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20
AMONG THE MEXICANS
Impressions of an American Passing
Through the Country.
MONDMEKTS OP OTHER DAIS.
From the Border Line to San Luis Potosi
and Beyond.
A SUGGESTION OP TRAIN BOBBING
iwjunur roB thb dispatch.!
WITH a grew
Eome sensation
we are rushing
off through the
darkness into a
strange country.
To go through a
strange country
may be produc
tive of exulta
tion, but to go
into it and feel
that a mere line
on the earth's
surface, a nar-
jl Mexican Flower Girl, row stream and
sot an ocean, the crossing of which has
placed you on soil in -which you have a lit
tle interest but no possible claim, is akin to
going into some man's orchard or melon
patch under cover of night as I remember
it. It is not our ground, and thouch we
may go in of our own volition, may we, in
a republic given to sudden revolutions, be
permitted to exercise our will in retreating?
But to experience the feeling is worth the
experiment. One realizes, even out of dan
ger, the sacredness of the home foil. And
then, we had a time of unpleasantness once
THE CATHEDRAL A20
with these people, and though individ
uals may overcome the mortification
of being whipped, peoples are not so
exalted in that Christian virtue. Visions
of Santa Anna and General Scott hover
about us, the hero of Lundy's Lane tower
ing magnificently over his diminutive com
petitor for glor.y. Buena Vista is just be
yond, and with no prospect of seeing it in
the night, the shadow of old Bough and
Beady looks in out of the starlight And
we hear it whispered softly that at some
-time during his career he gave utterance to
the-memorable admonition, "A little more
grace. Captain Bragg," and the Mexicans
icll down in winrows. The expression bears
the insignia of coolness in a warm climate,
and forty-odd years have not obliterated the
boyish impression qf it.
OUT OP PLACE CONVERSATIONS.
A man who never knows when he is
whipped is inconvenient to encounter, but
good to support in certain emergencies. But
he who never knows that he is a nuisance is
worse to have around than Job's comforters.
Ducats cannot relieve his weight; he is
bound to be heavy even in a light atmos
phere. The narrow-gauge cars of the Mexi
can National, unexceptionable in equip
ment, carry us along at the rite of 25 miles
an hour or speed us at SO or 40 miles. The
roadbed is solid and the track is smooth,and
no one should dream of disaster. Xet the
situation is altogether too pleasant for the
two Immanuels from New York and Boston.
Interior of a Mexican Bouse.
For lack of something lea horrible they
talk of train wreckers. I verily believe that
should these men die and get into heaven
thev would surreal the possibility of an ap
peal to a higher tribunal, to the distress of
those enjoying the beneht oi wnat is com
monly treated as a final judgment.
"We had the story of the dastardly attempt
some months before in its minutest details
and I presume that neithercf these experts
was nearer than 2,000 miles of the placeat
the time. But they had secured the ia
valuable information, even to the shooting
next morning of the leader and the life im
prisonment of his accomplices. The sud
den and certain punishment was the only
element of comfort in the recital, and I dare
Tenture to say that the narrator would not
nave advanced the conclusion had he de
tected any consolation in the example set
to other rascals thus murderously inclined.
Nervousness was not confined to the
ladies in the car. Every lurch suggested a
pile of ties on the road and certain derail
ment. But I succeeded in losing myself before-midnight,
and when the sun came up
next morning over the plains the tourists
were missing; they had left us some time
during the night, or lather we had left
them at Monterey. When they were
mused the sigh of relief was general, and I
was consoled by the reflection that I had not
alone been hurling mental anathemas at the
undeserving. Of course, one may not
have everything pleasant in this life, but
there run he no nossible aDolocv for letting
fall a drop or two of ink into a glass of J
water and recommencing tne oeverage, it
may not be dangerous, .nevertheless it is
objectionable so is the egotistical bore.
FIKST MEETING WITH NATIVES.
At Saltillo we halted for breakfast, where
J enjoyed my first taste of bread made of
Mexican flour. It was disappointing to look
at, but being hungry it disappointed me
again, and tne landlord seemed tickled as
he refilled the plate. I would recommend
that no one le use it because it lacks white
ness; the savor more than makes amends for
the color. Here, too, the report that one
can get nothing fit to eat in Mexico met
with a decided refutation.
