case of injury to an elbow1 was enabled to diagnosticate and successfully to replace a very rare dislocation1 which could not be made out by manipulation1 but was clearly shown by the ,x rays4 ,we may also possibly be able to determine when the bones are properly adjusted after a fracture2 and all the better1 since the skiagraph can be taken through the dressings1 even if wooden splints have been employed4 ,if plaster of ,paris is used 7and it is often the best splint7 this is impermeable to the rays4 ,that this method will come into general use1 however1 is very unlikely1 since the expense1 the time1 and the trouble will be so great that it will be impracticable to use it in every case1 especially in hospitals or dispensaries1 where crowds of patients have to be attended to in a relatively brief time4 ,in the surgical dispensary alone of the ,jefferson ,medical ,college ,hospital1 about one hundred patients are in attendance between twelve and two o'clock every day1 and all the time of a large number of assistants is occupied with dressing the cases4 ,it would be manifestly an utter impossibility to skiagraph the many fractures which are seen there daily1 considering that it would take from half an hour to an hour of the time of not less than two or three assistants skilled not only in surgery1 but also in electricity1 to skiagraph a single fracture4 ,now and then1 in obscure cases1 however1 the method will be undoubtedly of great service1 as in the case above described4 ,illustration3 ,,figure #g4--,,skiagraph ,,of ,a ,,baby',s ,,skull1 ,,showing ,,two ,,buck-,,shot ,,placed ,,under ,,the ,,skull4 7,american ,journal of the ,medical ,sciences1 ,march1 #ahif47 ,too hasty conclusions1 especially in medico-legal cases1 may easily be reached4 ,we do not yet know1 by skiagraphs of successful results after fracture1 just how such bones look during the process of healing1 and1 therefore1 we cannot yet be sure that the skiagraph of an unsuccessful case is an evidence of unskilfulness on the part of the surgeon4 ,in diseases of bone1 which are obscure1 it has already proved of great advantage1 as in a case related by ,mr4 ,abrahams 7,british ,medical ,journal1 ,february #bb1 #ahif74 ,a lad of nineteen1 who had injured his little finger in catching a cricket ball1 had the last joint of the finger bent at a slight angle1 and he could neither flex nor extend it4 ,any attempt to do so caused great pain4 ,the diagnosis was made of a fracture extending into the joint1 and that the joint having become ossified1 nothing short of amputation would give relief4 ,mr4 ,sydney ,rowland skiagraphed the hand1 and showed that there was only a bridge of bone uniting the last two joints of the finger4 ,an anaesthetic was administered1 and with very little force the bridge of bone was snapped1 the finger saved1 and the normal use of the hand restored4 ,deformities of bone can be admirably shown4 ,thus ,figure #i 7,british ,medical ,journal1 ,february #ae1 #ahif7 shows the deformity of the last two toes of the foot1 due to the wearing of tight shoes4 7,owing to the accidental breaking of the plate1 only a part of the foot is shown47 ,the lady whose foot was thus skiagraphed stated that she had suffered tortures from her boots1 so that walking became a penance1 and she even wanted the toes amputated4 ,relief was obtained by wearing broad-toed boots1 which gave room for the deformed toes4 ,another admirable illustration of a similar use of the method is seen in ,figure #b1 from a case of ,professor ,mosetig in ,vienna4 ,the last joint of the great toe was double the ordinary size1 and by touch it was recognized that there were two bones instead of one4 ,the difficulty was to determine which was the normal bone1 and which the extra bone that ought to be removed4 ,the moment the skiagraph was taken1 it was very clear which bone should be removed4 ,bony tumors elsewhere can also be diagnosticated and properly treated4 ,possibly1 also1 we may be able to determine the presence of dead bone1 though ,i am not aware of any such skiagraphs having been taken4 ,illustration3 ,,figure #h4--,,skiagraph ,,of ,,the ,,left ,,forearm ,,of ,a ,,living ,,subject1 ,,showing ,,at ,,the ,,point ,,marked ,b ,a ,,deformity ,,from ,,an ,,old ,,fracture4 7,taken at the ,state ,physical ,laboratory1 ,hamburg1 and published in the ,british ,medical ,journal47 ,diseases and injuries of the joints will be amenable to examination by this method4 ,figure #aj shows an elbow joint with tuberculous disease4 ,the bones of the arm and forearm are clearly seen1 and between them1 is a light area due to granulation-tissue1 or to fluid1 probably of tuberculous nature1 which is translucent to the rays4 ,the picture confirms the prior diagnosis of tuberculous disease1 and shows that the joint will have to be opened and treated for the disease4 ,deposits of uric acid in gouty diseases of the joints will undoubtedly be shown by these methods1 but this will scarcely be of any help in the treatment4 ,whether light will be thrown on other diseases of the joints is a problem not yet solved4 ,analogous to the bony