THE PITTSBUHG- DISPATCH, SUNDAY, iFEBKTTAKY 17, 1889." 11 A PEEP AT SOROSIS. Exactly What Was Done at a Meetint? of the Famous Club. DEBATE IN WHICH FOR FLEW. Working Women, the Land Question, a Poem and Gushing: Sentiment ALBRIGHT SPECTATOR'S PEN PICTURE Ml Uafo! II vfi 11 rCOnBtEPOKBINCZ Or TOT DISPATCH. SEW YORK, Feb ruary 14. There is something suggestive of late dinners and lost money, contused reminiscences and re- volving keyholes, headaches and de pressing reflections in tfae idea of a social club; but when the club is dressed up in petticoats and tied with a sash, in other words, founded, organized and officered by women, then its chief dissipation is a lunch eon of muslin sandwiches and cambric tea, its wildest revel a discussion on some esoteric problem or transcendental theory. The oldest and most famous womau'sclub now in active operation is the Sornsis.which was founded by Jennie June, Alice Cary, Kate Field ana a dozen bright literary women more than 20 years ago. It holds its social'nieetings on the first Monday in each month, in the banqueting hall and parlors at l)elmonico, and probably there is no psychological, economic or scientific problem from the Azo.ic formation to the decline and fall of the bustle that has escaped its investigation and solution. Eo complicated social question whose premises have not been established fearlessly in their councils. Most women who join this club have either a vocation, a mission or a hobby, though occasionally a sweet, quiet woman slips inside the mystic pale who is content to be what God" created her, simply a "woman, nothing more, and whom the others regard with superior pity, because she has no'auibition, no lile work, no peculiar and glorious calling. IS SACRED PKECISCTS. Any time after 12 o'clock on these famous Mondays, if you whisper "Sorosis" in the ear of Cerberus, who waits in the elevator to guard the approach to these occult myste ries and ceremonies, you will be promptly elevated to the third floor where'the rites are performed, providing you have the semblance and guise of a woman, for though the members of Sorosis do not wish to arrogate anything of superiority to them selves because they have ha 1 the good for tune to be women, and are willing to admit that the accident of being born a man is a misfortune and not a lault, still no man may gain admittance to their festivities. As the elevator slowly ascends a peculiar sound or succession of sounds arrests your attention as though sharp stacatto notes were being picked from the shrillest strings of a hundred violins; it is only half as many women talking together of their hobbies and their husbands, their servants and their seriais, their children and their charity, all talking at once, nobody listen ing to anybody else, and no one minding the discourtesy. There are novelists ana journalists, physi cians and professors, agitators and "re formers, presidents of societies, teachers of new theories, missionaries and advocates, each capering wildly about her own pecu liar hobby horse, and apparently oblivious of every other prancing charger. In one corner of the room under the surveil lance of an apostle of physical culture in dress reform costume without any wiist line and a generous breadth of seam are the celebrities of the day, looking" very much subdued audnota little 1 Tightened. Thread ing her way in and out among the throng, an elderly woman with a diamond S en graved with the word "Sorosis" blazing on her shoulder and a peculiar smile on her lips which beneath its velvet bears a sug gestion of claws, greets each newcomer with a dignified salutation. It is the president, Mrs. Thomas, whose black silk dress is turned away from folds of white mull that are caught at the throat with a diamond pin, while the heavy chain and seal of gold are suspended from her belt Her bead, unlike the others, is uncovered, and has a peculiar fortification ot shell combs, one above the other, with terraces of grayish-brown hair between. Her face presents the impene trable passivity and possibility of a gar risoned fort Your respect and admiration grow for the woman when you determine later the slow process that hss crystallized the features into their granite immobility as you watch her qu etly and firmly hold in leash a hundred women's tongues for full ten minutes while another woman speak", and then make the speaker stop talking when her time is up in spite of her efforts to continue, reinforced by the requests of her friends, CACKLE LIKE HENS. Just outside the banqueting hall is a smaller room, where heavy wraps are tossed aside and bangs are coaxed Into coquettish nfess. Few women, however famous and learned, having souls above the setting ot their bonnets, the swing of their draperies and the suBuiUsion of their wind-tossed and rampant tresses, and continually reinlorced by the new comers Irom this retirement the larger room grows more and mnre'erewded, end bewildering diamonds flash and silks rustle, sleek tabbies go purring- about the room, occasionally stretching their claws ominously and lurtively, hens cackle and gabble over the particular addition they bare made to the world's nest of eggs, anil sometimes cackle loudest of all when thev have laid no eggs at all; wise women look on with smiling faces Irom some secure cor ner and gather material for new wort and magazine stories, and scheming women are whispering softly to their unsuspecting sis ters concerning the new officers presently to be appointed. "Women have nice instincts and practical judgment in household economy, conse quently the luncheon is served the first thing on the programme. "Uever try to do business or hold consultation on an'cmpty ttomach," said a woman as she seated her self at the table, "people are alwavs unrea sonable when they are hungry. I think if married women would rememlier that there would be fewer misunderstandings between them and their husbands. They ought never to try to tell their husbands any grievance, present him with auy bills or enter into any nrguments until aiterdinncr. Then he will listen and use a little reason." HUBBIES DISCUSSED. "Yes, but Mrs. B has a model hus band," interrupted a lady near "I knpw him because he's my husband's brother. He isn't a bit like my husbaud." "Well." continued Mrs. B smiling a little, "I will sav that we have lived togeth er 40 years next Thursday, and I am jut as glad to see him now when he comes home as I was 40 years ago. I don't mean to say that we always think alike on all subjects andnever disagree. No. There are many ubjects we never try to discuss. I dor't nag at him and he never nags at e. That's all; and the reason we get on so nicely together is because I was not in too much of a hurry to get married, I waited until I found the right jne. I believe there is a right one lorevery Eirf if she only finds him." And then all thjunappropri.ited birdies and antiquated fowl who had (ailed to find a mate bridled. Buttered their feathers, flopped their wings ind cackled harder than ever aiid took a new lease of life. "I think some girls fail to find the right sne because he isn't quite tall enough" to init them, or don't part his hair in the mid dle, iust to please them," said a woman with bright eves