Newspapers / The Roanoke Beacon and … / July 8, 1904, edition 1 / Page 1
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'I - 1 .... s w a Year ln Advance. "FOR GOD, FOR COUNTRY, AND FOR TRUTH." Single Copy, 5 Cent. - ' - ., . g VOL. XV. . PLYMOUTH, N. 0., FRIDAY. JULY 6, 1904. NO, 16. THE GARDEN. By THEODORE ROBERTS. I. IvTas ever worn so calm a port, So sweet an anchorage as here? For fifty years the same bent shrubs Have flagged the sailings of the year. .. ' . IL W ith ensigns of a peaceful race, And signals not in any code; lAif't id the currant-Tjushes hanga A brown bee grumbling with her load. III. v Was ever won so calm a port ? And yet and yet, tho' no seas run, 2or anchors drag, was ever heart So sore affrighted under sun? IV. The sailor paced the garden 'rouii,!; His brown hands plucked the. hanging spray. "1 do not know the tides," he said, "And wind's will is a woman's way. V. ""What charts are there to help me now? Where, break the reefs I do not know? I laid my course by sun and stars God's tested marks a year ago. The Pale Blue By Sarah "tOJ& HE Reverend John Law '4 wmtt fence sat at his study O n O table, leaning on Ills el- held id,y between his lin gers. iie gazed far over the plains, a trancelike expression in his thought , ful eyes; he believed that the time was coming when those plains would be peopled, and, with the hopefulness which made his missionary life beau tiful, he seemed to see the church leading, inspiring and ministering to these people. Already he had visions of a school wherein his own wife --x should be the ruling spirit; visions of a hospital, a guild-house and club rooms, where these savages might grow less savage. Even the fact that thus far only one poor little wooden church building w-as to be found in many miles did not in the least inter wfere with his dreams. JT How long he might have dreamed, too one knows, but he was recalled by a gentle voice calling to him: "I am twenty-two inches around the waist, John, and my sKlrt length is forty-three. You know you asked me .yesterday." "Sure enough," he answered, with a little start, taking up his tapeline, which lay conspicuously on his desk. "I must get that letter off today; but w I'd better measure you myself. You probably measured with a string. That's the feminine way, I believe." His wife came infeather duster in hand, and as he drew the line about her waist, he dropped a kiss upon her .forehead. "I hope they will send you something pretty." Mrs. Lawrence burst into laughter. "The idea of anything pretty in a . missionary box, John! Who ever heard of it? It's against the nature of things. Perhaps it is wicked, but I have some times thought that they made them mr ugly as possible. Do you remem ber the snuff -colored dressing jacket with the black fringe?" , "Wasn't that pretty?" he queried. V -'I always thought it was very ele o gant, except when the fringe dipped t in the coffee." k V "You dear dreamer! You don't know what is pretty. You don't see anything but your beloved Sunday school and night classes and sick people. A rheumatie old Indian worn .an is beautiful to you if " "If she is a Christian! Y'es, I admit it," lie eaid gently; "all of God's crea tures are beautiful to me, and one of tbem most beautiful," and again he save her a loving caress and resumed his work. "Sheets, pillow cases, street suit for mj wife, clerical suit for myself, over VI. "But now the gentle inland breeze Wafts fitful down the ways of bliss. I drift. There are no lights to guide. A wilful heart my compass is. VII. The sailor paced the garden 'round ; The apple-bloom swung close beside. "Is there no pilot here," he asked, "To con me through this honeyed tide?" VIII. lie turned, and saw her in the path Sweeter than all the garden bloom. "I cannot find my way, he said, "Through this uncharted garden room. IX. "The sun swims down a rosy fog; And love burns lights I cannot read; The choice means life or death, and I Know not which flower-flags to heed." She said, "Love's light should signal clear." Was ever voyage so brave as this, Sailed in an inland garden place Between a heartache and a kiss? Woman's Home Companion. Cashmere Gown, S. Pratt. coat I hate to ask for that, but it is such a necessity in this bleak land." He read once again the friendly let ter, in which he had been urged to make known all his needs, assuring him that they would be supplied, so far as possible, by a branch of the. Woman's Auxiliary. These boxes, which had so irked the pride of many a missionary, never of fended John Lawrence. He gave little thought to self. His Divine Master had lived on alms, and his own hor izon was too rich, too broad, for any petty egotism to create even a speck upon it; but, he sometimes reflected with regret, his wife keenly disliked this phase of missionary life. He could not forget at times that he