tissues are the so-called ossified 7really1 calcified7 arteries4 ,in the dead body1 arteries filled with substances opaque to the ,x rays1 such as plaster of ,paris or cinnabar mixtures1 have already been skiagraphed successfully4 ,it is not at all improbable that calcified arteries in the living subject may be equally well shown4 ,so1 too1 when we are able to skiagraph through thick tissues1 we may be able to show such deposits in the internal organs of the body4 ,stones in various organs1 such as the kidney1 will be accessible to examination so soon as our methods have improved sufficiently for us to skiagraph through the thicker parts of the trunk4 ,the presence of such stones in the kidney is very often inferential1 and it will be a great boon1 both to the surgeon and the patient1 if we shall be able to demonstrate positively their presence by skiagraphy4 ,for the reason already given 7the pelvic bones which surround the bladder71 it is doubtful whether we can make use of it in stone in the bladder4 ,gall stones1 being made not of lime and other similar salts1 as are stones in the kidney and bladder1 but of cholesterine1 are1 unfortunately1 permeable to these rays2 and it is1 therefore1 doubtful whether the ,x rays will be of any service to us in determining their presence4 ,the chief use of the method up to the present time1 besides determining the diseases1 injuries1 and abnormities of bone1 has been in determining with absolute accuracy the presence of foreign bodies1 especially of needles1 bullets1 or shot and glass4 ,it is often extremely difficult to decide whether a needle is actually present or not4 ,there may be a little prick of the skin1 and no further positive evidence1 as the needle is often imperceptible to touch4 ,the patient1 when cross-questioned1 is frequently doubtful whether the needle has not dropped on the floor2 and it might be1 in some cases1 a serious question whether an exploratory operation to find a possible needle might not do more harm than the needle4 ,moreover1 though certainly present1 to locate it exactly is often very difficult2 and even after an incision has been made1 though it may be embedded in a hand or foot1 it is no easy task to find it4 ,illustration3 ,,figure #i4--,,skiagraph ,,of ,a ,,human ,,foot1 ,,showing ,,the ,,deformity ,,in ,,the ,,last ,,two ,,toes ,,caused ,,by ,,tight ,,boots4 7,skiagraphed by ,mr4 ,sydney ,rowland1 and published in the ,british ,medical ,journal47 ,the new method is a great step in advance in the line of precision of diagnosis1 and1 therefore1 of correct treatment4 ,about half a dozen cases have already been reported in the medical journals in which a needle was suspected to be in the hand or the foot1 and1 in some instances1 had been sought for fruitlessly by a surgeon1 in which the use of the ,x rays demonstrated absolutely1 not only its presence1 but its exact location1 and it has then been an easy matter to extract it4 ,so1 too1 in an equal number of cases1 bullets and shot have been located1 even after a prior fruitless search1 and have been successfully extracted4 ,figure #f is the skiagraph of the hand of a cadaver which shows a needle deeply embedded in the thumb1 and also two buck-shot1 which were inserted into the palm of the hand through two incisions4 ,it will be noticed that their denser shadow is seen even through the bones of the hand themselves1 for the hand was skiagraphed palm downward4 ,professor von ,bergmann of ,berlin has uttered1 however1 a timely warning upon this very point4 ,in many cases1 after bullets or shot have been embedded in the tissues for any length of time1 they become quite harmless4 ,they are surrounded with a firm capsule of gristly substance which renders them inert4 ,in #ahfc1 soon after ,i graduated in medicine1 ,i remember very well assisting the late ,professor ,s4,d4 ,gross in extracting a ball from the leg of a soldier who had been wounded at the ,borodino1 during ,napoleon's campaign in ,russia4 ,it lay in the leg entirely harmless for almost fifty years1 and then became a source of irritation1 and was easily found and removed4 ,there are many veterans of the ,civil ,war now living with bullets embedded in their bodies which are doing no harm2 and there is not a little danger that in the desire to find and remove them greater harm may be done by an operation than by letting them alone4 ,glass is1 fortunately1 quite opaque to the ,rntgen rays1 and it will be of great service to the patient1 if the surgeon shall be able1 by skiagraphing the hand1 to determine positively whether any fragment of glass still remains in a hand from which it is at least presumed all the fragments have been extracted4 ,even after the hand has been dressed1 it is possible1 through the dressing1 to skiagraph it1 and determine the presence or absence of any such fragments of glass4 ,illustration3 ,,figure #aj4---,,skiagraph ,,of ,a ,,section ,,of ,a ,,human ,,arm1 ,,showing ,,tuberculous ,,disease ,,of ,,the ,,elbow-,,joint4 7,american ,journal of the ,medical ,sciences1 ,march1 #ahif47 ,possibly before long we shall be able to determine also the