THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, JULY 30, 1887.

' ]sltJ_?-?LEMEK^

Ruby's Reward.

CHAPTER XVIH.

T HE HOUSE-WAE-lIS-a

#■ • 72iL_- GioRGIB SHELDON, , «(The Forsaken Bride," Author °{ l .»»-* «■"■**•>" "Ihat Dowdy," etc.

U be difficult to describe the ele -1 Tand beauty of Robert Gordon's re r In the evening of the 21st. Sf^dSg-room, all white and >m weep* ere rare aml S °rgedUS 'r.Mdofter adorning- made vivid radiant with the light from a & gas-burners, and into it poured r^e very quarter of the city. E "of every description, flashed and Cedinthe brilliant light; youth with fltyand sparkle, age withits learn ,Tnd dignity; pride and pomp and _IZ all mingled in the grand scene, •yebwaa never forgotten by those who ;-_rticipated in it. M whole mansion had ..been thrown ItnSeste, and everyone felt freo he willed. tol aD Jprvatory opened' 'out' from the •B» 2?2d was a place of bewilder- K° S and also of melody, for many hung all about, and - o. p with their sweet strains. of£P^-theeastsideofthis §S it tbe space to the large and d HVile bad been inclosed with gf'fgb -|ng to. and fro would folded from the keen night air. kSubv had told Walter,.no boxes or -SSsyet been put into the build jKe whole lower floor was to be SSftS^^ and draped in \1 bri'hb hues; flowers gleamed in 2'coi and hung in festoons from the 1 V? 'and the placo was a perfect SfcCtJ.while at ono end, behind t!\ screen, a fine orchestra was stationed [fiuS entrancing strains to bewitch was handsome and stately in tSer velvet, white lace, and diamonds ; BS^ndlookecl the whole-hearted Wm that he was in his evening-dress L'finest broadcloth. . Mr Rubles looked the gentleman in his ««iS and Mrs Rubles was quietly | h Ltfi her black satin with col ar and lof point lace, and a dainty little affair M same cstly material perched above St white hair, which Ruby thought was „ « M soft and pretty," and which she had traded her to havo arranged in a more Uera fashion than she was accustomed to She had been a "surprise to Mrs Gordon, who, on going below before the BriTsl of any of her guests, espied her i» the hall, at"the farther end of the y drawing-room, and did not recognise fl_ • .- . _ ._ StejooghtKuby and said: : "Some one has come at a very un _6iuhle hour, and unattended, too. Suii nicely dressed and looks exceed yjjwteel, but I do not know her." ' |_jhew, and her eyes twinkled.. ! "U43 go and see," she said, linking -: «ri/-i_ her sister's; " you know you are '. i-_^-B)ghted., Estglle, and perhaps Ifsam-jhave m6fc hfer -uffcer all." '_ SbeledhertoMrsß-gglesand formally i fc»M her, and both ladies had a f Daryl-Offh over the incident. lAndßnby! Who shall do justice to the -tight, deader, white-robed figure that »flitting down the magnificent stair walet?momenta before her sister ! Sto wore a dress of glistening white _>,the corsage made low, but filled in lift wise fine rich lace that was drawn up

faabout her throat and fastened with a : Eringof large, rare pearls. i to was no ornament about her save I_t string of pearls and one small, beauti • -1 white lily that nestled lovingly above kr forehead among the masses of her H_lenh_ir; but she was simply exquisite fen top to toe, while noon her bright face fa. rested such a tender grace that it *«-bloveliest feature of all. - "What spirit from tho uppor world have "toe? said her brother, meeting her at to foot of the stairs and stooping to wind 1 ffl-_j around her while he g^zed with a , irorld of love and pride upon her. ■ 'S» stood on tiptoe, put up her scarlet fj and kissed him. ' "So spirit at all, Robert, but a very nwtantial piece of humanity, who is hfcrorer with health and anticipa te until her very toes are tingling to the fwoiyour music," she replied, laugh- and tapping her satin-slippered foot in writh the gay waltz that came floating *m beyond the conservatory. to are lovely, Ruby—like some 'fair *y garmented in light," v said her brother, ■^mother fond caress. i> Kobert, what barefaced flattery, namarried man these ten years !" | ?irl retorted, roguishly. Won quoted, smilingly, still fondly ma bo goddess, she moves no queen. &&Wkh« manner ites -S-i-SS-** yet not s^rise. _ff ft teuton «t her face; »"wa dignity and moro than grace." Ruby cried, in mock dis tconfess I expected something of »«. though from a different source; by such an avalanche ?m and by a grey-haired veteran Wes my breath away." As Farmer Rug- M you can't be spoiled.' But, «L k. 6" mybreafch away gOUupso charmingly to-night?" p 'y<m. I planned my costume

&fi.?f c?. Ah!sfciß«uchawise Whet ; 3UB^what would suit N s£W,_toUchin? caressingly k" WlaUWe t<> open the ball with

C; Va ™ en-aged," Ruby f*sß__ 1?._ ha flußh of scar Jet Pg ctoft attiie confession. '°.l__if horn?" *^dScftt . young kniehfc *^i n , Bbßofcwifch Mm, »hm,r berfc _ you f °rget that and you must, ! Mt the cutesy of asking l '*"_ a twinkle of fun in his *ill be * I w-nT lfch Mr Rueeles bv |WhV I^aodlwilllead <0 j kDow h* will eß jo y