twinklin? mider isoirr hair. 2p tell the truth, I cane near doing it my-1 self. I refused my husband three times be fore I accepted him." And then a big woman plunged into the argument with: "There are so many ave nues of employment open to women now that girls are more particular in choosing husbands," and settled back into her place again, wheezing, while all the chick-a-biddies and venerable hens looked more conscious than ever, while a brown-eyed woman in a cardinal bonnet said: "Per haps they ought to consider the suggestion my husbaud gives his men friends, when he says to them: 'You are expecting a faultless woman for a wife; did you ever think what the girl would get who married you? You're not exactly perfect, are you?" ' THE BETEL PHOTOGRAPHED. By this time all the people at the long table were seated, with the President at the head, the celebrities down the center and the guests at the foot In another room the members of the club arranged themselves about the small table, chattering like spar rows. Pretty women, called custodians, fluttered around the table, introducing and serving people, and the revel began. Being a ladies' luncheon, of course its elements were bouillon, croquettes, pattic, a salad, ices and cake; its active principle, water, of which quantities were consumed with every cuure, and the conversation never ceased. On one side the talk was of the naughty Western Union telegraph girls who were discharged for smoking cigarettes, and one ot tbe old Sorois niemierssaid: "1 don't know why thev should be discharged any more than the man," and on the otbera woman was tellinc that she had no trouble keeping bouse. When some of her perplexed sisters it quired into it and found out that she bad two old servants that uad been with her tor j ears, with two yonnger ones for extra occa sions, and that sbe never went into bur kitchen, the wonder ceased. "What is Mrs. D's opin ion on the subject?" said one, and another an- s ereii: "ua ent you Known ner long enougn to find out that she hadn't any? 1 never had any fame or celebrity, but thank God I have opinions." Andsotbe stream of talk flowed on and on until the lunch was over, and the ladies gathered into the large room around a table behind which the President sat mallet in hand, and (lie garrison-lite features of her face brist ling with figurative liayonets. SOME tVELL-KXOWN FEMALES. Beside her Jennie June sat nervously opening and shutting her fan, thinking of the speech she bad to make. Sbe has a strong, resolute face, witb great intensity of expression and an extremely nervousness of bearing. Acrss the table Alice Gary's favorite niece, the little "Lucy" of her writings, sat with a quantity of short curls beneath her bonnet and attended by a little maiden satellite with dark curls and a lavender dress. May Kjle Dallas sat at one side with a black satin dress, ber smiling face framed in a black bonnet, fshe is a fair woman with blond hair, ju-t touched with silver, and a bright intellectual face animated by an exprpisiou of constant in terest in all about her. Marion Harland.Grace Greenunod and a lio-t of other celebrities gathered about in conventional bonnets and gowns, scarcely distinguishable from the but- teinies ana Dees oi social ana aouiestic me. Not once, but inanv time's the little silver mal let struck the table, accompanied bylhede cideu "Ladies! ladie-! order, order, please." Before the silence fell and the roll was called someone sane a love song and May Kyle Dal las read a littl original poem about "Cup. d's School" in a sweet low voice with her little peculiar li-p. "ilrs. Thomas! 0, excuse me, Mrs. President," came from a far corner, "we didn't bear, please have ber read it again. We don't know any more about love than we did before." So Mrs. Dallas began to read again. The lines that she said possessed one great merit, that of brevity. Still they r onlo not hear, and at last, standincor. the elastic snnncs of ner chair with what dignity sbe could mus ter and laughing like a schoolgirl, she read the lines and the women ah'd and ab'd in con cert SWEET SOUNDS A3TD MAGKETIS1I. There was some more love music, some slgh ng nightingale's ode to something or other and then the serious business of the day began. It was a debate as to whether the condition of the working women would be most benefited by individual effort or lerfslat.on. The first speaker called was not a Sorosis woman, but one ol the invited celebrities, with a bunch of carnations glowing on her breast and a silver King'sDaugliter's cross gleamingbeneath them. She was an impassioned, magnetic speaker n bo pictured the wrongs and oppressions of work ing girls in touching, thrilling tones. Half of the women in tha room were in that delicious condition just preceding a burst of tears. There's nothing the average woman so revels in as pathos and they were all thinking they never would wear a ready-made ruffled skirt again, which women were starving whilft making. When the ten minutes which limits a kiiniMS speech r-rne to an end, and cracking down upon the flowers of the speaker's elo quence fell the little silver hammer. "0, please, Mrs. Thomas, let her finish. Til give ber my ten minutes," said a woman, who bad been talking all the time, and all over the room there were entreaties from the women. Tap tap tap went the silver hammer, and "ladies" came the clear, calm voice. "Some one must move a suspension of the regular cus tom in this instance." "1 make that motion," shouted 10 or 12 women, and "I second it" supplemented 15 or VO more. So the speaker resumed. The ladie slonly dissolved into an ec tasy of tende ness. Little snitls were beard here and there, and per fumed handkerchiefs fluttered fragrance as she concluded that the silver cross of the King's Daughters was to close the breach be tween capital and labor. No one quite under stood which side oi tbeargument she supported. The veteran debaters of Sorosis shook their head- ominously and fluttered their fans ner vously, as old war horses champ the bit and paw the ground while the cnemv maneuvers. impatient tbit the fizbt does not begin, so they longed for the attack of the question itself in argumentative and parliamentary discussion. ELOQUENCE BUT NO POINT. Then a gentle, low-voiced woman of the Kindly Club, read a long, beautifully written paper on protoplasms, and the Individual ele ment of germ life or star mist or something of the kind. It was exquisitely written. The round full phrases flowed smoothly on and on like a broad calm river, full of carefully chos en, high sounding words and expression, and as near a- could be determined, the efforts of the Kindly Club were to transform tne wick- eaness or the employer to generosity. It was but a marshaling of troop , not the roar of musketry, and the old war horses champed the bit and fretted more than before. "Why aoen't she touch on the question?" gasped the President as sbe mse to call ber to order, not realizing that she couldn't stop that torrent of words. It flowed on peacefully to the close. Then another visitor with rarely practical ideas and thorough knowledge of the working women's condition, talked as long as she was alloweiL whereupon an old Sorosis member rose quietly, delivered