The Columbus journal., 1889-08-21


The power of sin Withstand:
No Shield between mans soul and wrong
Like fttle baby hand
Chicago Journal
THE PILOTS TOWER.
On the 18th of November, 1889, tn,
good city OF Dunlkirk was in that pecu
6ar state of agitation which pervades .
bee hive when its tenants are about t<
swarm. News had that day been re
ceived that Louis XVI, who was ther
king of France, had purchased. the city
from the English, to whose share it had
fallen by the treaty Of 1858; and a tn,
sun was sinking behind the horizon, tn
French squadron came into the harbol
with light wind, and anchored of the
citadel A hundred years previous the
French army, commanded by the Duke
Of Guise, had ravaged the town with fire
and sword: but time wears away all re
sentiments, and the Dunkirkers were now
ready to swear allegiance to the naughty
monarch who sought to make Paris the
dominant city Of Christendom-
The quays Of the city were thronged
with fishermen, who gazed on the French
Aeet with critical eyes, As they discussed
the models. rigging an4 general appear
anceo Of the respective vessels. Merchants,
notaries and priests, each wearing their
peculiar costumes, were also attracted
TO the water side, every one taking a
great interest in the coming change of
rule, save those who (and they were few
In number) were ON intimate terms with
the English garrison The officers of
this force. too, were exceedingly vexed,
- most Of them were comfortably 10
Gated. and loudly did they censure their
young King Charles. In 30 doing. in
dssd, they but echoed tho public senti-
ment In England, for it was evident that
the inexperienced monarch, fond Of
pleasure and In need Of ready cash, had
been enticed into the sale of q fourishing
portion Of his kingdom for tithe of its
value. All Of his ministers had opposed
the transfer, and when they found their
exertions useless, they set to work to SO
hamper the sale with conditions as to
diminish the value of Dunkirk to the
French.
The news soon reached the environs,
and nowhere did it produce a greater ex-
element than in the collection of miser-
able cabins, which dotted q plain, COW
cred with frames of brushwood, upon
which the fishermen cured their spoil.
Leaving their nets half spread out, the
men had gone to the quay the moment
that the French squadron anchored, and
by sunset most of their families had fol-
lowed them. In the cabin of Cornille
Bart, however. light twinkled as night
came on, and faint wreath of smoke
curled upward from the low chimney.
Bart had gone to the quay, taking his
two sons, Casper and Jean, with him;
but his good wife Catherine, like a good
housewife, remained at home to prepare
supper.
Her domestic zeal, strong as it was,
could not eclipse her curiosity though,
and every time that she turned the
johnnycakes of barley meal, which were
being baked before the fire. she gazed
eagerly through the small and only win
dow of the cabin.
well, WELL" she soliloquized, "here
the cakes are done, and no one to eat
them. Nor do l know a thing. Dear,
dear. but women who keep house are
unlucky"- Here q rapid cannonading
interrupted, but she soon continued:
''Saluting at last-bang. bang-and l do
not know what it's all about Well.
when the powder is burnt may look for
my stragglers. That is, il there are no
6reworka But here comes a man and
two boys-is it themT
Soon familiar knock at the door dis
sipated the good womans doubts, and
she fastened to admit her husband.
"Well, dame," said the burly fisher
man. you are waiting supper for us.
arc you notT
THAT I am. Cornille; and Il was not
very charitable in you to stay away SO
long. for you know my curiosity; at any
E1te. you tell me often enough"
'Never mind, Catherine; serve sup
PEI, for these lads arc half starved, and
- they eat I will give you all the de-
tails."
"And you, Cornille, have you left
your appetite ON the quayT'
"Yes. indeedi The news weighs heav-
ny On my heart, and do not feel like
eating . morsel!"
~Our Lady preserve us, what is to hap
penn cried the good woman as her anx-
toW glance shot from husband to chill
dren.
II will tell you," replied Cornille.
'You have heard that the king Of
france" and as he spoke the fisherman
loyally raised his woolen cap. ''has re-
purchased Dunkirk for five million Of
francs"-
Certainly; but that Is good news for
- an"
AT first sight, Catherine, it seems SO.
But when one learns the conditions of
sale. it Is anything but good news"
And what are these conditions2"
"What are they? Why. every public
building is to be razed to the height Of
The highest dwelling house. Bv the
gFea4 white whale, Dunkirk fisheries,
though worth millions now, will not
then b worth that morsel Of barley
crust"
'sBut how viii the cutting down Of
ths fortress do this2 Faith. I have often
thought that it was more cost than
pso6k"
mo one cares for the fortress, Gather
he; but for the church steeple-the bea-
con BY day and the directing light BY
night for those who enter the port. No
AGhezman win dare to venture out-no
coaGese win dare venture in to purchase
in shoet, Dunkirk is ruinedr'
Thsss was IN interval Of gloomy a.
lesoa. but, 1t length, Cornille said:
''Come. my boys, 60 to bed You
mus get up early tomorrow"
-And you," said his wife. "wM you
70 b bed now alsoS
; ssNoi Do not feel like sleeping now
nd Vim take . smoke; but you need not