' Waited came early, as he had promised; noKg would have induced him to forego the ukasure of that first quadrille; and Ruby greeted him with a smile and flush • of3he lCop maied him her tablets, after a moment, and he wrote her name against th» MayT^fanother ?» he asked, bending you like,"; sheanswered cordially, and he chose one later on in the eVShTfoon moved away to speak with other o-uests, but his eyes followed her wherever Siewent: tho gleam of that pure Uy, the sheen of that silken dress, made his heart thrill with her every movement. -I love her! I love her l but will the time ever come when I shall dare say it to S ancl try to win herf he murmured to Carpenter also presented him self at a seasonable hour, and, when the signal was'given to repair to the room for dancin-, he** approached Ruby, and draw in "her hand through his arm with the most complacent assurance remarked : > "Miss Ruby, you and I must open this ball together." -'- , " I be" your pardon," she returned,draw incr back, and somewhat annoyed at his manner of appropriating her ; but I am already engaged for the firs, quadrille.^ "Indeed! that is a disappointment,' he said, biting his lips with vexation, both at the intellig-nce and hor manner, but will you kindly allow me to look at your tablets f ~ , „ , She handed them to him, and could not fail to sco the look of rage that shot into his eves as he read Walter's name at the head of the list and again still farther on, besides one or two others. ■ " I am rather late it seems," he remarked, in a hard, dry tone. " I did not intend to be so delinquent; perhaps you will give me number five."

Ruby glanced at it. " Oh, Mr Carpenter," she objected, "you know I do not often waltz ; please take a quadrille." He frowned slightly, but wrote for a quadrille as she had requested, and handed back her tablets, just as Walter came for ward to claim his partner. _ _ Edmund did not deign to notice him ex cept by a savage glance, which made Walter's blood tingle with indignation. But he was too happy to allow anything to trouble him long in Ruby s presence, and, leading her to where a set of young people were forming, he gave himself up to the enjoyment of the hour. " I want to thank you for making me promise to come early, Miss Gordon. I feel almost as if I had come into an en chanted palace," Walter said in a low, earnest tone, while they were resting during one of the changes; "and," ho added, " this will be one of the red-letter evenings of my life." "And of mine, too," responded Ruby, looking up at him with radiant eyes; " everybody seems so happy; and I am so happy myself." " You are always happy, I think—at least you always appear to be." "Do I ? Thank you. Yes, I believe life is very bright to mo most of the time," she answered, smiling ; then, as the call came to "turn partners," she held out both hands to him, looking so bewitching and lovable in her bright beauty that he could not resist the impulse to clasp them in a warm, lingering pressure. " May no shadow ever dim the light that I see upon your face to-night," he whispered more fondly than he was aware of, as he whirled her into place. She shot a half-startled look at him ; and then, as she caught the tender gleam in his eyes, a wave of rich colour for an instant flooded her neck, cheek, and brow. She knew that he loved her, but did not, as yet, dare to tell her the "old, sweet story." But she could wait; it was happi ness enough for the present just to know it, Hsr heart Owned its "allegiance to him, even though he had sought no pledge from her, and she would keep herself for him even though it should be years before he could speak. Edmund Carpenter, from his place in a set near them, had scarcely taken his eyes from the handsome couple since they came upon the floor. He had witnessed this little by-play; had been quick to read the signs of the time, and a veritable tempest of jealousy raged within him, as he began to realise that the prize he coveted was likely to slip from his grasp—that one whom he hated had power to move her as he had never been able to do.

* * * # » # * " The old-fashioned contra-dance will come just before supper, Ruby," Robert Gordon whispered in hia sister's ear, shortly after Walter had led her to a seat. " Thank you, Robert," she said, brightly; then turning again to her escort, she asked : "Mr Richardson, will you kindly take me to find our friend, Mr Buggies ? I want to ask him to dance with me." Walter was only too glad to do hei bidding, and they soon found Mr Ruggjes standing in a corner, where he was evidently watch ing the gay scene about him with the mo3t intense enjoyment.

His glance rested approvingly upon the young couple as they approached him, and we cannot blame him if he indulged in weaving a little romance in which they conspicuously figured. "Where is Mrs Ruggles?" Ruby asked, as she stopped beside liim, and unfurled hor dainty white fan, to cool her flushed cheeks.

"Over yonder," he replied, npdding, with a complacent smile, toward the spot where his wife sat, looking the picture of quiet enjoyment. "Do you not think she would like to dance ?"

"I guess not. Your brother asked her for the first one, but mother thought she'd rather look on."

" Don't you feel inclined to join us?" Ruby asked.

"Well, to tell the truth, the music does rather set my nerves a-tingling; but I should be all at sea if I tried to do anything at them new-fangled dances. I used to step it out with the best of them to Money-Musk, Fishers' Hornpipe, and the like, when I was younger, but these new wayß of bowing, and scraping, and curtsey ing, are too much for me." " Oh, Mr Ruggles, what a satire upon the dancing of the day !" cried Ruby, with a merry laugh. " But we are to have an old-fashioned contra-dance just before supper, and I am sure you will be able to manage that. Will you dance it, and lead off with me?" she concluded in a most alluring manner. " Bless your heart, Miss Ruby ! I believe it wpuld do my old legs good," he replied, with animation ; then added, with a glance from Walter to her, " but I hope you am' giving up any of your own pleasures fo me."

