is minister.

Duelling is also against the laws of the Church, and the Count might
have got into fresh trouble with his bishop if kind friends had not
helped him in this direction also.

His case was represented to the Pope, who also recognized that he had
been terribly tried and provoked, and graciously pardoned him.

Despite the efforts of his enemies, he has been able to make peace with
both his emperor and his bishop, and though he will not have a pleasant
time of it with such a parliament against him, he ought to be able to
overcome his difficulties with two such powerful friends behind him.

* * * * *

There was a delightful celebration the other afternoon in New York at
East River and Twenty-fourth Street.

It was the occasion of the opening of a new Recreation Pier, and the
children were out in force to take possession of their newly acquired
property.

When the present dock commissioners came into office they found an old
law on the books of the city which had never been put in force.

It provided that the dock commissioners could build an upper deck to any
of the piers which jutted out into the river, and arrange it for the use
of the people as a recreation pier, a place where the children could
walk and run and romp and play, and the mothers could take the babies
for a breath of fresh air on the summer nights, when their work was
done.

Finding the law on the books, these kindly men determined to carry it
out, and so they built the pier at the foot of Third Street; and, when
that was finished, began work on the one at East Twenty-fourth Street,
which was opened the other day.

[Illustration: RECREATION PIER]

There are to be five of these piers in all--two on the west side, and
three on the east.

The pier was opened by the Mayor, amid much merry music and general good
feeling.

At the head of the pier a wooden band-stand had been erected. This was
gaily decked with flags, and filled with chairs for the city fathers,
who were to come and make speeches and give the pier to the people.

Seats had been set aside for the children, and the little ones flocked
to them in hundreds, seeming to feel that this pier was for their
especial benefit. They crowded every entrance, eagerly waiting for the
moment when the city should give the new building to the people.

Presently the Mayor, Colonel O'Brien, and several others walked down the
pier. Colonel O'Brien is the chief