The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-05-22

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madame, and must write that note at
once for fear shall forget it. /"
On Thursday afternoon there was
brilliant assemblage in the spacious sa-
lon OF the Princess Won Soeinheimer.
The rich a5tire of the ladies formed
series of Yltascopic picture that " re
dazzling, for Niennese women are
adopts in the art of dress, as are their
Partisan sisters. Tea was served, not in
cups and saucers, as Jennie had been
accustomed to, but in goblets of clear,
thin Venetian glass, each set in holder
of incrusted filigree gold. There were
all manner of delicious cakes, for which
the city is celebrated. The tea itself
had come overland through Russia from
China and had not suffered the deterio-
ration which an ocean vcyasa produces.
The decoction was served clear, with
sugar, if desired. and a slice of lemon,
and Jennie nought it the la3e5t delici us
brew she had ever tasted
81 am so sorry, whispered the prin-
cess to Jennie when an opportunity
occurred, "but Countess Stron has sent
messenger to say that she cannot be
present this afternoon. 1t seems her
husband, the premier, is ill, and she,
like good wife, remains at home to
nurse him. This rather upsets our plans,
doesn't it?"
ooh, l don't know'' replied Jennie.
sit is more than likely that tie wife OF
the premier would be exceedingly care
full not to discuss any political question
in this company. l have counted more
upon the wife of lesser official than
upon Countess Stron.
"You are right, said the princess.
"And now come with me. want to
introduce you to the wife of the master
of the treasury, and from her perhaps
you can learn something of the accident
that befell the lover of poor Gretlich. .
The wife of the master of the treasury
proved to be a garrulous old lady, who
evidently prided herself on knowing
everything that was taking place about
her. Jennie and she became quite con-
fidential over their goblets of tea, a
beverage Of which the old lady seemed
Unfortunately fond. As the conversation
between them drifted on, Jennie saw
that here was person that would take
a delight in telling everything she
knew, and the only question which now
arose was whether she knew anything
Jennie wished to learn. But before she
tried her on high politics the girl de-
termined to find out more about the
disaster that had made such an abrupt
ending to Gretlich's young dream.
81 have been very much interested,
she said, Sin one of the maids here who
lost her lover some weeks ago in an ac-
cident that occurred in the treasury.
The maid doesn't seem to know very
much about what happened, and was
merely told that her lover, a soldier
who had been on guard there that
night, was dead. .
s'Oh, dear, yes!' whispered the old
lady, lowering her voice. s.What a
dreadful thing that was! Four men
killed and eight OF nine are now in the
hospital! My poor husband has hardly
had wink of sleep since the event,
and the premier is ill in bed through
the worry. y
Because of the loss of life2' asked
Jennie innocently.
'sOh, no, mol The loss of life wouldn t
matter. 1t is the loss of the money that
is the serious thing, and how they are
going to replace it or account for its
disappearance l am sure I DOM know.
The deficiency is something over 200,-
600, 900 forms. Was it not awful2"
'sWas the building shattered to such
an extent?'' inquired Jennie, who did
not stop to think that such sum would
replace any edifice in. Vienna. even if
it had been wiped off the face of the
earth.
1'The treasury was damaged, of
course, but the repairs will rot cost
much No, my child. it is much more
disturbing affair than the destruction
of any statehouse in the empire What
has made the premier i'll and what is
worrying my poor husband into an I'M
timely grave is nothing less than the
loss of the war chestl''
'"The war chesti' echoed j Jennie.
"What is that?''
my dear, every great nation has a
war chest. England has one, France,
Germany, Russia-no matter how poor
a nation may be, nor how difficult it is
to collect the taxes, that nation must
have war chest If war We're to break
out suddenly, even with the most pros
porous country, there would be instant
financial panic ready money would be
difficult to obtain; a loan would be
practically impossible, and what war
calls for the very instant it begins is
money promises of money, not pa
per money, not silver money even, but
gold; therefore, every nation which is
in danger of war has a store of gold
coin. This store is lot composed main
Ely, or even largely, Il the coins Of the
nation which owns the store; it consists
of the sovereigns of England, the louis
of France, the willems d or of Holland,
| the eight form 8ieces of Austria, the
double crowns OF Germany, the half i'm
perials of Russia, the double frederics
Of Denmark, and SO on. All gold, gold,
gold l believe that in the war chest of
Austria there were deposited coins of
di ffaranf ,otinrc +f, ti,o 1,ol,1o ~ Gown,