" No, indeed ; that will be a pleasure for me; so consider yourself engaged, if you please. And now," turning to Walter, " I want to introduce you to a charming friend of mine, for I must keep you busy this evening." She led him away and presented him to Miss Florence Partridge, ancl her sister Annie—two bright, pretty girls, whom he secured for following sets—and then, Ruby, having performed this duty, tripped away upon other hospitable cares intent.

CHAPTER XIX,

A WALTZ AND A SOUVENIR,

The contra-dance, which had been added to the list for Mr Ruggles's benefit, was at length announced, and Ruby led her friend, with a pretty air of triumph, to the head of theroom.

Robert Gordon followed with Mrs Ruggles; then came Walter with Miss Annie Partridge, and so on down the long line.

Ruby never forgot that dance ; she could never forgot how, the moment the band struck up the lively music, her companion became instantly tired with enthusiasm, threw his whole heart into the business before him, and surely did " step it out with the best of them," while the fine work which he put into his dancing was simply marvellous.

Mrs Ruggles also seemed to wake up to the music, and the dainty steps which she had been taught to take in her youth —very different from our modern dancing—were a matter of Avonder and amusement to the beholders, and yet there was a certain grace about it that was almost fascinating.

Ruby actually seemed to tread on air. She went " down the centre " and "back on the outside" with the lightness and grace of a fairy, her whole heart centred in the pleasures of the moment; and when at last she and her partner finished the figure, and stood flushed and panting at the foot of the line, she bent towards him, saying, with a radiant face: "Mr Ruggles, I never enjoyed a dance more."

" Bless your heart, Misa Ruby, nor I either,1' returned tho old gentleman, wiping the perspiiation from his glowing face, " and I guess mother's having a good time, too, by the look of her," he added, as Mr Gordon and his partner came Hying down the centre with an air of exhilaration and enjoyment that was contagious. " I reckon I shall have to try it again," he went on, after watching the Hying figures for a few moments ; " I guess I can manage to get through one of them—' guard-rills,' you call 'em, though the old-fashioned name was 'cotillion.' Do you suppose there's anybody else here who'd be willing to dance with an old antediluvian like me ."

" Oh, yes, I think so," Ruby responded, looking about to see whom she would dare to ask.

But she did not find it difficult to got him a partner, for it had been whispered about that the stranger was the owner of a rich coal mine and several oil wells, and there were plenty who were willing to wink at his eccentricities, and who really enjoyed the novelty of dancing with him, while anything that Ruby Gordon could do was considered as above reproach, and it had been observed that she had shown him marked attention during the evening. Edmund Carpenter adroitly managed to secure Ruby for the supper hour, though she had hoped that Walter would ask to be her escort; but she saw that he was being pleasantlyentertainedbyherfriendFlorence, and so she bore Mr Carpenter's society with what patience she could.

He suddenly became unusually marked in his attentions —so much so, in fact, that Ruby began to feel extremely uncomfortablo in his presence. Every now and then he would drop some fond word which betrayed toward what all this was tending, and such language from him was very disagreeable. " Ruby," he whispered, once when they were dancing together—he had taken to calling her Ruby of late, and it aroused her antagonism —" Ruby, do you know that you are very lovely to-night ? That waxen lily in your hair is wonderfully becoming." She tossed her head, making those shining petals quiver, as if suddenly en dowed with life, and laughed lightly as she retorted :

"Allow me to return the compliment, Mr Carpenter ; that bouionniere of evening primroses is a great addition to your costume. But 1 trust that tho language of the flower is not an index to your char acter. "

" I shall have to thank you for enlighten ing me as to the name of the flowers, for 1 did not know it, while I am wholly ignorant regarding their sentiment. Pray tell me what it is."

" Perhaps it would be unwise for mo to do so ; it might destroy your enjoyment of the banquet." " Nay, tell me," he persisted. " Their language is inconstancy." " Surely you cannot think them an index of my character !" he said, with an accent of fond reproach that brought a flush to her cheek.

" I merely said I hoped such was not tbe case," she answered, striving to speak in differently. " What is the language of the lily ?" Ed mund asked, bestowing a covetous look upon the pure blossom. She flushed again at the question, but said, lightly : " 1 shall leave you to find that out for yourself.'' " It ought to be sweetness and purity to fit your nature," he returned in a tender tone. Then he added earnestly :" I want to ask a great favour of you, if you will not consider me presumptuous." " That will depend upon the nature of the favour," Ruby replied, smiling, yet wishing she were anywhere else. '•' Will you put away that lily in water when you take it off, and give it to me the next time I come ?"