had taken her from a luxurious home; but had he not given her a greater oppor tunity to do God's work? And was she nc doing it sweetly and uncomplain ingly? He would try to believe that she did not care. In the meantime, Mrs. Lawrence was dusting the sitting room, and she had corae to a standstill before a little ivory miniature of herself, the price of which would almost have paid for everything in their modest home. It was made ten years before, when she had just finished school and was arch ly charming in that dainty gown. How becoming it was, and how much he had admired her in it! "Alice, is there anything you want? We are to mention everything we need, and they will supply as far as pos sible." ' "Y'es," she called, a little sarcasti cally, "please tell them I need very much a pale blue cashmere gown," and then she smiled at the absurdity of such a request from a missionary's wife. "Imagine the consternation that would create," she ' thought, "if he really would ask for such a thing!" She replaced the miniature with a sigh. Was it a crime to love pretty things? And would she ever have any again? Her trousseau was long ago exhausted, and now she lived and moved and had her being in black things and brown things, and all things that wouldn't show dirt. Oh, dear! but blessed afterthought! wouldn't she rather be the wife of John Law rence in black brilliantines and brown serges, than anybody else in the world? The president of St. Mary's Auxiliary was. rapping loudly for order. She was reading a letter saying that the Rev erend John Lawrence would w - deeply grateful for a suit, an overcoat, et cetera. It was when sue came to the overcoat that the confusion arose; for one lady had a practically new over coat which her present coachman, ! being stout, could not wear. It was ex actly the Reverend Mr. Lawrence's size, but being a surtout she questioned whether it would be the correct thing for clerical wear. The entire auxiliary set itself to argue this point, when the president stopped them. "Ladies, we can discuss this matter later. Let me finish reading this let ter. Where was I? 'Sheets, pillow cases,, table linen, and' what is this? 'a pale blue. cashmere gown'!" A pale blue cashmere gown! Had she asked for an automobile coat the request could not have produced more surprise. There was a deep silence. Even the president found nothing to say for some time. "A little unusual," she finally said. "Well, I never had a pale blue cash mere gown in my life," gasped some one. "Pale blue! So perishable!" another said feebly. "And rashmprp! Srt nnf nf efvlp'" a third added. "She must be some poor little coun try soul," the secretary said. "Well, whoever she is she ought to be reprimanded. The idea of such world liness in a missionary's wife!" "He should have known better than to have asked for it!" "The idea of our money going for a pale blue cashmere gown!" So the comments went around, till everybody had had her say; some of them had, two or three "says," and they were seemingly gasping for breath to say something even more severe, when a bombshell fell in their midst. "WTiy shouldn't'she have a pale blue cashmere gown? She is probably a young woman, and maybe has not a single pretty thing! Oh, gracious!" and the speaker grew so energetic that she arose and stood facing them, her face rosy, with excitement. "I have helped with box after box in this so ciety, and never have I seen a really pretty thing go into them. They are so deadly practical. How it will wear, how it will wash, whether it will show dirt I sympathize with this young woman away out there among those Indians, dependent on us hard-hearted things for the little she wants. God knows," she added, even more ear nestly, "where they get the grace to sustain them in their work. As for this gown" her voice trembled a lit tle "let us give it to her. Cashmere is cheap, and just imagine her pleas ure; and do you know, I think a pret ty gown would have a cheerful effect on both herself and her husband. Per haps it might even convert a few more Indians." She sat down, a little em barrassed by the feeling she had shown. "We might make her a mother hub bard if you are so bent on it," some one said doubtfully. "Made up plainly it would not cost much." "But it mustn't be a mother hub bard. I wouldn't doom even a wo man living among the Indians to that. If we send it at all, let it be pretty. Let us put our hearts into it and make it a beautiful surprise for her. She wrill probably expect something ugly, if she expects it at all." "I don't know why we should dis criminate this way in favor of Mrs. John Lawrence. We have never done it before." A severe voice threw a damper on the proceedings. "Mrs. John Lawrence," echoed an other; "pray let me see that letter. Mrs. John Lawrence was an honor stu dent in my class at college in 1S90, and I