nerseit oi tour sound ideas in less than 40 words, and sat down. One alter the other came the clear argumen t, rutting like sw ord thrusts straight at the knot of the argu ment, and the war horses pricked up their ears and neighed in answer. Then a pretty pink and white girl fluttered ont on the platform, and began a tpeeth which she had evidently committed to mem ory. She was brim full of inspiration, ecstasy and politics. Sbe knew just how to set every thing straight, although she was only 22. Sbe soared along on the Have of her argument like a bird on full-spread wing until suddenly bang went the iconoclastic haiunierof the President, crashing into the pretty images of her fancy. She had touched on the doctrines ot free trade, and all political discussion is prohibited in Sorosis. She righted herself up again, and once more began to soar aloft, when the sound of the mallet called ber back to earth again. LAID OUT BY LAND REFORM. This time it was the laud reform that laid ber low. Said tie President: "I am very sorry, but we do not allow party politics to enter into our discussions." "But this is no Land Reform party," said the Chairman of the debate, who was the speaker's friend. "I must differ with yon." said the President and firmly and decidedly she called the lady to orler. There was a buzz all over the room, indignant protests at tne rresicienrs decision, equally in iliin9Tifr uliinrtrintitt tn tha ntBtl'or'i tti1,cti, ., M IRISH PASTIME That Bids Fair to Become Popular on This Side of the Ocean. HUBLLNG FOLLY DESCRIBED. An Expert Tells Bow to Laj Oat the Grounds and Gives THE BULE8 GOVERNING THE GAME fxl MA WAX P rcosnxsroraxircx or tbs sispatch.1 NEW YORK, February 16. When the number of Irishmen who have made their homes in this coun try is considered it is a bit surprising that their national Kama has not be come Americanized. Baseball is not bet ter known and ap preciated here than is hurling in Ire land, and yet until this winter there has been no systematic effort to introduce the game to this continent Occa sional matches have been played in various large cities, so (hat the name of the game is recognized, but it has not as yet taken a conspicuous place among American sports. It bids fair now, however, to enjoy a considerable boom, and by another season there may be a hurling league, with championship contests aud big audiences at the grounds to see the fun. The importance of this game on the other side of the Alantic maybe inferred from the fact that in the Gaelic Athletic Association of Ireland there are 17,000 hurling clubs. Each club must have a membership of at least 21 active players, for that is the regula tion number of men to a side in champion ship matches. This tremendous league manages to find the champiouship club every year, and at this time the season of play is in full blast. As it would take sev eral years of constant playing to play every team in the 17,000 against every other, the association has adopted a system of subordi nate matches in order to eliminate from the "AH Ireland" championship contests such clubs, and that means the great majority, as would hare no hope of winning. From the 1st ot Februarv to April 20 every county in Ireland is alive with matches played by its local clubs. Only such clubs as win the championships of counties are entitled to enter lor the "All Ireland" tournament, which occurs between April 15 and Hay 25. A. PROFESSOR AT WORK. Interest in the came was aroused in this conutry by the recent vMt of Irish athletes. They played exhibition games of hurling in most of the large cities before great audi- the ball across the goal line opposite to it To gain'this end the playerlmay strike the ball with his hand, or kick it, or hit it with his hurley. It is never permissi ble, however, to carry the ball, ex cept when it is balanced upon the hurley. A player maT catch the ball on the fly in his hands, and if he succeeds be has the privilege of a 'puck;' that is. he may toss up the ball and bat it in any direction he pleases, but he cannot throw it When the ball is on the ground it must not be picked op by the hand. In case these rules, or any others, are violated, the referee may punish the offending side by allowing the other a free 'puck' if he thinks fit, in which case no player of the offending side may ap- f jy The Goalkeeper's Opportunity. proarh nearer than 21 yards until the ball has been struck. A goal is won when the ball is sent between the middle posts and under the cross bar; if the ball goes over the bar. or over the goal line between the outside. posts and the goal, a point is scored. There is no score when the ball crosses the goal line outside the limits marked by the four posts. When a point or goal has been scored, the goal keeper has a free 'puck' from his post, in which case the men op posed to him must stand off at a distance of 21 yards." . BULES TO BE OBSERVED. "What if the ball goes over the bound aries at the side of the field?" "If it does not rebound into the field, the referee must throw it back at the print where it crossed the line, in which case it must touch the ground he'ore it reaches the players, who must stand ten yards away from the line when the ball is thrown. THEMOffiSOFKOItEA. A Jolly Time at the Monastery in the Monntainsat An-Pien. STOPPING AT A COUNTRY HOTEL. A Fertile Conntrj, lot a Poor and Igno rant Populace. SLEEPINQ AT THE GATE OP SEOUL' SB to o o .oft i 'P rf 4 " 5 -4 f 4 N fro &ute ran The Field. VA? v- A Scrimmage. uignant objections to the speaker's utilortuiute allusion. In the midst of 1 1 all the idrl herself was gettinc white aliont tbe lipiand her cheeks and eeswere blazing. Tbe dispute waged fatand furious and in rain the silver mallet rancout its warning round: but never once did tbePiesident lose her temper, ber dignity or her official smile. At length a white-haired Uiyses of the camn arose ami said decidedly: "I must agree with tbe President in her decision and hope tbe meeting will come to order." Tbe girl on tbe platfonn bit ber lip. gulped down a sob, said witb a ghastly attempt at a smile: "There is no Land Reform party now, but I hope tbere will be one soon," sat down on the edge of the plat form, and cried. Then tbe trained war horses tailored to the front and fought it out among themselves. Sword flashed against sword, steel clashed against steel, rinpng and striking fire every time, and tbe dignified President came up like aconqnenng general, magnanimous but trium phant beg"d everybody's pardon for tbe de vision she h id been obliged to make iu con forming to me laws of tbe society, and left the held with flh?s flying and drntns beating. Meanwhile, in tbe corridors, women wire pullers were waylaying tbeunsupectitig. Inter viewing them with regard to the coming elec tion, and doing tbe neatest, cleverest kind of lobbying as tbe ladles with flushed, tired faces wended tnelr way homeward, wondering whether the working women needed protection or not, and which side they were on anyway. Kate Kamssjl etices. Three of the visiting athletes are still in this country, and one of them, J. J. Cullen, has become a member of tbe Gaelic Society in New York. Not the least reason for his stay here is the desire of the society