At Saltillo we also encountered the first
natives, and had an introduction to repub
licans wiih rawhide sandals tied on rith
rawhiJe thongs, cotton drawers and n
hirt that a Iloobicr would term a wamus,
.end the, peaked sombreros and zarepes of
the men. The women were barefooted, as a
ulMi
rule, and ragged, but no one so poor as to
dispense with a rebozo. The prevalence of
this latter article of apparel necessary to
the Mexican female, manifests a devotion of
fashion that has in it something wonderful.
These women would, I believe, insist upon
the rebozo if they insisted upon nothing
else, and would otherwise manifest them
selves in the habiliments of our common
mother before the fall. In lieu of lace, or
other dainty fabric, flour facks or
anything handy may be made to dp
duty, and the zarepes of the men present the
same adaptability in variety. The zarepe
is as essential to the dignity of the peon as
to the provincial dandy. One fellow bore
across bis back a poncho lairly stenciled
v ith a brand of a superior article of cofiee;
while his vis-a-vis posed under stripes of
crimson and orange woven from the softest
wool, both happy. One thing a Mexican
can do to perfection he can wear the gar
ment gracefully.
I had gained the impression somewhere
that Mexico was a plain, but we have
mountains in sight all the time. They are
not very stupendous in the eyes of one ac
customed to Colorado magnificence. But
thev are mountains, nevertheless, daintily
curtained in delicate blue niUt, with rolling
foreground garmented in browns and gold
color. The cacti take the place of trees;
rather ungainly, perhaps, but they help to
break up the monotony of dead levels, and
puzzle the uninitiated by their endless va
riety of shapes. The Spanish dagger, com
monly so called, with its yellowish green
spines at the top, out of which springs a
great cluster of white flowers, is cultivated
further north as a curious garden ornament;
here it is a veritable tree, often more than a
foot thick and 20 feet high, coarse and un
gainly about. the trunk, but welcome in the
absence of hard wood groves.
A JIOMUMENT OFCENTTJBIES.
Away in the distance a Moorish-looking
tower appears, and, as we approach, we find
it the chief ornament of the chapel belong
ing to some vast estate. It is of a dirty
white, as though it had been cuffed by the
winds and rains of centuries and the dust
from the broad plains had painted it in
comical designs. It flanks what one would
suppose to be a high wall, but what is in
fact but the windows outside of a palace of
some one of Mr. George s enemies; poor,
TLAZA, CUT OP MEXICO.
no doubt, as Mr. George, and with thou
sands of broad barren acres, upon which he
pays no tax, tribute being levied only upon
the product. In the high wall is a portal
that serves as an entrance to a court, whence
flock to the train for brief entertainment
dozens of swarthy retainers. They 6eem to
be a happy congregation of uncivilized
people in dirty cotton; still the chapel in
sight, with a cross upon it and a bell hang
ing below, would indicate a step beyond
savagery. They look poor enough to be
owners of the land. I imagine, however,
that three feet by five (they being short in
stature) is all any individual will Jay
' claim to, and that their ancestors for gen
erations have demanded no more to the
man. Happy they must be; any civil at
tention will bring a smile into the dark
face and disclose a set of white teeth. And
yet, a lady wonders: .
"If these people can be happy living here
think of getting off in the night at such a
place!"
"Wdt not as h8ppy as you, in Massachu
setts? The chances'are ten to one, madam,
that that woman in the parti-colored apron
and scant skirt, stiff with grease, and
the burlap rebozo over her black locks,
would make the same inquiry looking out
upon a New England village. What con
stitutes happiness is a problem that has
puzzled longer heads than yours or mine,
my dear madam. But the chances are you
look upon a genuine article through the car
window as genuine as you will find any
where on earth; only do not examine it with
your own rush-lignt. As for "getting off
in the night," not a soul of them and they
mnst have souls, mark the chapel ever has
disembarked or will get off here in the
night, because it is never night with them;
in their world of sunshine it is always light.
Neither Darwin nor Spencer nor Huxlev
has ever troubled them, nor will.