belive I am safe in saying that there is no one here who could sur pass her in either intellect or beauty. I remember now that she married a missionary enthusiast and went out to those wilds cheerfully." The speaker crossed the room rapidly and ap proached the advocate of the blue gown. "I will gladly help you with the gown, and we will make it beautiful as a dream." How quickly the idea became infec tious! Everybody to do something or to give something. It was almost as delightful as dressing a doll! St. Mary's Auxiliary had turned out many a box, but never had anything aroused such interest as this new bit of work. It became a fad; with its silken linings, its dainty frills of lace, its "fagoting" and exquisite accessor ies, the beautiful Empire gown lay complete. , The Auxiliary women who were packing the box stopped fre quently to admire and almost to caress it. "I hate to see it go," said the secre tary. "It has done us more good than any thing we ever did. What a lovely idea it was!" the treasurer said. "I don't begrudge the money at all." "Let me fasten this in." Some one bent over the gown and tacked in a little sachet of violet. "And I must slip this handkerchief into its bosom;" another deftly tucked an embroidered kerchief into its folds. "I have written this note to my dear old friend, and have told her what a pleasure this has been;" and the note, too, was pinned to the blue gown. And so, with little final adjustment, and pats of admiration, the blue gown, soft and rustling and enveloped in white tissue paper, was put into its individual box, and shipped away, with more practical things, to the land of the Indians and the plains. Mrs. Lawrence came home some what discouraged from her sewing school one afternoon, to find her house in great disorder. Everything was covered with clothes, it seemed. The box had come and her husband had lost no time in opening it. The street suit for which she had asked confront ed her from the bookcase; dark, neat and serviceable. She examined it with enthusiasm. "They were so good, weren't they, John?" "Good! My dear, the Auxiliary is al ways good. Now, don't say anything about your brown sack with the black fringe! The Auxiliary well, you know what I think of it! See! They have sent us everything, even to the last thing on the list your blue cash mere gown!" He handed her the box. "My pale blue cashmere gown! John Lawrence! You didn't really write that, did you? Oh, what must they have thought!" She sank into a chair, pale and distressed. "I think the dress tells what they thought." He lifted the delicate gar ment as if it were a baby. "Silk! Lace! Perfume! A train! John. I can't believe it is mine! And I can't help crying! I didn't mean it. I said it in a half-joking, half-cynical way, never thinking you would ask for it, and see how they have repaid me for my unfaith! Everything is so beau tiful, so dainty! There's so much love in it, John! That's what touches rce. It means the love of women who saw in me only a servant of God. When you write, tell them this means more to me than anything that ever hap pened." Late that night she sat with her old friend's note. She had written a long, heart-full letter. She turned to her husband with moist eyes "I don't believe I ever told you be fore, John; but it is very sweet to be a missionary's wife." Living Church. MORNING IN JAPAN'. Outside the Bij; Cities tlie Ancient Prac tice of Eaily Kigine Obtains. The ancient practice of arising with the sun is still kept by many of the Japanese outside the big cities. At five in the morning shojis are pushed slightly apart and bright faces look toward the East. "Ohayo! Ohayo!" (Good morning or more lit erally, "it is morning!") says the po lite Japanese, and bows with great friendliness and appreciation to the big yellow globe pushing Its way up ward in the sky. A murmuring of voices runs through the house. Down in the kitchen the noisy maid-servant makes herself heard. She is scolding her little army of assistants, for she. the chief servant and cook, has an as sistant, a boy of seventeen, wrho in turn has a small boy assistant, who in turn likewise has an assistant, a still smaller boy. The chief servant scolds them all thoroughly. She would like to shake more energy into their lazy. sleepy bodies. "Hurry! for the Oku sama (august lady of the house) will be down presently." She sends them hurrying this way and that, one to draw and carry M'ater, one to pre pare the dining room, one to sweep the verandas, open the shojis and let in the morning sunlight and air, and she herself sets to work upon the cooking. Thus in the hours when the "average Western servant is sleeping the Japanese servants do all the house work for the day. Before breakfast the housework is done. When .he honorable lady of the house descends to the honorable down-stairs the rooms