to introduce hurling as a prominent and regular feature of American sports, and Mr. Cullen is acting as a general instructor. He is honored in Ireland aj the champion indiridnal hnrler. Under his guidance at least oue game is played every pleasant Sunday in Weehawken, and by reason of the open winter the sport has taken a good start As hurling is so little understood in America, a diagram of the field is printed herewith, as well as a picture of the tools or the game and some sketches of the play. It will be seen that the field is very similar to that used for football. The dimensions are marked in the diagram, and the general po sitions of the men in a full team are indi cated. A similar arrangement of men in the lower half of the diagram would represent the positions of the opposing team. None of these positions are strictly maintained during play, for, as in lootball, the men must be where the ball is, and the imme diate scene of action is constantly changing. It is possible to play a good game of hurling with 14 men on a side, but in that case the grounds should be smaller. The Irish rules allow of a field as small as 140 yards by 84 yards, and there is no objection to a field larger than that indicated in the diagram. Four goal posts are set up at each end of the field. They are 21 leet apart, and across the two in the middle is a bar ten and a half feet from the ground. The general object of !- After playing for halt an hour the referee calls time, and the sides reverse their posi tions. The game ends with another half hour's play. The count, of course, is by goals and points. If no goals have been made by either side, the one that made the most points is the victor. The same rule applies when each side has made the same number of goals, but one goal will out weigh any number of points so that, if one side got ten or a dozen points but no goal, and the other got one goal but no points, the latter would be the winner." "Does not the game necessitate a good aeai oi roucn piay Mr. Cullen smiled. "Maybe," he said, "maybe it does. Let me read you the Irish rule on that point: 'No player to catch, trip, push from behind or butt with the head. Ho player to bring his Jiurley intentionally in contact with another player.' Now the referee has the greatest discretion possible in interpreting this rule. He may disanalify a player lor a brearh of it, and in that case his side is not permitted to substitute another player. The referee may inflict various penalties' for undue vigor in play, such as suspending a hurler lor a short time, allowing the op posite side a free 'puck,' and so ou. Never theless it is not uncommon to get out of a game wilh aching shins and any number of bruises. The better the playerj of course, the less likely he is to injure his opponents, but in the excitement of play it is not to be wondered at that some blows are accident ally given." "Are there any professional hnrlers in Ireland, that is, men who make a business of playing the game?" "Not one. No one plays for a salary or any other remuneration than emblems of skill and soccers. Nevertheless,, I think that the possibilities ot the game are so highly developed as if there were a league of professional players. Everybody in Ire land plays tbe game, from school children to old men. The 1,700 clubs in the Uselio association represent not dnly upward of 3, 500 active hurlers, but many thousands more who are 091 deemed expert enough to have a position on a county team. There is much interest in our Weehawken games, and I look forward to seeing the sport se cure a strong foothold in this country." Feank, ITBOU ODB TBAVXLtNO COMMI5SIONIH,J EOUL, Korea, Octo ber, 1888. The great monastery in the moun tains is one of those chosen and built by a militant Korean sect to serve, according to need, either as a retreat for the spirit or a ref uge for the body. The monks themselves do not look very warlike, but the situation ot the monastery is an almost impregnable one. It can be reached by only one road, a long, steep, stony path, in which "a thousand might well be stopped by three;" behind it on two sides are mountains of rock, and on the fourth it is secluded by a very deep and pricipitous ravine, through which dashes a noisy torrent The central btjildings, on th'e edge of the ravine, are the sacred apart ments of the King, and they are kept in perfect preservation and hourly readiness for his coming. The morning after our arrival I was waked by roars of unfamiliar laughter. Tracking the sounds, I came upon Captain Walker per orming his ablutions in the midst of 100 monks, and delighting them at intervals with the narrative, in excellent barytone, of how The old woman in the garret .Let loose the talking parrot, And there was, another jolly row down stairs! All round the group were the great heavy eaved temples, through the open doors of which could be seen the solemn faces of squatting gilded gods, while already half a dozen priests were bending before the altars with incense and drum. But some people have no reverence. Not that the monks themselves cared, for half an hour later I was startled bygunshots close at hand, and discovered the irrepressible navigator pick ing the pigeons otTtheroofs of the very tem ple in which worship was being offered, at theurgentrequest of the crowd, whogatbered up the dead birds with the greatest eager ness. Yet we had been told that the Korean monks never ate flesh. CUBIOUS ABCHITECTUBE. All the buildings of An-pien are in the style to which the traveler so soon gets used in the East rectangular wooden structures with high-peaked roofs and richly carved curving eaves, generally with three doors at one side and the chief idol lacing the largest central entrance. Be ore him are sets ol altar utensils and little brass tallow lamps and joss-sticks, which the pious visitor pur chases for a few cash and lights at his pray ers. The walls are covered with silk and bro cade, mostly very old and time-stained; the ceiling is marvelously carved and gilded, perhaps a huge dragon appearing at one end and worming himself in and out of the masses of ornament to the other; and halt a dozen gongs and drums invite the hand of the too-willing pilgrim. The interior of these temples is tawdry, but the massiveness of the wooden architecture, its bright colors. its Dicturesaueiv contrived vistas of gate and gable and column and pavilion, taken together with tbe wonderful natural situation of the places form an impressive and romantio spectacle. The most curious sight in the monastery, however, is lour huge idols of brilliantly painted wood, carved with a good deal of appreciation of the hecoic hu man face and lOrra, which stare atone an other, across a narrow passage Irom behind the bars Jf two great cages, a pair ol war gods being on one side, and a King and Queen (the latter playing a colossal man dolin) on the other. Every priest carried or wore a rosary of red wooden beads, pol ished like crystal by ceaseless fingering. I told my interpreter" to ask one of them by and by privately whether a string Of these could be purchased as a souvenir. He, however, blurted out the'question to the Chief Abbot in the presence of 50 priests, and tbe hospitable and delight. ul old