The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-08-21

nowadays, but somehow we can't make
connected story out of it. Somebody else
may be more successful. Perhaps the feat
lis impossible. We are not sure on that
point.-New York Times.
STRANGER THAN FICTIoN.-The
Chareston's adventure at Guam deserves
not paragraph but a poem. There is no
excuse for poetry unless it be perfect. In
words of tormented polish it should convey
an incident which is unique. The adventure
of the Charleston was nothing less. 1t is
in the telling of it that the difficulty con-
sists Its proper display demands the
collaboration of Bret Harte and Mark
Twain. Then set to music and put on the
stage, it would remain an enduring de-
light. The facts though are evangelical in
their simplicity. The Charleston on her
way to Manila took Guam in. Guam is a
charming place. There is Thereon was
la peace which passeth all understanding
Even the governor has been unaware of Its
interruption. Since he arrived there, de-
cade ago, it has slumbered sultry and re-
mote, ignorant of the world and by the
world ignored. Recently that slumber was
disturbed. The governor, lolling beneath
his cool pomegranate trees, was shaken by
the boom of sudden guns. There in the
offing was a cruiser saluting the fort.
The compliment pleased him. 1t was
year and day since he had been so hon.
ored. But into his pleasure perplexity
filtered. He lacked ammunition wherewith
to return the salute. The circumstance was
unfortunate. To repair 1t in the only fash
ion which courtesy suggested, he dis
patched an orderly to explain matters, to
express his apologies and to invite the Of
ficers to dine. 1t was when the orderly re-
turned, when the governor learned that the
guns were not saluting, but bombarding,
and that he was a prisoner Of war, 1t was
then that only the fountains Of poets in
cola boration could depict the poor DEVILS
surprise 1t would have been pathetic were
1t not absurd, and as for the episode itself,
1t constitutes one of those Incidents, undis-
coverable in fiction. uncatalogued in his
tory and unsung in ballad, beside which the
extravaganza of opera bouffe Is cheap.
Peace hath her waggeries and so, too, has
war.-Edgar Saltus in Golfers Weekly.
PIERRE LOTT WANTS HIS SWORD
BACK.-When Lieut.. Julien Viaud. known
as pierre Loti' to the world of letters,
was placed on the retired list of the French
navy last winter, he had arranged" 1t,
he said, so that he could devote his entire
time to literature; the navy was poor
place in these days for man of active in
telligence, and as there seemed to be no
likelihood of Frances plunging into
war just to satisfy the cravings of jejune
intelligence. he was we'll rid of the nauti-
cal business.
Later. when war began between Spain
and the United States, he went to Madrid
and gallantly presented his sword to the
queen regent to be made use of against the
Yankees. Although Spain by tradition ad-
mires a caballero who can both write and
fight, the offer of the academician was
gracefully refused. So Lott went back to
Paris to write some more romantic and
erotic literature.
Now. paradoxical as 1t may seem, he has
appealed to the council d'etat for the revo-
cation of the decree putting him on the
retired list. 1t is not known whether he
believes France to be on the brink of a con-
1ict or that he finds devoting his whole
time to literature is neither as pleasant
nor as profitable as he had anticipated.