shine in cheerful morning welcome to her; breakfast is on the lacquered trays which stand on feet a few inches in height. Before she breakfasts, how ever, the Okusama looks into the var ious rooms with the searching eye of the experienced housekeeper. If all is well she sweetly enters the dining room, and herself waits upon her hus band and parents, and pours for them the morning tea. Onoto Watanna ia Harper's Weekly. MUCH TATTOOED; A Filipino' Cuticle Got Hluv Int Trouble. A man was taken to constabulary; headquarters yesterday whose body' was an art gallery. His breast, back and arms had been rendered completely antinganting by tattooers, working un der the skilful guidance of antingant ing priests-. He was visiting his quer ida in Manila when arrested. He was not an unprepossessing na tive, but he had too many incriminat ing documents worked into his cuticle to be allowed to roam about in a wild state, so he was arrested as a sus picious character. He gave his name as Sylvester Gomez. His antingant ings were above suspicion, as well as above price, and had they been worked on a garment, as is customary, he would have been despoiled of it for a curio. Over his heart he had worked a con ventional figure of an altar, with a cross superimposed. This, be said, was an antinganting. On his right breast was a human heart, inverted, : sur mounted by a cross with three-letters above it. When asked what particu lar brand of antinganting this was. he only grinned the wider. It is be-, lieved that all this fantastic design is the reminder of some vow that he took during the insurrection. Three more letters and a cross were tattooed ia the hollow of his back. He said that these were never known to fail to keep off diseases, and, indeed, it must be confessed that he seemed to be aii ex traordinarily healthy animal. Then there were long disarrange ments of the alphabet across his breast and all down his arms. They looked as if somebody had attempted to write a lot of seditious newspaper headlines in Tagalog and had run short of copy paper, and so had used Gomez for a writing tablet. He ex plained that these would keep off bul lets, and they looked as if they would. Manila Cable News. Jade as Medicine. Everything in China of any rarity whatever is certain to be dragged into the pharmacopoeia of the Chinese phy sician. Jade is no exception to the rule. It may be swallowed as a pow der or in little pieces the size of hemp seed for various stomachic complaints. Even pockmarks and scars may be ob literated by being daily rubbed with a piece of pure jade. It is also consid ered to be of a moist nature, and we read of an imperial favorite of the eighth century who was cured of an excessive thirst by holding a fish jade in her mouth. And so when the tomb of the great commander, Ts'ao Ts'ao, third century, A. D., was opened 200 years after his death, among the usual objects found in such circumstances was a large silver bowl full of water. That the water had not dried up was accounted for by tho presence in the bowl of a jade boy three feet in height. Jade is chiefly brought from the K'unlun or Koulkun range, between the desert of Gobi and Tibet; from Khoten or Ilchi in Yarkand, and from Lan-t'ien, on the Gelurtagh Mountains, still farther to the west. In the tenth century, A. D., the latter was actually known as the Jade hills district, though it does not appear that any jade has ever been found there. Fast Steam Trains. The recent experiments in Germany to test the practical speed limit of elec tric traction trains, has been followed by an investigation of the highest steam train movements by some stu dents of that country. The subject was taken up by others connected with the University of Chicago, and results tabulated in a railway publication. The superiority of American train service was conclusively established. It was shown that the fastest trains in the world were run by the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia and Reading systems, between Philadelphia and Atlantic City the Reading flyers standing at the head of the list. It was found that four different trains upon these lines, running between Atlantic City and Camden, make these high figures per hour, respectively, 64.44, 66.60, 60.92 and 67.96. The maximum speed shown by Europe was between Paris and Calais, 59.72. Tea Making Simplified. A demand is springing up among tfce natives of Ceylon for a new prepara tion of tea. It is soluble, and there seems to be a question whether its. popularity is due to its being more eco nomical or to the ease with which solu ble tea is turned into a beverage, as It can be made with warm water only.
The Roanoke Beacon and Washington County News (Plymouth, N.C.)
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July 8, 1904, edition 1
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