gentleman instantly took 08 his own rosary- iug of the country "Oual keuiounni eutesiol" "How is your health to-day?" and would not even return a iriendly nod. More than half the time I walked, and my chief amusement was to get a mile or two ahead of my caravan and enter a village by myself, walk into the middle of it and. seat myself calmly'on someliody's doorstep as if I were perlectly at home. ThVstupefaction of the native was delicious. Probably they had never seen a white man before, for only three or four ever crossed Korea, and at least two of these Colonel Anderson and Lieu tenant Prichard, of the Fifty-eighth, went by the longer.and better route. A BECEPTIOIT. First they would stare from a long dis tance, then they would drive off the dogs, then some patriarch would approach cau tiously and hazard a question. I would reply with a few lines from "Hamlet" or "Paradise Lost," whereupon they would all laugh. Then one would remove his long pipe from his mouth and offer it to me, and though the courtesy was neither accepted nor returned, it sufficed, to break the ice. Invariably, they wonld begin by'leeling ot my clothes, and the different "textures of these filled them, knowing nothing hut the calico which is their sole wear, with infinite amazement. Especially the corduroy ol my riding-breeches pleased them, and they would send to the other end of the village for a old man to come and feel of it. Childish and ignorant in the extreme they were, knowing less of the outside world than a Digger Indian. Poor, too, beyond felling. I believe that 51 would have bought everything (except the crops) that I saw exposed lor sale in hundreds of shops from the time, I left Gctisan till I struck Seoul. The men were well-built as a rule and fairly well-featured, but I did not see a single woman or girl during my trip who could have been called even moderately good-looking. The daily labor in the fields or at the millet-mill is too hard for that, and the women are even more beasts of burden than the men. As regards the country itself, it was far more fertile in appearance and also much more cultivated than I had been led to ex pect. Alter leaving the monastery we climbed till evening, then slept in a fiat valley, then climbed again through a suc cession of narrow, rocky and difficult passes till we reached an extensive plateau or table-land 2,500 feet above the sea, stretch ing between two fine mountain ranges, and perhaps 40 miles in length. The mountains were splendid in their autumn tints, the air was superb, the weather perfect, and I had not a lonely moment In fact, I seldom passed pleasanter davs than Idur of those spent riding or walking in utter solitude in Central Korea. The chief crops grown in the interior of Korea are rice, millet, beans, and red peppers, the second of these much predominating, and furnishing THE STAPLE FOOD for the people. So far as appearances tell anything to an inexpert eye, Korea ought to be rich in minerals and there is certainly plenty of land which would give fair if not great returns for cultivating. The village industries were l&tr and far be tween a little spinning and a little primi tive weaving of cotton cloth. The country is miserably poor at present, lor nobody cultivates much more than will support him, as the only outlet for the surplus, and that an unavoidable one, is into the pocket ol the nearest official. My last day's journey of 1G hours brought meto tne great gate 01 Seoul at 8 0 clock. This was the first glimpse of the East of my imagination the rocky ascent, the towering hattlemented walls, the huge black gates inexorably rinsed. Neither persuasion nor money could open them, as the keys of the colossal padlocks were with the King's guard at the palace. So rather than return five miles to a choumak, I rolled myself up under my rug and slept-there on a big stone all night, and when the morning broke and the country men, coming to market, lifted the corner of the rng and saw what was underneath, they were not a little aston ished. Then at "daylight we rode into the city, and Mr. Colin Ford. Her Majesty's most hospitable Consul, met me at his gate in gorgeous pyjamas, and extended the bath and the breakfast and the welcome of civil ization to a tired and. hungry-and particu larly dirty traveler. Henbt NOBMAir. A QUAINT CHARACTER Biography of a Westmoreland County Pioneer Who Was by Tnrns AH INDIAN FIGHTER, AN INDIAN, deader of a Hand of Border Regulators, a Bebel, a Legislator and APATBIOTK BEY0LUT10NABX SOLDIBE ME EARTH'S MOTION. the Some Interesting' Information About Bnll on Which We Live. The ifoutb's Companion.: The earth revolves on her axis in 23 hours, 6 minutes,-and 4 seconds. This time is required for one rotation from a star round to the same star again. The revolu tion is therefore called a sidereal day. While the earth has been turning on her axis, she has been advancing in ber orbit, and it will take her four minutes on tbe average to come to the same position in re gard to the sun; thus, adding four minutes to the length of the sidereal day, gives 24 A BIRD BAFFLES A BURGLAR, A Household Alnrmrd by the Fight Between and when at noon we mounted our ponies, a s;- JSeginning the Game. the game is to send the hurley ball across the goal line between the middle posts and be low the crossbar. The difference between this play and football will be noticed, lor in football it is the object to send the ball over the crossbar ol the goal posts. THE GAME DESCRIBED. The chief implement o"f the game is of wood, shaped somewhat like a hockey, though much broader and heavier. It is called a hurley. The Irish rules do not de fine the .pattern to be u-ed. The hurley ball is made ol cork and woolen thread anil is covered with leather. It should be fouf and a half or five inches in diameter and weigh irom seven to ten ounces. How the game is played may best be put in tbe words of Mr. "Cullen, who told the writer all about it recently. "To begin with," he said, "each side has jn umpire, and there is a referee whose judgment is final on all disputed points. When tbe opposing captains have tossed lor choice ol positions the hurlers stand in two lines in the middle of the field, touch hurleys across and then separate. That is a formal recognition that the players are friendlv and are ready to begin. 