We travel with a stone wall in sight for
an hour or more, then the wall starts off at
right angles across the plain, and we lose it
over the ridge of a mountain SO miles away.
Within its confines we have discovered a
few little mules, a few goats and a few cattle
and a few varieties of the cactus.
But it is not always so. A hacienda is
reached, perhaps, that is a marvel of thrift
and clean cultivation in every acre. Broad
fields, with no sign of a weed, with furrows
as straight as an engineer could run a line;
so that aswerush bytheyseem like long
spokes in a gigantic wheel turning ponder
ously. And these farrows are accomplished
by the aid of a crooked stick and a team of
oxen with a board tied to their horns instead
of a yoke on their necks. Compel one ot
these fellows to a Yankee plow and a good
team of horses and he would die of mortifi
cation. VIEW OF SAX LTJJ.S POTOSI.
San Luis Potosi is set down as a city of
60,000 population, as no doubt it is. The
town seemed to have congregated at the
&
Scene in a Market.
platform to welcome the train. It was sim
ply impossible to move through it without
fear of bringing away something in the way
of animate nature that did not belong to us.
I claim to be no more honest than my fel
lows, but would not rob a Mexican even of
something he would never miss. So I stood
on the platform of the car and took a clean
view of the motley congregation, while
they viewed us Hnd scratched themselves
with evident satisfaction. The young ped
dler of Mexican dainties and fruits is here
and I presume he was in full vigor before
the advent of the railroad, otherwise his
perfection in shrewdness and possibly slang
in Mexican, would seem marvelous. Being
no believer in miracles, not havingbeen
long enough in the country, I take Jt for
granted that the gamin is the same
the world over and is developed by
natural process. The American has
already become a legitimate subject of prey
THE
to him. A fellow passenger bought half
a dozen oranges and paid for them. He gave
me one, and in a few moments the young
merchant was clamoring at me for pay, for
that orange. A policeman who chanced to
be a witness to the purchase saidsomething
to the voune Arab that lowered his tempera
ture, otherwise I should have given him an
American qickel in admiration of the pro
fanity I could not understand. Then the
boy would have got mad sure enough.
While we tarried at San Luis the bells of
a neighboring church rang, or rather beat
out, the vesper chimes. I could see the
bells: they seemed to be strung on a shaft in
the belfry and the shaft was turned by a
crank. I recognized them as bells, not
from the sounds they emitted, but because
they were in a belfry. The train started on,
and still within the sound of these bells, on
the other side of the road, we saw a mixed,
crowd of men, women and children enjoy
ing a cock fight I did not blame them; the
clamor would hare made even a Mexican
enjoy something else.
IN THE TUNING BEOIONS.
The evening shadows begin to close in
upon us again, but before darkness sets in
we can see that the countrv is assuming a
more thrifty condition. The cultivated
fields are becoming more numerous and the
stained walls of haciendas more frequent,
with, it would seem, always a chapel. Be
sides being in a rich agricultural district.
San Xuis, as it is affectionately abbreviated
by tbyise engaged there, is the center of a
promising mining industry, and as mining
is always promising, no doubt San Luis will
appear active, if not really so. Curing the
night we pass through a number of towns,
we are told, and in the morning we awake
in the beautiful valley of Toluca and enjoy
another meal with delicious chocolate.
From this city to the City of Mexico, some
40 and odd miles, the country is verily a
garden, notwithstanding we climb
and cross a mountain range and
reach an elevation ot over 10,000
feet. This is like railroading at home with,
less rnggedness in the landscapes. Winding
-Op the pass, when the train has fairly
achieved naif tne distance, one may iook
down into the valley, its inrthcr rim en
veloped in a dainty gray mist, with lakes
here and there flashing in rays of silver.
Wooded bits, in many shades oi green, vary
the gold of the cultivated fields, and the
momentary glimpse makes one regret that
railroad officials deem it so essential to be
on time. I heard the lady from Massachu
setts avow:
"We shall come out here and spend a
week, at least"
She would not mind "getting off here in
the night." now that she has a knowledge
of the daylight magnificence. The taste has
so whetted her appetite for a full meal that
she realizes possible, nay, probable, happi
ness outside of her beloved Massachusetts.