" No, indeed, I will not," Ruby said, with a decided little shake of her head. "I' am going to keep it as a souvenir of this even ing, which has been such a delightful one tome." "I am disappointed. Perhaps I ought to be, for presuming to ask so much ; but 1 am glad to see you so happy. Ruby, do you know what would make me very happy—" " To be more attentive to the calls and not make me miss the changes," Ruby interrupted, at this critical moment, and holding out her hands to him as the order came to " Balance and turn partners:" then the figure was finished, ancl an end thus put to Mr Carpenter's soft speeches for that time. He tried to entice her away to tho conservatory, but she excused herself, saying she must speak with her brother, and so she managed to elude him. While she was talking with her brother, Walter came up to them. " I have no partner for the next number," he said, with a wistful look. " Are you engaged, Miss Gordon?" •Sho glanced at her card hastily. " Number nineteen ; that is next the last. No, I am not engaged, and I will dance with you with pleasure, Mr Richardson." "Thanks," he returned with a flush of delight, and then stepped one side to wait until the music should begin.

Ruby had forgotten, or had not noticed, that number nineteen was a waltz. She did not often waltz, except with lady friends or with her brother. There was somethiag offensive to her in the thought of being encircled in the arms of strangers, and so she almost always refused, and, as we know, she had already denied Edmund Car penter earlier in the evening. Suddenly the slow, sweet strains of a lovely waltz fell upon her ear. She started as the sound reminded her of her promise to Walter, and coloured as she thought what that promise would involve. She looked at her tablets to see if there was not some mistake. No, it was number nineteen, and one of Strauss's intoxicating melodies, and just then Walter approached her. " I am afraid you are too tired," he said as he remarked the grave, perplexed look in her eyes. She laughed. " No, I am not too tired," she answered ; "but, to be frank, I did not notice that this was to be a waltz, and I have refused one to a gentleman this evening." " I will release you if you desire," Walter returned, with ready courtesy, yet looking

disappointed. She glanced up at him. She had dis covered that he was a delightful partner, and the eager look that she saw in his eyes and the bewildering music tempted her strongly. ,

"No ; I believe I shall enjoy it," she said, with a smile, while her eyes were full of

" Shifting lights as diamonds are:"

and, laying her hand upon his shoulder, she floated away to the magic strains, and for got for the time that there were more than two people in the world. Edmund Carpenter had observed all this, and ground his teeth in silent rage. " She ' does not like to waltz very well,' but it seems that he can tempt her to it," he muttered, ancl ended with a bitter im precation upon this disturber of his peace. He stood watching them with a gloomy face, never once taking his wrathful eyes from those two graceful figures, as round and round they spun, without a thought of fatigue, or time, or aught but the delicious music, the dreamy motion, and a sense of content at being thus together. On and on they went, without a break or a misstep, until the music suddenly ceased, when Walter drew his companion's hand within his arm, and looked down into her flushed face with a rueful ex pression. "I am afraid I have done wrong to keep you upon the floor so long," he said. " Are "you very tired V "No, lam not tired at all. I enjoyed it immensely. You are a delightful waltzer, Mr Richardson."

Thoy happened to bo passing tho spot where Edmund Carpenter stood at that instant, and ho caught the words, and vowed in his heart that he would make Walter " sweat. for that night's work. Just then Ruby's handkerchief fluttered to the floor.

Edmund sprang forward to get it, and as he returned it to her, he remarked, with a sarcastic emphasis : " I understood that Miss Gordon did not like to waltz ; but doubtless it was a spirit of self-sacrifice which impelled her to yield to the importunities of another." The scowl that ho bestowed upon Walter as lie said this betrayed that ho was wrought up to tho highest pitch of passion.

Ruby grew crimson to her temples. Sho had intended to apologise to him for having waltzed with Walter after refusing him, nnd explain how it had occurred ; but this spirit of vindictiveness she would not tolerate, and drawing her slight figure haughtily erect, she said, coldly and briefly: "Thank you for the handkerchief, Mr Carpenter," and then passed on, leaving him in no enviable frame of mind.

But he was destined to be subjected to even greater mortification and defeat before the evening was over. Tho last dance was ended : tho musicians had departed, and nearly all the guests as well.

Just a few intimate frionds of tho family lingered over their good-nights, and among theso were both Edmund Carpenter and Walter.

The latter as yet had had no opportunity to make his adieus to Ruby, and the former was anxious to make an appoint ment for the opera with her.

Ruby was in her gayest mood, and was jesting with her brother and two or three other gentlemen, who appeared to be vic ing with each other in paying her compliments. Mr Allstone, an elderly gentleman who had always been very fond of her, remarked, playfully, in reply to something else that had been said :

" Yes, sho has been queen of the evening, with her lily crown. I shall probably go homo and have my dreams haunted, for the remainder of tho night, by Lenten lilies, each one having hidden in its cup a bright, piquant face, with ruby lips and diamond

eyes." " Hear, hear !" cried Ruby, clapping her hand.ssoftlyiiiapplau.se. "Iliad not sup posed it possible to make such an impression upon a man who is Allstone ! " She swept him a profound curtsey, amid the laughter which followed this retort, and in tho act the slender stem of tho lily in her hair snapped in twain, and the beautiful flower wont spinning over the marble floor of the hall.

Three gentlemen sprang forward to re cover it, but Walter was tho more agile, and captured it before the others could reach it, and then stood quietly waiting for an opportunity to return it to her. At last all were gono but himself and Edmund Carpenter, who was determined to have the last word if possible, though it was all he could do to control his rage against Walter for lingering so long. Mr and Mrs Gordon, with Mr and Mrs Ruggles, stood near, and two at least or four were watching with some curiosity and interest to sco Ruby take leavo of the young men. "Walter, do not keep Miss Gordon waiting ; return her the flower," Edmund commanded, turning upon his rival with an air of authority, his pationco .completely exhausted.