'The ref eree, who stands a little distance from the end of the two lines, then throws the ball between them, either rolling it along the ground or tossing it higher than the players' heads. After that each side striae to get n Thirf nnd a Parrot. Cincinnati Enquirer.! Mr. Emil Eothe, who lives at 267 Browne street has a poll-parrot. The bird has been with the family for a number of years, and is highly educated and a great pet. Its cage is usually hung at night in a rear room on the second floor. A window of the apart ment overlooks a grape arbor, close against the wall ol the dwelling. Night before last no one occupied the apartment About 5 o'clock yesterday morning Mr. RotheVas awakened by the bird, which was loudly shrieking. "Papa! papal" The par rot kept up these cries for several minutes, until Mr. Rothe, finally alarmed by the un usual disturbance, determined to go to see what was the cause. "When he turned on the light he saw poll sitting on the cross bar of the cage. The bird immediately re cognized him and set up a chattering and a chuckling 01" victorious "ha ha's!" Poll looked like his famed predecessor who had the exciting adventure with the monkey. One wing was broken aud the bottom of the cage was covered with feathers. The bird was ruffled up gen erally, and, in fact, had the appearance of having passed through a threshing ma-1 chine. There were blood marks on the wires of the cage, and everything indicated that poll had engaged in a lively and deperate fight Looking around Mi. Rothe found that the window was broken. On the sill were the bloody prints of a man's fingers. A burglar had made an early morning visit to the res idence. Climbing up the arbor, he easily raised the windoyv and entered the room. ills movements must have awakened poll. The bird evidently gave the alarm, and the intruder, realizing that something had to be done quickly, at once attacked the In telligent pariot Thrusting his hand into the cage tbe burglar tried to wring the bird's neck. Instead of quietlvsubraittin? poll showed fight. With beak and claws poll attacked the robber, sinking the sharp weapons into the flesh of the intruder s hand. So vigorously did poll use nature's weapons, and at the same time utter screams, that the burglar was forced to re tire baffled and bleeding from painful wounds. He must have dropped from the window just as help reached the door, as Mr. Eothe heard the noise of a fall as he entered. 't bracelet of especially big beads and handed it n ma n....?..... 1ITL. A. . I.- I lU haeh .rBL' nX.X'T h fr the solar day. fore leaving I wished to make him some present in return, but rans.tckitig my bag produced nothing whatever suitable. My revolverorknilelcould not spare, the old gentleman had already refused to taste whisky, and there appeared to be literally nothing to give him. I recollected, how ever, that I had had some new silk hand kerchiefs made and embroidered in Japan, and one of these presented with many airs and the explanation (Irom the Captain) that the monogram on the corner was "good joss," satisfied him completely. For our entertainment we left a few dollars in the treasury, the amount, attested by our au tographs, being solemnly and elaborately entereii in ine great teageroi tne monastery, hundred of the white-robed, much-hated priests, led by the venerable abbot himself, came a little way down the hiil with us to give us goodby. KOBEAN TBAVEL. For three hours we climbed steadily up the narrow pass and theu through it. The road was merely a bridle path, or tne dry bed ol a mountain stream strewn with stones of all sizes. But the ponies never slipped or even hesitated, and our little train wound along in single file without a moment's rest till dusk. From 11 o'clock till 3:30 it was blazing hot, and ni? helmet, with its two inches of solid pith, was none too thick. Then it began rapidly to grow chilly, and long before dusk I had a irieze riding coat buttoned up to my chin. By 6 o'clock we have descended somewhat to an extensive plateau, and in the distauce we can hear the The time of tbe axial rotation has not varied the hundredth .part of a second in 2,000 years. It may, therefore, be considered as invariable, and is consequently adopted as a fundamental unit in astronomical measurement. The earth revolves in her obit around the sun in 365.26 days, giving another standard measure of time, tbe length of the year. The velocity of the earth in her ordit is al most incomprehensible, for the'huge sphere spins along at the average rate of 18 miles in a second. The earth's orbital revolution and the inclination of her axis to the plane of the ecliptic, cause the changes of the season and the varying length of day and nignt. The earth has a more complicated motion known as the procession of the equinoxes. It consists of a wabbling motion of the pole of the heavens around the pole or the ecliptic in a small circle requiring 25,000 years to complete. It is caused by the at traction of the sun and moon upon the earth at the equator. Consequently, ecliptic aud equator do not cross at the same point, but the equinoctial falls back each year 50 sec onds of a depree. One effect of this movement is to change the polar star, for to whatever point of the heaven the pole points, the nearest star to that point is tbe polar star. The present polar star willno longer enjoy that distinc tion, 3,000 years hence, and the brilliant Vega will be the polar star, 12,000 years hence. The earth is moving through space. The sun, carrying with him the planets, satel- rwnimts for Tin dispatch. F variety is the spice of life, the career of James Smith, a pioneer of Westmoreland county, certainly was sea soned richly. He was suc cessively a captive in the hands of hostile savBges(ian adopted member of the tribe of Conowaga Indians, a lead er of a band of border guerrillas, who plundered the King's troops, and captured a British post by stratagem; Captain of provincial troops during the Indian wars; a prisoner, charged with willful murder held in irons and under guard; a county officer; a soldier in the Revolutionary War; a member of the constitutional convention of Pennsylvania in 1776 and afterward a representative to the General Assembly from Westmoreland county; commander of a battalion of rifle men and a'terward a Colonel; a pioneer settler in Kentucky and, finally, a member of the State Convention and of tbe Legisla ture nearly up to the time of his death. He was also the author of a book, now un fortunately exceedingly rare, written for the purpose of perpetuating the story of his many adventures and the strange incidents of a singular life history. James Smith removed to Westmoreland, coming from east o the mountains,' about the time the act was passed erecting that county (1773). Part ot his remarkable ex ploits antedate his settlement in Western Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1755, while be was a resident of Cumberland county, he was engaged with others in opening up a road Irom Fort London toward Ruystown (now Bedlord). One day in May the little party was attacked by savages and Smith was made a prisoner. He was taken by the Indians toFort Duquesne, arriving there just in time to witness the return of the vic torious French and Indians alter the defeat of Braddock. HE IS MADE AX INDIAN. He describes in graphic language the in human barbarities which were practised upon the-white prisoners at the fort, and of which he received his lull share. Taken by nis captors in the Ohio wilderness, watch ing forn opportunity to escape, but never finding one, he at length began to conform to the manners and customs of those about- him until the savages came to have a high regard for their pale-faced brother, and re solved to adopt him into their tribe. He does not say whether his consent to this plan was asked or not; but it is apparent from his story that his wishes would have counted for little, one way or the other. So the Couowagas proceeded to make a good In dian out of Smith. Thev had a highly original method of doing thi, and the pro cess afforded no end ot amusement to all save the luckless victim. First a brawny warrior seized