Then, when we have reached the summit
and another valley is opened to us, surpass
ing, it would seem, the one we have left,
the felicity of the lady makes everyone else
in the car as blissful as herself. We soon
catch sight of the mountain brook, and from
this crystal line the hills slope gradually,
and it would seem that every foot of mother
earth here has been caressed by the
hand of the patient toiler. The mount
ain sides are resolved into a maze
of terraces, the maguey plant flour
ishes, and is made to do duty as borders
about the reddish fields; it appears in rows,
or is allowed to flourish at its own inclina
tion. Perched upon a hillside is a vill'ge,
with a chapel, ot course; a little further
down is another; still the chapel dominates
every other wall. The vicinity lays claim
to historic interest,and indeed, from here to
the sea, the country is one with a history
more prolific in horrors than any other por
tion of the broad continent. Even before
the advent of the Cross it was sad enongb,
if the Spanish chroniclers are to be believed;
but sorrow was intensified under the em
blem that was supposed to introduce peace
on earth and good will, if a tithe of the
modern historian's tale is true.
L. B. Eeance.
A PECULIAR EARTHQUAKE.
The City of Toklo Is Treated to Some Earth
Pulsations.
Japan MaU.l
An earthquake of the most unusual char
acter was recorded at 2:07:41 'p. M. on April
18 in the Seismological Observatory of the
Imperial University, Tokio. The peculiar
ity lies not in its violence, but in the ex
treme slowness of the oscillations. The -beginning
of the shock had all the character
istics of the ordinary earthquake, but grad
ually the motion augmented until at a cer
tain stage of the quake it reached 17 mm.,
but the ground swayed so gently that the
houses did not vibrate visibly, nor were our
senses alive to it. It took from four to
seven seconds to complete one forth and
back motion a most unusual phenomenon,
and one certainly never before noted in the
observatory. The motion was almost en
tirely confined to the horizontal plane and
mostly south and north, but there were s
few vertical motions of equally slow pe
riods. This state of things lasted for 10 min
utes, 36 seconds.
Prof. C. D. D. West, of the Engineering
College', observed the water in a small pond
in the compound to oscillate gently from
north to sonth. At one time the water level
fell about two inches on one side of the pood
and exposed the bank, while in another few
seconds the water Immersed it nearly to the
same depth,- exposing the opposite bank,
and this process continued for a quarter of
an hour. Slow oscillations of this nature
have been calted earth pulsations, and these
usually take place when there is a destruc
tive earthquake or a submarine disturbance
going on at a- great distance. Earth pulsa
tions are known to have caused slow oscil
lations of the water in lakes. From this
fact it may not be unreasonable to conjecture
that a terrestrial or submarine agitation
of unusual magnitude has taken place some'
where.
PLU0KI I0UNQ WHAT.
His
Gallant Fight With Indians Against
Overwhelming Odds. ,
Philadelphia Press. 1
Three days after the battle of White
river, in which the gallant Thornburgh lost
his life, Freeman Z. Wray, an 18-year-old
boy who was in charge of cattle 45 miles
north of White Biver Agency, was attacked
by a band of savages. He contrived to get
his rifle and to make so good defense that
they betook themselves to a ravine and be
sieged him at their leisure. After awhile
he got put of ammunition and was forced to
climb i nto a wagon to get a new supply.
While he was executing this movement,
a bullet struck him in the calf of the leg,
passing directly through. In an instant
more another ball caught him at the hip and
knocked him down. With a whoop and a
yell the savages ran toward the spot, ex
pecting to take their plucky foeprisoner.
But they were again foiled, for Wray was
only down temporarily, and getting to his
feet again, scrambled into the wagon where
lay his ammunition. He pulled.a sack of
flour in front ot him and pulled a bag of
beans on top of that and took hold of such
other articles within reach as made for him
a barricade against the promised shower of
bullets.
Bapldly cutting a hole in the canvas
wagon cover, he. saw the Indians approach
ing. Levelinghis rifle, he fired at the fore
most ot his pursuers, the ball taking effect.