presence or absence of solid foreign bodies in the larynx or windpipe4 ,every now and then1 patients1 especially children1 get into the windpipe jack-stones1 small tin toys1 nails1 pins1 needles1 etc41 foreign bodies which may menace life very seriously4 ,to locate them exactly is very difficult4 ,the ,x rays may here be a great help4 ,an attempt has been made by ,rowland and ,waggett4 to skiagraph such foreign bodies1 with encouraging results4 ,improvements in our methods will1 ,i think1 undoubtedly lead to a favorable use of the method in these instances4 ,beans1 peas1 wooden toys1 and similar foreign bodies1 being easily permeable to the rays1 will not probably be discovered4 ,if our methods improve so that we can skiagraph through the entire body1 it will be very possible to determine the presence and location of foreign bodies in the stomach and intestines4 ,a large number of cases are on record in which plates with artificial teeth1 knives1 forks1 coins1 and other such bodies have been swallowed2 and the surgeon is often doubtful1 especially if they are small1 whether they have remained in the stomach1 or have passed into the intestines1 or entirely escaped from the body4 ,in these cases1 too1 a caution should be uttered as to the occasional inadvisability of operating1 even should they be located1 for if small they will probably escape without doing any harm4 ,but it may be possible to look at them from day to day and determine whether or not they are passing safely through the intestinal canal1 or have been arrested1 at any point1 and1 therefore1 whether the surgeon should interfere4 ,the man who had swallowed a fork which remained in his stomach 7l'homme a la fourchette1 as he was dubbed in ,paris7 was a noted patient1 and would have proved an excellent subject for a skiagraph1 had the method then existed4 ,as sunlight is known to be the foe of bacteria1 the hope has been expressed that the new rays might be a means of destroying the microbes of consumption and other diseases in the living body4 ,delpine1 ,park1 and others have investigated this with a good deal of care4 ,a dozen different varieties of bacteria have been exposed to the ,rntgen rays for over an hour1 but cultures made from the tubes after this exposure have shown not only that they were not destroyed1 but possibly they were more vigorous than before4 ,the facts above stated seem to warrant the following conclusions as to the present value of the method3 ,first4--,that deformities1 injuries1 and diseases of bone can be readily and accurately diagnosticated by the ,rntgen rays2 but that the method at present is limited in its use to the thinner parts of the body1 especially to the hands1 forearms1 and feet4 ,second4--,that foreign bodies which are opaque to the rays1 such as needles1 bullets1 and glass1 can be accurately located and their removal facilitated by this means2 but that a zeal born of a new knowledge almost romantic in its character1 should not lead us to do harm by attempting the indiscriminate removal of every such foreign body4 ,non nocere 7to do no harm7 is the first lesson a surgeon learns4 ,third4--,that at present the internal organs are not accessible to examination by the ,x rays for two reasons3 ,first1 because many of them are enclosed in more or less complete bony cases1 which cut off the access of the rays2 and1 second1 because even where not so enclosed1 the thickness of the body1 even though it consists only of soft parts1 is such that the rays have not sufficient power of penetration to give us any information4 ,fourth4--,even if the rays can be made to permeate the thicker parts of the body1 it is doubtful whether tumors1 such as cancers1 sarcoma1 fatty tumors1 etc41 which are as permeable to the rays as the normal soft parts1 can be diagnosticated4 ,bony tumors1 however1 can be readily diagnosticated2 and possibly fibrous tumors1 by reason of their density1 may cast shadows4 ,fifth4--,that stones in the kidney1 bladder1 and gall bladder cannot be diagnosticated1 either 7#a7 because they are embedded in such parts of the body as are too thick to be permeable by the rays1 or 7#b7 are surrounded by the bones of the pelvis1 or 7#c7 are1 in the case of gall stones1 themselves permeable to the ,rntgen rays4 ,sixth4--,that with the improvements which will soon be made in our methods1 and with a better knowledge of the nature of the rays1 and greater ability to make them more effective1 we shall be able to overcome many of the obstacles just stated1 and that the method will then probably prove to be much more widely useful than at present4 ,illustration3 ,,figure #aa4--,,skiagraph ,,of ,a ,,human ,,wrist ,,which ,,had ,,been ,,dislocated4 ,from a photograph taken by ,mr4 ,herbert ,b4 ,shallenberger1 ,rochester1 ,pennsylvania1 and reproduced by his permission4 ,this is a particularly interesting picture1 because it not only shows the bones with unusual clearness1 but also shows that the ulna 7the small bone of the forearm7 has been broken2 a small projection at its lower end1 which ought to appear1 being absent from the bone as shown in the picture4