Walter started and coloured hotly at his tone, while Ruby turned and regarded the man with a look of surprise. Walter, however, recovered his com posure instantly, and approaching the young girl, he said, with a smile : '' I have been waiting for an oppor tunity to restore your lily; though lam not sure but that—to tho ' victor belong the spoils.' " " That's so," cried Mr Ruggles, who had not been unobservant of Edmund's jealousy

during the evening, and was now boiling inwardly at his recent overbearing manner ; "hewon in the race, and he should have the trophy." Ruby glanced up with an answering smile at Walter, whilo a spirit of mischief and defiance suddenly took possession of her. Sho resolved that he should have the lily, just to punish the man who had been so insolent to him.

"The trophy is certainly not a very valuable one," she said. "'What's aught, but 'tis valued, ' Walter quoted, lightly, but with a very earnest look in his eyes, notwithstanding. " What nonsense, Walter. Can't you see that Miss Gordon is very weary ? Give her the flower, and do not detain her longer, said Edmund Carpenter, coming forward and speaking impatiently. He had sued for that lily earlier in the evening, and Ruby had flatly refused to give it to him. Would she have the face to bestow it upon his rival in his very presence? He could scarcely contain . himself at the thought. "I will give Miss Gordon the flower it she desires it," Walter replied, coldly, yet still retaining it in his hand. Ruby's eyes were very bright as they met the eager look of the young man, but she said: ~ " 'Tis only, a fading flower, but keep it it you like." "Thanks," Walter responded, with a luminous smile. Then holding out his hand, he bade her good-night, and turned away to make his adieus to the others, after which he went his way with a heart as light as air. . " I thought the lily was to be retained as a souvenir, "remarked Edmund Carpenter in a low tone, as he took leave of Ruby. She looked up at him with curling lips. " One would hardly think a simple flower worth so much controversy, Mr Carpenter, she said coldly; then added: "I trust you have had a pleasant evening. Good night." , . , She gave him a formal little bow, then turning she walked to her brother's side, determined to cut short the disagreeable interview, and beginning to heartly despise the man. . , , Tbe baffled lover departed without having even mentioned the opera, and vowing vengeance upon his successful foe. (To be Continued.)

PROFITABLE SALOONS.

The Elegant Public Houses of New York.

The numbeV of persons who make a living out of New York bar-rooms has grown to be a legion. American bar-rooms are the most artistic and inviting in the world, and the enterprise of their proprietors has mado business and handsome incomes for purveyors in many lines. At state inter vals a man from New Jersey visits all the principal saloons of the city, bear ing a bundle of roots. He is the seller of sweet flag. Ho hires fiity acres of low land in Jersey, which is dense with a growth of sweet flag. He harvests a crop once a month during the summer season and sells his product at an average price of nearly one cent a root. Experienced drinkers value nothing more highly than sweet flag as a breath disin fectant. ' The sweet-flag vendor is followed by a thrifty woman who sells mint at 5 cents a bunch. All first-class saloons use at least one bunch of mlnt_ a day. Then comes the handler of spices; he has an elaborate case of commodities, including cinnamon, allspice, cloves, coffee, snakeroot and casssia buds. The latter aro the most popular but at the same time the most expensivo of breath perfumes, and a patron who buys a ten cent drink ancl takes a liberal pinch of cassia buds shaves off the profits with the latter luxury to the extent that few saloon-owners will furnish it. The most popular concomitant of drinks is the com paratively new feature of parched sweet corn, which sells at 25 cents per quart. The corn is liberally sprinkled with salt, and the man who takes a drink and then chews a handful of salt parched corn is imme diately seized with a desire to take another drink. Two dealer's in parched corn make an income of more than Sclols. a day in New York, and there is a multitude of minor merchants in tho same commodity who mako lesser sums.

The mint used in saloons is raised in great gardens in the suburbs of New York, and the production of the crop furnishes employ ment to hundreds of persons. It is sold by the gardeners to women, who retail it to the drinking places. During the season when mint julips and May wine (a drink sold at first-class German saloons) are in fashion the consumption of mint in Now York is very great. A large number of women rnako a com fortable living selling bouquets of flowers for the adornment of tho bars of saloons. A great army of lemon and orange venders visit certain smaller saloons each day and make comfortable incomes from their traffic. The more extensive places, which use a box of lemons a day, and oranges, pineapples, and strawberries in largo quantities, buy them at wholesale.

One man has for years .made a handsome living by selling soft-shell crabs in the saloons and billiard-rooms of New York. When crabs are no longer in season he deals in fried oysters. Tho principal free-lunch saloon of _ the city, in which high-salaried chief is a employed, consumes 100 bushels of beans a month, and Russian caviare, sausages and roast beef that cost tho proprietor of the place 8200 per week. Now more than 100 professional decora tors mako a living in New York trimming saloons. They begin soliciting orders long before flics are around, and their season of work lasts from April to August. Thoy pay from 12Ji cents to 25 cents a yard for the tarlatan" they uso and get from §10 to 8100 for decorating a saloon. They keep stocks of blue and yellow for German saloons, liberal supplies of green or Irish resorts, ancl subdued, mild hints for high toned American places. When the summer trimming season is over they besrin to solicit work for the winter holiday time, when they decorate saloons and private residences with holly and evergreens. Their business is increased by the growing fashion of haying tho state-room of a passenger going out on an ocean steamer trimmed with floral festoons at tho instanco of friends.

