Part 11

Then she added: "He is constantly asking after Charles. He knows that he is in trouble, but we hope that he does not suspect what the trouble is. Before he was taken as he is, Charles had, to his knowledge, become involved in that Societe des Comptes Courants bankruptcy, which ruined him; and perhaps his father thinks that his son's troubles are in connection with that affair." Then the stepmother broke out into impassioned praise of the stepson: "The noblest heart! He will suffer all, rather than let the slightest harm come to his father. He is a hero, a gentleman, a hero, a hero! When he was here he told us what he had undergone, and said that he was willing to undergo ten times as much, so that his father be left unmolested.

"It is strangers who send us expressions of their sympathy. Those whom De Lesseps has enriched have forgotten him. And yet I am unjust. I have had letters from people who risked their positions, their daily bread, in writing to me as they did. But not a single political man has written a word to express condolence with the great patriot or with his family. They dare not. None of my letters are safe. Many of my friends have received my letters open. Many letters addressed to me have gone astray. It is dangerous to-day to be the friend of the man who gave a fortune to his country.

"He sits there all day," she continued, "and reads his 'Souvenirs of Forty Years,' the 'Souvenirs' which he has dedicated to his children. And at times he is quite his old self again, but drowsiness is always coming upon him. _Mon Dieu!_ that he may be spared to us a little longer!"

Helene just then passed through the room. "There is a paper in papa's room," she whispered, "which I must take away. There is the word Panama upon it."

Our conversation was with bated breath, and the ill-fated word was scouted like an unclean thing.

And whilst we were talking, the sunny, curly-headed Paul ran into the room and cried out: "Oh, do come and see papa! Bou-Bou has jumped onto his shoulder and is picking his violets."

We moved towards the door, and this was the last that I saw, or may ever see, of Ferdinand de Lesseps. Against the red background of the twofold screen he sat sunken, asleep, in his arm-chair, with the two volumes that tell the story of his heroism in his lap, and on his shoulders perched a grinning Barbary ape, pulling at and munching the violets which Helene had picked for him, and which hid in his buttonhole his jeopardized rosette of the Legion of Honor. Around him stood his children, and it was sad to see, and sadder still to think, that, his family excepted, what holds this great heart and splendid gentleman in dearest affection is not the millionaire grown rich on his achievements, but a witless, speechless thing, that perhaps has feeling what a great and generous heart is here.

McCLURE'S MAGAZINE

IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY WITH ILLUSTRATIONS.

TERMS, $1.50 A YEAR; 15 CENTS A COPY.

=SOME OF THE CONTRIBUTORS.=

The most famous authors in America and England will contribute to McCLURE'S MAGAZINE. A partial list of these authors is as follows:

R. L. Stevenson, Rudyard Kipling, A. Conan Doyle, Octave Thanet, William Dean Howells, Bret Harte, Clark Russell, Joel Chandler Harris, Mrs. Robert Louis Stevenson, F. Marion Crawford, Margaret Deland, Herbert D. Ward, Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, Thomas Hardy, J. T. Trowbridge, Jerome K. Jerome, Frances Hodgson Burnett, Theodore Roosevelt, Joaquin Miller, Gilbert Parker, John Burroughs, Camille Flammarion, Lillie Chace Wyman, Sarah Orne Jewett, Edward Everett Hale, Louise Chandler Moulton, Hamlin Garland, Prof. E. S. Holden, Prof. C. A. Young, H. H. Boyesen, Robert Barr, Henry M. Stanley, Archibald Forbes, Andrew Lang, Harriet Prescott Spofford, Dr. J. S. Billings, W. E. Henley, Capt. Charles King.

=PRICE, 15 CENTS A COPY. SUBSCRIPTION, $1.50 A YEAR.=

The price of this magazine marks a radical departure in the history of American magazines. This price is possible on account of the connection of the magazine with the Newspaper Syndicate established by S. S. McClure.

Many stories by famous authors, and frequently special articles, will be secured for the newspapers and afterwards be republished in the magazine, with new and splendid illustrations.

=INTERVIEWS WITH FAMOUS PEOPLE.=

In addition to contributions by noted authors there will be in every issue of the magazine interviews, prepared by well qualified writers, with eminent men and women. In this way the story will be told of men distinguished as =authors=, =artists=, =inventors=, =explorers=, =scientists=, etc. These interviews will be fully illustrated, and will have all the value of careful biographical studies set forth in great part autobiographically.

Jules Verne, Frances Hodgson Burnett, Tissandier, the famous French Balloonist, Archdeacon Farrar, Thomas A. Edison, F. Hopkinson Smith, H. H. Boyesen, Alphonse Daudet, Camille Flammarion, Edward Everett Hale, Prof. Graham Bell,

and many others, have given material for especially prepared interviews, which will appear fully illustrated in the magazine.

=THE EDGE OF THE FUTURE=

is the title of a series of interviews and articles furnished by Scientists, Inventors, Notable Enterprisers, including men who have built up great businesses, railroads, manufactories, etc., Statesmen, Soldiers, Explorers, Surgeons and Investigators, and which will indicate the lines of future progress. The interviews with Edison (electricity), Pasteur (bacteriology), Tissandier (ballooning), illustrate the character of this series.

