New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-14
the first officer Of the Executive and the chief officer
OF the Legislative branches OF tho Government.
CHANCES HERE AND THERE.

Whore is the soldlerqp a question not IN
frequently heard on the lips of visitors to the vercs
chagin pictures during tse last few weeks when they
stood before the fine painting of The Forgotten
Soldier" AS nearly as often was the answer: Why,
he has been forgotten, of course" The soldier Is not
visible to be sure In the picture but this painting is
one OF series Of three, for only ono OF which
was found in the American Art Galleries. Not a few
visitors expressed desire to SEQ the other two AID
regretted that they were not shown.
Another common Jest during the exhibition
heard in the room where Russian tea was served by
two Russians clad in the costume Of their own coun-
try. On some DAYS there were a good many people
anxious 10 enjoy the sensation Of tasting tea made by
Russians In the real Russian style, and when the at
tendants were kept busly engaged It obvious to
every one that they were doing rlshn' business.
An EneiIshman told story tho othor day about
an odd trip that his diamond ring once took In
London. He had stepped hurriedly out OF an under
ground railroad train and his ring fell from his
finger as his foot touched the platform. He felt the
ring slip of and turned around quickly TO where
It fell. but not quito quickly enough He concluded
that must have rolled under the train, and
as the cars had moved out OF the station he began
to search along tho track. Tho ring was not TO be
found and no reluctantly relinQshed the search tell
ing . railroad employe, however, what he had lost
BE finished his business sooner than no had ex-
peotsd sroed down to the station to see whether
tho ring had boon found Ho had only faint hopes
that It had been found, but he hunted up tho railway
employee The two men talked about the ring while
standing on tho spot whore the Englishman had
stepped from tho train. AS they chatting
train came into tho station. Tho Engiishman saw
something glsten in front OF him on the footboard
Of the train 1t the diamond ring. 1t had fallen
upon the footboard the train had made q complete
circuit OF tho city and stopped in exactly the place 1t
stopped when the Englshman left It and the ring.
Eugene Field, tho merry wit Of "The Chicago
News following the example set by Jane Hading,
who sent lock Of her hair to Francis Wilson, has
written Mario Jansen quaint and humorous letter
penned in gilt ink and inclosing bunch of yellow
hemp which he declares culed from among his
choicest locks Unfortunately for the sincerity OF this
statement Mr. Field is known to be ono Of the
baldest mon In Journalism, and this is saying great
deal
Tho recent death OF Augustus Zercga, the we'll
known old south-st ship-owner whose early
pcriencos tho date back to the time when the
Gulf OF Mexico was infested with pirates, recalled
some remarkable facts connected with his history
When no was master Of q brig that traded among
the West India Islands his wife used to accompany
him on his voyages, and she kept watch for tho
plratlcal craft while her husband sailed tho ship.
She became so expert with the glass that he found
her by far the safest and surest lookout no could
got Many wero tho instances he used 20 tell Of In
which her quick ego detected the approaching pirate
In time TO put on all sail and escape the dreaded
foe On one occasion the chase became so hot that
tho pirates bowsprit ran through tho cabin window
Of Zerega's ship A hand hand contest seemed I'M
avoldabe and Mrs. zercga, like the rest the crew,
had buckled on her cutass and prepared to use her
carbine, when fortunate breeze suddenly filed tho
sails Of Captain Zeregas vessel and bore her out OF
tho pirates reach
During the twenty years IN which Me. zerega
conducted the business Of d shD-owner in New-Yorll
no owned thlry-seven vessels. but II was singular
circumstance that no never WA able 10 keep more
than twelve afoat at once AS soon he purchased
built the thirteenth ship disaster befe either tho
new ono or somo other ship OF HE feet. 1t becams
settled and unvayng rule that no never could have
thirteen vessels in commission at ono time. There
was not grain of superstition In zerega's make
up and no was ono Of the first shp-owners OF the
New World TO defy fate by sending his vessels OF
on long voyages on Fridays aud by doing whatever
else tradition had declared Il inadvsabb for sealarng
men 10 DO. Tho best Of luck attended him I'M all
things except tho ooexence OF bis thirteen ships.
Afno other point did misfortune assall him. He do
crmincd that the "thirteen business was nonsense
as regards vessels and time and again DID he
seek TO break the spell by buying or launching each
timo a larger and stanchcr ship TO round out his
bakers dozens II was uso Either No. 10
or ono Of her sisters foundsrcd and went down. or
ran upon the rocks. or was driven 10 put into some
distant port whore II became necessary TO sell her
AZ long he had but twelve vessels they all did
wen. but the addition Of the thirteenth was tho in.
variable signal for trouble With tho advent Of steam
Captain zerega weared Of his unequal contest with
fate and retired frem the business with a large COM
potence
Mr. zerega a man OF liberal and generous traits
but BIO was noted for doing his works OF benevolencs
| IN his own way. Many friends and neghbors were
relieved In times Of dire necessity. who knew
how the relief accomplished. One OF his business
neighbors, man who WA fellow member with him
Of the New-York Chess Club, became suddenly In
VOWED owing 10 adverse nafkcts, and judgment Of
$4,000 entered against him. The suf-
nccnt to sweep away the mans possessions and leave
him penness. Mr.. zerega read in his friends
changed manner the fact hat he in trouble, aud
sought the Of the Judgment and paid 1t
in full But sldlfully did no cover up his own
identity in the good decd, that years passed before his
gratsfu nelghbor learned who his benefactor
A NEW ORDER OF LAB0R GAINING STRENGTH.
| The former faction OF District Assembly No Is, now
the Central Branch Of the Industrial brotherhood held
q meeting yesterday In Pythagoras Hal and elected
officers for the Central Branch OF the order Letters
were sent labor leaders the cities Of Buffalo and
Rochester. NJ Y. in relation to oEgsni1ng branches In
peesed 70 arrive IN this eiiy next week and hire hall
which e hold forth o. the merits s o. HI. d scheme h s
20 Ear Joined the brotherhood.
ANNUAL MEETING OF A YACHT CLUB.
The nineteenth annual meeting of the seawsnhaka
Yacht Club was held saturday evening. The reports OF
tho different officers were made and approved 1t
was announced that number of cups would DO Of
fered during the coming year prizes for the forty
and seventy foot classes of yachts. Tho following