The picturo-framo makers, too, come in for a share of tho profits of the saloon business. When a new saloon or restaurant is opened tho proprietor preserves as a souvenir of good luck the first bill paid over the bar. It is framed in the most ex pensive manner that the owner can devise ancl hung in a conspicuous place. The frame of an initial _5 bill hanging in ono Broadway saloon ia studded with rubies and other precious stones. A saloonist on upper Broadway, who has literary tastes has furnished a novel attrac tion to the patrons of his winerooms on the upper floors in the form of complete librar ies of leading works of fiction or travel. Tho books are buond in rich Turkey morocco and each room contains a marble medallion portrait of the late Peter Cooper.

EFFCTUALLY CURED.

A Baltimore Man Frightened Out if an Imaginary Complaint.

Dr Crawford of Baltimore is related to have advisted a patent who fancied he was dying of liver disease to travel. On return ing lfe appeared to be quite well, but upon receiving information of the death of a twin brother, who actually died of a scirrhous liver, he immediately staggered, and falling down, cried out that he was dead, and had as ho always expected, died of a liver com plaint. Dr. Crawford being sent for im mediately attended, and on being informed of the notion which had seized the hypo chondriac, exclaimed : "Oh, yes, the gentle man is certainly dead, and it is more than probable his liver Avas the death of him. However, to ascertain the fact I will hasten to cut him open before putrefaction takes place." He called for a carving-knife, and whetting it as a butcher would when about to open a dead calf, he stepped up to the patient and began to open his waistcoat. The hypochondriac became so terribly frightened that he leaped up with the agility of a rabbit, and crying out, " Murder ! Murder ! Murder !" ran off with a speed that would have defied a score of doctors to catch him. After running a con siderable distance, until he was almost ex hausted, he halted, ancl not finding the doctor at his heels, soon became composed. From that period this gentleman was never known to complain of his liver, nor had he for more than twenty years afterward any symptoms of the disease.

The "Billycock" or "Wide awake" Hat.

It is stated on good authority that the late Earl of Mount Norris claimed that his hat was first introduced on his estate at Areley. His lordship used to tell the story that one of the members of the firm of Christie, while paying a visit to the gardens and grounds of AreleyCastle, remarkedupon the inconvenience occasioned to the peasants by wearing the chimney-pot hat, and that he would try to invent something better. A few weeks afterwards a large packet of "Billycocks" arrived as a present from Messrs Christie. They were distributed, and became so popular that the neighbour ing hatters began to manufacture them, and very soon they spread over the country. As to the origin of the word " Billycock," it is stated that a gentleman named Wilcock having either invented or manufactured or first sold theso hats, some very clever young man was so witty as to call them "Billycocks." As the mean ing of the term " wideawake," a Mr Wil liam Bates, Birmingham, says:-" The ' wideawake' may be, it is true, an outward and visible sign that the wearer is a sharp fellow, and not to be caught asleep ; but it may also mean —and this was the explana tion current on the introduction of the term—that the article itself did not in dulge in the luxury of a ' nap.' It was, in fact, a ' felt' or ' napless' hat," '

School-Girls' Luncheons.

The Association of Collegiate Alumnse of Boston ha7e issued a pamphlet full of statis tics of what school-girls eat and do nob eat in New York and Boston. Out of ninety girls who were questioned one morning in one of the public schools, it was ascertained that twelve had taken no breakfast. Of these twelve, six had brought no luncheon; the other six had caKe, pie and pickles, or similar indiges tible food. A story is told of four girls, an English, a French, a German, and an American girl, who were taken to a restaurant and invited to call for the food that each would like. The English girl ordered roast beef, the German girl sauer kraut and brown bread, the French girl called for pete de foie gras, and the Ameri can girl, without hesitation, ordered pink ice cream ancl cake.

The following statistics are gathered from a class of forty girls, varying in age from sixteen to twenty :

First morning—Nine came without breakfast, two without lunch.

Second morning—Two came without break fast, one without lunch. Third morning—One came without breakfast, ono without lunch.

Fourth morning—Three came without break fast.

Fifth morning—Three camo without break fast.

Sixth morning—Two camo without breakfast, Seventh morning—Three came withoutbreak fast, one without lunch.

Eighth morning—Four came without break. fast.

And so on for somo time it seems that nearly every morning there wrere from one to fivo who came to school to do a hard day's work upon an empty stomach. Tho author says : In an inquiryinto the matter of lunches one day, I discovered that two brought pickles, two cake only, one fruit only, three bread only, and one cake and one fruit only; tho rest brought sensible lunches, and I conclude that the maternal eye watches over the lunch, if not over the breakfast. Indeed, in the matter of lunches in many large private school- in New York and other large cities, it is customary to provide a warm lunch at noon for the pupils, so that each girl is obliged to eat at that time. lam told that this system ha 3 spread so extensively that some fashionable schools vie with one another in the elegance of their lunches and the style with which they are served. There may thus be clanger of running into the opposite ex treme.

