Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-02-05

to me. She married the man of her faith
er's choice. Now she is widow, beauti-
full, they say, and immensely rici-. l have
never seen her since her marriage. Her
home is in London, and l often hear
of her, but / never care to meet her
now The pure, sweet girl that have
loved Cor years must now be changed into
a woman of fashion, without love or SYM
pathy."
| was astonished, had thought of the
Duke of Melvorne as a shrewd business
man, ready for any undertaking to make
money. But here was new side to his
character; a fond memory of other days
held a warm place in his heart.
Now" he said, after a few moments
silence, "for an answer to my question.
OF what were you dreaming when l dis
turbed your reverie?"
81 was dreaming of one long to see. I,
too, have loved and lost, but not in the
way you did My love was among the
humble class, not rich or proud, but a
good, pure woman, who gave me the first
impulse toward a useful life that ever
stirred in my breast. l was a careless,
thoughtless fellow, when she came to Wa
verland Then her active, happy life made
me ashamed of the idle one 1 led. From
her influence l have tried to do some good.
My father was an absentee landlord, and
his estate had been neglected until the old
house itself was going to decay. She came
as governess to my little sister, and soon
she was governess, housekeeper and al
most estate keeper. By an unfortunate
word from my mother she was made to
feel her dependence, and she left Waiver
10 [loy T Io,
She did not know how dear she was to me.
Though | have sought her far and near, ]
can find no clew to her whereabouts. That
is my story. 1t was of her that / was
thinking when you came to me-"
Il have often thought what little things
can change our lives" said the duke.
"Yet they are not the little things; they
are the real, sensitive, living, though I'M
seen, parts of orr existence"
After that exchange Of confidence the
duke and were greater friends than ever
We had many pleasant visits ere we
reached the new world, whose first centen-
NAL birthday was still fresh in everybody's
mind. We reached Sandy Hook at night.
The water was made brilliant by the har-
Dor buoys, each of which carried a Won
derful electric light.
L followed the duke. We eXtricated our
selves from the thrOng at the wharf, and
were soon comfortable in our rooms at the
hotel. After good nights rest we went
out to see the wonders of the city A ride
on the elevated railway gave me a pecu-
liar sensation. 1t seemed as if we were
flying through space, only we could look
into peoples houses in our flight. We
visited the art galleries and were sur
priSed that American artists can hold sc
high position in the world of art.
One day we were standing near the court
house steps, when fine looking gentle
man, little past the middle Of life, passed
up into the building.
THAT" said the duke, ''is Mr. Arthur,
the eX-president of the United States"
"A fine looking man." | said
"But what queer way they have here
of disposing of those who have held the
! highest Office in the nation. They do not
have even Il badge of honor presented to
them!
"When cx-presdent Grant was in En-
gland attended a reception given him on
! one occasion. The diplomatic corps were
invited to meet him. A question was
raised as to who should occupy the seat OF
honor at table. The ambassadors who re-
presented their sovereigns would not ac-
cord the seat to Mr.. Grant "a private citi-
! zen) But at last an arrangement was
made by which no one held the seat of
honor It was a most awkward position
for the general"
at seems to me that the ex-presidents
should have some well defined official
rank. AS wealthy as this people are and
as proud as they are of their great nation,
1t is strange that they will permit those
who have been exalted to the highest place
in the gift of the people to settle back into
the rank of private citizens again." | said.
! "That is their idea of democracy. 1t de-
stroys distinctions in all, rather than fos-
j ter them"
"But mans knowledge after a term of
service would be of value to this country
$50 it would, but they choose to deprive
themselves of that and send him back
among the people, merely as an object OF
curiosity But they are beginning to talk
about it, and some honorable position with
proper pay viii be provided for eX-presi-
dents and perhaps for ex-senators also. one
of these days
At the close of one Of our busy days OF
sight seeing, as we sat in our room enjoy
| ing a rest, | said:
81 do not wonder now, where Parnell
got his independence of character when |
remember that his mother was an Ameri-
! can woman"
"Why so?" asked the duke looking puz-
zled.
These people have such a live, energet
ic way. l see now where the nerve and
pluck came from that dared to make Bos
| l1,rr nd r.
put a whole ship load Of tea into it for one
sleeping"
chats a new idea" laughed the duke
But the Yankees are shrewd, brave
people, that will dare anything for prin
pie"
THE very air has caught the spirit OF
the inhabitants. There is no drowsy fog
to keep one in bed till ten o'clock in the
morning here. I would caution the na
tons of the old world to look alive before
they pick a quarrel with this strange PEG
ple," l said.
But with all this energy, pluck and
thrift, they are allowing one of the mos
vital principles of their institutions to pas
out of their possessions. Their lands ar
being sold, stolen or given away at al
enormously rapid rate. In a very few year:
not a foot of land worth the having viii
belong to the government, or be in reacl
of the common people"
81 am surprised at that for with the ex
ample of ancient Rome, and the later on
of Ireland, with its terrible want and sui
fering which has risen from the unius
land monopoly, 1 should think that the,
would take warning and keep the land
for the many and not grant them to tn
few"
1.-The people have not awakened to tn
of tho situation nc vat Whn0 tho,