the captive and began yanking band ul after handlul 01' hair out of his head. "He plucked me exactly as one would pluck a turkey," says Smith, "having a quantity of ashesat band, in which he rubbed his fiugers every now and then to enable him to obtain a firm hold." When the job had been cempleted to tbe satisfaction of the self-appointed bar ber all that remained of Smith's locks was a small tuft of hair on the top of his head. The prisoner was then turned over to the young women of the tribe, who fell upon him unceremoniously, and despite all strug gles on his part led him into the middle of a small stream and ducked hitu repeatedly under tbe water: When they had immersed him so many times that he was nearly drowned he was led out and given into the hands ot several braves, who removed his clothing and dressed him in full Indian costume, painting his face and making bim in appearance a lull-fledged warrior. Think of a man in this guise afterward sitting in the convention over which Benjamin Frank lin presided to assist in making a Constitu tion for Pennsylvania! FBOTV SATAOEBY TO CIVILIZATION'. The ceremonies all completed, the chief made a long speech to Smith, compliment ing him upon the nerve and pluck he bad displayed, and informing bim that lie was now a son of the Conowagas and a brave Indian, all the white blood having been washed out of him during his involuntary immersion in the stream. Alter that Smith lived with the savages, hunted with them. and was treated in all respects as one 01 the tribe. But he did not become a savage and only awaited an opportunity to escape and return to civilization. His lreedom came at last, at Montreal, in 1760, when an exchange, of prisoners took place, and be made all possible baste back to Pennsylvania. Ha' served later as Lieutenant and Captain of Cumberland country troops under Arm strong and Bouquet, until the Indians were conquered. But even after the conclusion of peace in 1765 the inhabitants of tbe border settle ments were still uneasy and distrustful of. the savages, and not without good cause. At the first opportunity Indianitraders be gan to renew their traffic with tne red men, supplying them with spirits, arms, ammuni tion and anything else they wanted. Tha men in the border settlements became alarmed, and those living in the vicinity of Forts Loudon and Littleton organized them selves into a body known as the "Black Boys," their object being to prevent tho traders from carrying supplies to ths Indians. Smith was the leader of'theso self-appointed "regulators:" In May, 1766, a train of pack-horses, on their way to Fort Pitt with goods, were fired npon by the Black Boys and tha traders compelled to surrender their stores, which were collected together and burned. These and many similar escapades, in all of which Smith and his father (the latter a justice ot the peace in Cumberland county) bore a prominent part, created a profound sensation and led to a voluminous corre spondence between the British military commander and tbe provincial authorities. But all efforts to capture and punish tho rebel, Smith, and his band were futile, though the Black boys continued for years to harass Indian traders and British' sol diers. CAPTTTBE Or X FOBT. It was in 1769 that Smith and bis band performed their most daring achievement, it being nothing less than the capture of the British fort at Bedford and the release of the persons who were held there as prisoners, charged with offenses similar to those per petrated by the Black boys. This bold and lawless act was performed by 18 men, who made an attack at an early honr in tha morning when the guards were perhaps a trifle less vigilant'than usual. Smith took possession of the arms in the fort, and after forcing the blacksmiths to cnt tbe irons from the prisoners, the Black Boys took- a hasty departure. This deed also appears to have been unpunished. The same year that he took the fort Smith, was tried for the murder of a man named Johnson, but acquitted. In 1772 he was County Assessor of Bedford county, and atter his removal to Westmoreland county he served in tbe same capacity. In 1774 ha was captain o" a militia company fighting against the Indians. In 1776, at the head ot a company of rangers in Naw Jersey, with 36 men, he defeated a detachment of 230 Hessians and took several of them prisoners. Then came his election as a member of tha Constitutional Convention and in the Stata Assembly, to which he was several times re elected; his appointment as colonel of a regiment in service against the Western Indians; his removal to Bourbon county, Kentucky, in 1783 and his continual service as a legislator until 1799. He died abont the beginning of the present century. The whole history of the pioneers of Western Pennsylvania contains no record of a more remarkable character than James Smith. Basnet. KITCHEN COUNSEL Ir you are baking bread tarn the loaves top side down in the hot tins and let them s'and a few moments. This will make the crust tender so it will cut easily. Here is a recipe for breakfast biscuit: Taka 1 quart of sweet milk, one-half a cupful of melted butter, a little salt, two tablenoonfuls nf baking powder, flour enough to make a stiff batter; do not knead into dough, but drop into buttered tins from a spoon; bake in a hot oven; tmless the oven is hot the biscuit will not ba light A correspondent forni-'bes this recipe for scalloped potatoes: Cut raw peeled potatoes into very thin slices; place a layer of potato on the bottrira of tbe bakingdish: cover with milk, bits of butter, salt and pepper; then another laver of potatoes, etc, until the dish is full. Bake until the potatoes are easily pierced with, a fork. The very best ginger snaps are said to ha those baked thus: One cup of butter and lard mixed. 1 cup of sugar. I cup of molasses, one half cup of water. 1 tablespoonful nf ginger, 1 teaspnonful nf clove.", 1 teaspoonful of soda dissolved in Hot water. Flour for a pretty stiff dongb. Roll out thin and bake quicEly. They keep well. Stewed tomatoes, with onions and bread, are liked by some people. Empty 1 can of to matoes mto a saucepan, place over fire, and when hot add 1 small onion sliced, witb sale, and pepper and a little sugar; stew 20 minutes, add 1 tablespoonful of butter and one-half a. cupful of bread crumbs: simmer 10 minutes and serve. Pork, with pig's liver, is a French dish made a" follow: Cut In dice a quarter nf a p6und of fat pork or bacon with a pound of fresh pig's liver. Frv tbe pork lightly, then add tbe liver; season with salt and pepper and fry for five minutes. Add a pint of boiling water and a pound nf turnips cut in small dice. Simmer for an hour. Tms is t)ie French way of cooking pork and cabbage: Cut the pork in slices and freshen a little if extremely salt Cut In slices also a firm head of winter cabbage or two small ones. Put a thick layer of the cabbage in a large stewpan; shred an onion very tine and scatter over it, also a few whole pepper corns, two or threa ' cloves, and, if liked, a pinch of thyme and sum mer cavory. Lay on ;he pork, then the remain der of tbe cabbage, seasoning as above. Cover with plenty of water ana boil for two hours. ITCHIM SKIN DISEASES. ogs of a village,. As we we enter it