There is great need for reform in the matter of hasty meals. Girls study late at night, and ought, very wisely, to be allowed to sleep as long as possible, but this often necessitates a hurried meal in the morning. From inquiries made among the same forty girls, I learned that twenty spent riot more than twenty minutes at table at breakfast, and ten not more than ten minutes. Piano practising before breakfast is a custom that cannot be too strongly condemned.

In every case where a girl persists in say ing that she cannot eat a breakfast, I make special investigations ; I sometimes recom mend a little exercise before breakfast, and inquire into the ventilation of the sleeping room. In case of girls who habitually bring no lunch, I insist upon it for the next day, and on every side I have met with the most gratifying obedience from pupils, and, what is more, hearty co-operation from parents.

Facts about Sugar.

A REPORT comes from the East which is of great importance, if true. It is that there has been discovered in British India a bios, som of such saccharine properties that it is destined to revolutionise the sugar business of tho world. It is the flower of the mahwa, or moola, a tree of large size, which abounds in the southern portion of Hindostan. This blossom has a sweet taste and yields one half its weight in sugar. Tho Hindoos have for a long period been accustomed to extract a syrup from the mahwa's flowers, but in the most primitive fashion, without attempting to develop a process. The tree, it is stated, demands neither care nor cultivation. It produces annually a thousand pounds (?) of blossoms, which it sheds during the night. The sac charine matter is also serviceable for a spirituous liquor, and for an oil which may be usecl for both lighting and food. If this wonderful report is correct, it may be seen at a glance what a disastrous competition the mahwa is likely to make with existing sugar industries. The best West India plan tations produce 300 pounds per aspent (1$ acres), and the French and German sugar beet farms do . not equal this amount. But it is claimed that the blossoms of five mawha trees will yield the same amount, a statement not con sistent witli the reported weight of the bloom, which, however, must be an error. From 200 to 250 trees can be grown upon an aspent, from which it results that the crop of sugar will be from forty to fifty times greater per acre of land than that' of the sugar cane. The English-speaking Hindoo press is already urging the Govern ment to tako steps for making this new sugar industry a monopoly as far as ! possible. _______-__________--«.

How Paper Car Wheels are Made.

The paper car wheel was the invention of Richard N. Allen, a locomotive engineer* afterward master mechanic of the Cleveland and Toledo Railroad, who took for his aim in life tho production of a better car wheel than those in use. His first set of paper car wheels was mado at Brandon, Vt., in 1869, and after much scoffing he was graciously permitted the use of a wood car on the Central Vermont road, under which they were tested for six months. The Pullman Palace Car Company, in 1871, gave the first order for 100 wheels. Ten years after the Allen Paper Car Wheel Company, with great shops at Hudson, N. V., and Pullman, 111, produced and sold 13,000 in a single year. One of the set first experi mented with under a "sleeper" is shown at Hudson, with a record of 300,000 milos' travel. It is the body of the wheel which only is made of paper. The material is a calendered rye-straw "board,"jj or thick paper, made at the Allen Company's mills, at Morris, 111. This is sent to the works in circular sheets of 22 to 40 inches dia meter. Two men, standing by a pile of these, rapidly brush over each sheet an even coating of flour paste until a dozen are pasted intoalayer. Athirdmantransferstheselayers toja hydrauilc press, where a pressure of 500 or more is applied to a pile of them, the layers being kept in distinct by the absence of paste between the outer sheets. After solidifying under this pressure for two hours, the twelve-sheet layers are kept for a week in a drying-room, heated to 120 degrees P. Several of these layers are in turn pasted together, pressed and dried for a second week, and still again these discs are pasted, pressed, and given a third dry ing of a whole month. The result is a cir cular" block, containing from 120 to 150 sheets of the original paper compressed to 5$ or _i inchess thickness, and of a solid ity, density and weight suggesting metal rather than fibre. The rough paper blocks are turned accurately in a lathe, whence shavings like leather and a cloud of yellow dust fly off, to a diameter slightly greater than the inner circle of the tire. The hole in the centre is also made on the lathe, and af,ter the paper has received two coats of paint, to prevent moisture working its way within, the cast-iron hub is pressed through, by the aid of the hydraulic press, and the wrought-iron back-plate is clamped on. The suasion of enormous hydraulic power now drives the paper centre into the tire, by t4.eb.elp of the bevel, '"""' "lU""""'

STRANGELY MARRIED.

ANew York Conple United without the Consent of Either. J

Justice R. W. Edmonds, of Mount Vernon,' performed an extraordinary judicial acb recently. One night a young man living, in Washingtonville was caught by Watch man William Rogers sliding down a post from the roof of a stoop, in the rear of Joseph R. Altman's bakery^ on the White Plains road. Rogers pulled him down, and he ran away after knocking the officer down with a bludgeon. j On Wednesday the young man was' arrested and arraigned before the Justice. He gave his name as Michael Schwartz. A couple of keys that fitted the doors of, Altman's house were found in his posses-. sion. He said that tbe keys were given him by Sophie Reichardt, a young woman who is employed as a servant in the Altmau family. She gave them to him so that ha could let himself in at night after tha family had retired. When he wanted to ga away ho could slide down the post. Jus tice Edmonds then ordered the arrest of tha girl. When she was arraigned before him sho admitted that what Schwartz had said was true.