=AN ENTIRELY NEW FORM OF MAGAZINE LITERATURE ARE REAL CONVERSATIONS.=

It is expected that each issue of the magazine will contain real conversations between eminent personalities. The dialogue between William Dean Howells and Professor H. H. Boyesen, which appears in this number, indicates the general character of these contributions.

=HUMAN DOCUMENTS=

is the title to a department new in American magazine literature, and will consist principally of portraits of distinguished men and women at different periods of their lives, showing the gradual development of character in distinguished Soldiers, Statesmen, Merchants, Novelists, Actors, Inventors, etc.

=FICTION BY FAMOUS AUTHORS.=

=A Group of Notable Short Stories= has been secured by the editors of MCCLURE'S MAGAZINE, and two or three will be published in each issue. Stories may be expected in early numbers by

Thomas Hardy, Rudyard Kipling, Joel Chandler Harris, Conan Doyle, William Dean Howells, Bret Harte, Harriet Prescott Spofford, Frances Hodgson Burnett, R. L. Stevenson, Sarah Orne Jewett, Octave Thanet, Stanley J. Weyman.

These stories will be fully illustrated.

=HENRY M. STANLEY=

will contribute, especially for younger readers, a story of =African Adventure=.

=NATURAL HISTORY AND ADVENTURE.=

There will be several articles written by =Raymond Blathwayt=, who has been called by Mr. W. T. Stead the best interviewer in England, from material furnished him by =Karl Hagenbeck= of Hamburg, the great animal importer and trainer. The articles will deal with

The Capture of Wild Beasts. The Transportation of Wild Beasts. The Training of Wild Beasts. The Adventures and Escapes of Karl Hagenbeck.

These articles contain a wealth of material of the most interesting description. The series will be illustrated by an English artist of great skill in drawing animals.

=John Burroughs, C. F. Holder, Dr. C. C. Abbott= and other writers famous for their work in this field will contribute to the magazine.

=Of Interest to both Young and Old will be PROF. R. L. GARNER'S AFRICAN EXPEDITION TO THE GORILLAS.=

Arrangements have been made, in connection with a leading English review, to publish Professor Garner's letters descriptive of his present expedition to Africa. Professor Garner is noted the world over for the curious and interesting investigations he is making in the speech of monkeys. He sailed for Africa last September for the purpose of further pursuing his studies in the native haunts of the gorilla. He is at present in the heart of the forest. It is expected that the illustrations of these articles will be from photographs taken by Professor Garner in Africa.

=KNOWLEDGE OF IMMEDIATE VALUE=

will afford the subjects of many articles and interviews that will deal with problems and questions of universal interest. Among the topics treated under this head will be "=How to Obtain a Healthy Old Age=."

=NEWEST KNOWLEDGE.=

=Discoveries About to be Made=: A popular and comprehensive report as gleaned in universities and elsewhere in all departments of knowledge and investigation. Plans are maturing for an extensive investigation, by able journalists, of the progress in various departments of knowledge and science as found in the leading colleges and universities, as well as manufacturing establishments, where valuable and original investigations and experiments are undertaken in various fields.

The series will touch upon a variety of subjects. =Bacteriology and What Is Being Done in Its Investigation= will be thoroughly explained after visiting: the laboratories of eminent authorities such as =Prof. Welch= of Johns Hopkins University.

The work done in the most =Notable Physical Laboratories= will be reported upon. In these laboratories the subjects connected with electricity are studied and experiments are made that often have far-reaching results.

Another subject of great interest is the work of =Famous Astronomical Observatories=, explaining "=How Discoveries are Made=," etc.

The recently established =Psychological Laboratories=, where the action of the mind is scientifically investigated, will furnish material for a paper of novel interest.

Special articles will be furnished on =The Physique of the American Student=, describing gymnastics, outdoor sports, the effect of training, etc.

A tour of investigation of this kind cannot fail to bring to light a great deal of material that cannot be anticipated.

The articles secured in this way will supplement the material announced in other parts of this prospectus.

=TIMELINESS.=

In the various fields which this magazine will cultivate, a constant effort will be made to secure articles of timely interest. The newest book, the latest important political event, the most recent discovery or invention--in fact, what is newest and most important in every department of human activity, will be set forth by specially well-qualified writers, in the form of essays, biographical articles, interviews or contributions by the men most closely identified with the subjects in hand.

=THE PRESENT HOUR=

will be the subject of a series of articles, published month by month, dealing with men and measures that are making current history. The first one is by M. de Blowitz, and appears in this issue.

=STRANGER THAN FICTION=

is the title of a department which will contain a number of short articles; true tales of adventure; striking bits of biography; interesting and curious facts in science; stories of travelers and explorers; picturesque short articles gathered from every field of human activity and investigation.

=IN GENERAL.=

The magazine will not only furnish the best literature, but will make a serious attempt to report the marvelous activities and developments of modern civilization, and especially of the United States.

=TERMS, $1.50 A YEAR; 15 CENTS A COPY.=

=S. S. McCLURE, Limited, 743 and 745 Broadway, New York City.=