they iites,comets and meteoric bodies following in range themselves in a snapping, yelping baud at our heels, aud from every low door way an innanitunt crawls out to look at us. In the middle of the village the 20 or 30 miserable thatched dwellings hardly deserve the name we came to a halt and I Cba Sam approached. "Vhat is it?" I ask 111 in, and he replies with a single Japanese ord, "We will sleep." I looked at the house before us and my heart sank. True,' I knew that Korea did not boast a Palace Hutel, but this was rather too much. A big, fumble-down, badly-thatched hovel surrounding a yard; all round this, stills for ponies and bullocks. I Clia Sam fliAg open the door about two feet by three and bowed me in. Tbe floor was hammered earth; the walls were mud, covered iu spots with very dirty paper; the material 01 the celling was concealed by the dirt and smoke ot generations and tapestried with spider's webs. At first, of course, I was highly indignant with Sam for bringing me to such a vile hole, but from the look of genu ine surprise on nis handsome, placid counte nance I soon gathered that this was the regular Korean hotel, and that I had noth ing else to expect Therefore, I accepted the inevitable with what joy I could, and with difficulty crowded myself, my bag, rug and provision boxes into the room. Then a tin of soup, ball a pound of corned beef, two bowls of tea, a nip pour tuer le ver, a pine, a few pages of diary and sleep theoretically. The people of the country varied very much. Two villages out of three were very friendly, highly inquisitive and easily moved to laughter. The third was general ly sullen and its inhabitants would not come near me, would not reply to the greet- ! his train, is hastening toward a point in the constellation Hercules, at tne rapid pace of 20,000 miles an hour. It might seem that, traveling at this rate, the goal must soon be reached. Such, how ever, is tbe inconceivable distance of the stars, that more than a million years must pass before our sun and his family, at their present rate of travel, .havo spanned the depth of space that intervene between their present position and the shining suns of Hercules. A Dad Starter. -f - I scratched 28 yean. Body covered with scales. Scratched II the time. Suffer Ing endless'ind without relief. Cured by the Cuticura Remedies. Skin now as clear as a baby's. If I bad known of the Cuticuba Reme dies twenty-eight years ago. It would have saved me S200 00 (two hundred dollars) and an immense amount of suffering. My disease (psoriasis) commenced on my head in a spot not larger than a cent It spread rapidly all over my body and got under my nails. Tbe scales would drop off of me all the time, and my suffering was endless, and without relief. One thousand dollars would not tempt me to have this disease over again. I am a poor man, but feel rich to be relieved of what some of tbe doctors said was leprosy, some ring worm, psoriasis, etc I took . . . and . . . Sar saparillas over, one year and a half.Dut no cure. I went to two or three doctors, but no cure. I cannot praise the Cuticuba Remedies too much. They have made my skin as clear and free from scales as a baby's. All I used ot them was three boxes of Cuticdra, and tbreo bottles of CuncrURA Resolvent, and two caKes of Cuticura- Soap. If you had been here and said you would have cured me for 200 CO you would have had tbe money. I looked like tne picture in your book of psoria sis (picture number two, "How to Cure Skin Diseases"), but now I am as clear as any per son ever was. Through force of nabit, I rub my bands over my arms and legs to scratch once in a while, but to no purpose. I am all welL I scratched twenty-eight years, and it got to be a kind of second nature to me. 1 tb yk yiu a thousand times. Anything more you want to know, write me, or any one who reads this may write to me, and I will answer it DENNIS DOWNING. Watebbubt, Vt., Jan. 20, 18S7. Cuticura The Teacher You've BOt advanced Tery far, have you ?' " The New Boy Tm so darned bashful, maim, I don't dare t" step a foot nigher to ye. Judge. To cleanse the skin and blood of every blem ish and impurity, no agency in tbe world of medicine is so speedy and infallible as tha Cuticura Remedies. Cuticuba, the great skin cure, instantly allays the most agonizing itching and inflam mation, clears the skin and scalp of every trace of disease, heals ulcers and sores, removes crusts and scales, and restores the hair. Cuti cura Soap, the greatest of skin beattifiers, Is Indispensable in treating skin diseases and baby humors. It produces tbe whitest, clearest skin and softest hands, free from pimple, spot or blemish. Cuticura Resolvent, the new blood purifier, cleanses the blood of all Impurl- Every night I seraiehed until the skin wis raw. Body covered with scales like spot of mortar. An awful spectacle. Entirely cured by tho Cutlcur Remedies in fi weeks. 1 am going to tell yon of the extraordinary cure your Cuticura Remedies performed on me. About tbe 1st of April last I noticed soma red pimples like coming out all over my body, but thought nothing of it until some tlmo later on, when It began to look like spots of mortar spotted on, and which came off in layers, accompanied witb itching. 1 would scratch every night until I was raw; then tha next night the scales, being formed meanwhile, were scratched off again. In vain did I con sult all the doctors in the country, but without aid. After giving up all hopes of recovery, I happened to see an advertisment In the news paper about your Cuticuba Remedies, and purchased them from my druggist, and obtained almost immediate relief. I began to notice that tbe scaly eruptions gradually dropped off arid disappeared one by one. and have been fully cured. I had the disease thirteen months be fore I began taking the Cuticuba Remedies, and In four or five weeks was entirely cured. My disease was eczema and psoriasis. I recoxn- mended the Cuticuba Remedies to all in my vicinity, and I know of a great" many who hava taken them, and thank me forthe knowl--' edge of them, especially mothers who hava babies with scaly eruptions on their beads and bodies. I cannot express in words my thanks to you. Jiy body waa covered with scales, and I was an awful spectacle to behold. Now mr" skin Is as nice and clear as a baby's. GEO. COTEY. Merrill, Wis., Sept 21. 1SK7. Feb. 7, 1888. Not a trace whatsoever of tha disease from which I suffered has shown Itself since my cure. GEO. COTEY. Remedies. piPLE8, blackheads; red. rough, chapped irn and oily skin prevented by Cuticuba Boat. ties and poisonous elements, and thus rem ores the cause. Hence, the Cuticura Reme dies cure every species of agonizing, humili ating, itching, burning scaly and pimply dis eases of tbe. skin, scalp and blood, with loss ot hair, and all humors, blotches, eruptions, sores, scales and crusts, whether simple, scrofulons or contagious, when tbe best physicians and all other remedies fail. Sold everywhere. Price, Cutictra, SOcj Soap. 25c: Resolvejtt. IL Prepared by tha ' Potter Dunn asd Chemical Corpora tiom, Boston. WSend for "How to Cure Skin Disease," to pages, SO illustrations, and 100 testimonials. HANDS Bo ?" nd rM fro ebp iinnuu and redness 6t ilno rimmi wtnr Boat.