The 3 7oung man was then called up, and the Justice informed them that they musß be married then and there, and before tha astonished audience he proceeded to per form the marriage ceremony without con sulting the contracting parties as to their wishes in the matter. The wedding cere mony over, Edmonds sentenced them to the Albany penitentiary for four months each, and coldly informed them that they could immediately prepare for their wedding trip to the penitentiary, whither they were taken on Thursday evening. He incidentally remarked as he imposed the sentence thab he would not have any such people in towns —" New York Tribune."

Austrian Royal Courtesy.

A recent visitor at the Austrian Courb found the ante-room of the Emperor's audi ence chamber crowded with generals andi noblemen who had come to thank his Majesty for promotions and decorations, but mingling with these were authors, in ventors, professors, widows and orphans seeking pensions, and a. number of very poor men and women who had petitions ta present. There are few countries in which' persons of this category would ever get a chance of seeing their sovereign ; but in that empire anybody who has anything reasonable to ask of the Emperor is sure of an audience. On one or two days a week his Majesty receives all comers who have applied to be received, and he receives them alone. Every applicant takes bis turn, j A master of the ceremonies opens a door, the visitor walks in and finds himself face to face with the Emperor, who is un attended. The door closes and the peti tioner may say to the Emperor what ha likes. There is no chamberlain or secretary to intimidate him. The emperor stands in a plainly-furnished study, in undress uni form, without a star or grand cordon, and he greets everybody with an engaging smila and a good-natured gesture of the hand which seems to say, " There is no ceremony here. Tell me your business, and if I can help you I will." The Emperor of Austria has a penetrating eye, and a quick, catch- i ing manner. By a glance he makes people, feel at home, and by a word draws from' them, what they have to say. Then he', gives his own answer, straight out and', fearlessly, but generally with an acquiescing , smile ; and whatever he promises is faith-. fully performed. Thero is nothing petty or evasive in him. He is a monarch who" replies by "Yes" or "No," but always with so much courtesy that the humblest) of his subjects receives from him at de parting the same bow that he vouchsafes to ambassadors. A most lovable traifc in him is that whenever he sees any body nervous at his presence he makes the audience last until by his kind en-, deavours the nervousness has been entiroiy' dispelled.

A NEW TENOR.

A Swede Who is Said to ho a Netf

Mario.

Theodore Bjorkstex, the Swedish tenor, sailed on tho Gascoigne from Havre, on June 17, accompanied by his wife. His success in Europe has been in Barcelona, Paris, Antwerp, and Ghent. His adyenb in New York will be of great interest.; Gounod, the} composer, who is a personal friend, has called him the new Mario.; He takes with him many letters of intro-' duction to prominent people in New York,: including the Yanderbilts, James Gordon1 Bennett,'and James A. Cockrell. Bjork-; sten's father was formerly a captain in the. Swedish navy, but is now governor of the King's Palace at Stockholm. Mrs Bjork-j sten is also a Swede, and before her marriage was Mile. Hearear Torpalil. She' has been for several years leading contralto ' in the American Church in Paris.

Decay of Bodily Strength in Towns.

The " Lancet," in a recent issue, says :— "Others besides Lord Brabazon must have remarked the steady flow of population which has set in, especially of late years,! from the country districts to the towns,; and must have asked themselves, as they re-; fleeted on the changed conditions, the high: working pressure with intermissions of en-; forced idleness, and the unwholesome home life which awaited many ofl those immigrants, how far in the endl the nation would be a gainer by the inter- j minable process. So long as our manufactur-j ing and shipping industries continue to; maintain a fair" measure of prosperity; there is little likelihood that. the influx'

into the towns will' be seriously checkod.l Its influence for good or evil on the" physical state of our people must there fore greatly depend upon our securing for, them in their changed mode of life the: surroundings necessary for healthy de-^ velopment. It would be difficult to show, by precise statistics how far the work of degeneration has progressed among _ our poorer urban population. For our, own part, we are not disposed to ac-' cept without clue scrutiny any random! alarmist rumours as to a progressive! shortcoming in the national vigour. It; must, however, be generally allowed that1 until a recent date little care has been' taken to protect the poorer inhabitants of1 our cities against the evils of overwork,! overcrowding, mismanagement in house-' hold arrangements and in food and drink, and other insanitary conditions to which they are almost necessarily subject; and if this negligence be allowed to continue, i tho logic of facts will not fail to convince us; of a suicidal error. There is therefore good i reason why schemes now on foot,1 for the better housing of the' poor, the better allotment of working time, and plans which like these tend to healthy living should not want substantial; support. We should also draw attention to the great importance of care in the physical' training of childrenjiby rendering gymnastic] exercises a compulsory part of education, i and we are reminded by another article in' the " Nineteenth Century" that sufficient' attention had not been paid to the necessity! for leaving here and there in districts! extensively built upon open spaces for: . public recreation. Where common land i 3 : not available, it might well become the > Legislature to order allotment of certain' portions of enclosed land for tjjis purpose," '\



Look for the words " Freezing Company on the margin of the pats ; shell brand in the centre. No other vcliable.-(ADV_.)