This threw the Indians into a confusion,and
they retreated into the ravine. They threw
a hail storm of bullets into the wagon, and
one of these caught young Wray in the
right eye and lodged there. The Indians
finally retreated. Alter protracted delay
the boy's wounds were dressed and the balls
extracted, and after five mouths' nursing h$
seemed to be entirely well, although he lad
lost the use of one eye. One of the wounds
broke out afresh 18 months after the figi)t
and caused his death.
No Thought for the Morrow.
Clothier and Furnisher. 1
Undertaker Ala! madam, ycur poor
dead husband left no black clothes, and.
how can I lay him out witbont thesm
Bereaved widow now, if that ain't ju
lite tionn. no always was taHai
PITTSBURG- - DISEA.TGH,
BILL SIE'S. CIRCUS.
He Will Put a Mammdth Aggregation
of Attractions on the Boad.
A LONG AKD VARIED PROGRAMME.
Some Remarkable Features of a Strictly
Aristocratic Show.
A FEW WORDS ABOUT PRESS AGENTS
nVBITTEN FOE TUX DISPATCH. 3
Tis barely possible
that I may not be
able to keep up my
literary work for
several weeks at
least, owing to ne
'gotiations now
pending, and, in
fact, pretty well
settled, between the
parties, by the terms
of which I am to
go on the road as
the press agent for Mr. McAllister's circus.
At first he did not like-me personally, and
even now I do not think he really cares
very much for me, but he recognized my
ability after all, and saw that I would make
a good press agent for a circus, because I
was such a good word painter and grainer.
He saw that I could write up features of the
circus that the proprietors and spectators
were ignorant of, and that really make such
a thing a success, A press agent who is de
pendent solely upon facts and data is lost.
You cannot make a circus draw by just
simply giving a good show. You must
make the people feel that every hour before
the circus commences .is one of intense
agony. I do not yet know definitely
whether we will have a baby elephant in
arms or not We have not decided on that
yet, but will have other animals. We are
casting about now for names to give our
artists.
We have thought of a few and are looking
for others.
Suggestions will be received. We will
The Only Bang-Tailed Zebra.
also have an ontray about the first thing. It
will be a kind of equestrian frolic and horse
jubilee. Signor Wydepantz would have
charge ot the ontray. Ontray is a French
word and signifies a piazza or front entrance
to anything.
SOME ATXEACTIONS.
We have a number of good grass-fed
horses which will take part in the exercises.
They are safe horses and perfectly kind.
We shall introduce the celebrated perform
ing trick Norman none, Embongpong, who
will allow Signor Widepantz to ride him
around the ring with a package of blazing
firecrackers tied tp his tail.
Embongpong was born in captivity. He
will make his debut every afternoon and
evening, unless colio should break out in
his midst. We shall aim to keep faith with
the public, providing the breeching does not
become disarranged.
Some of our horses are speckled. The
press agent will drive a team in the proces
sion and will take care of Embongpong at
night Wait, for Ward McAllister's great,
big, red circus and take no other. In that
your, ticket admits you to the large tent,
with privileges of going around to the
horses' dressing room also.
Our route is not yet made out, but our
clown is. He is at work on some hand
pegged jokes for the season, and a song
which will have several want advertisements
in it It will consist of 30 verses and a re
frain. He hasan egg-proof mask, which he
will wear while delivering it.
The clown will be called on the bills
Birdie Pudd'nbag. He will wear grotesque
clothing and try to .engender mirth. His
real name I am not at liberty to give here.
Everybody taking part in the circus will do
so purely under stage name. Even the
great equestrian stallion, Petie, will not
give his true name. Music and peanuts
will pervade the air during the perform
ance. Gentlemanly, but pimply and
pampered young men, With rich efruscan
blood in their veins, will walk on the spec
tators and administer terra cotta lemonade
The Wonderful Bareback Jttder.
to those who may be athirst We shall aim
to elevate the cjreus, even as the Manhattan
stockholders have elevated the road.
COURTESIES EXCLUDED.
The grass fed filly Finecnt, owned by Mr.
Lorillard, will take part in the ontray! She
will be accompanied by the bay mare Cus
pidoor. It has been decided to place the
ontray almost at the top ot the performance.
I wau't to say right here that the press of the
country will be looked out for. I will see
to that myself. Any man or boy who will
show a printer's rule at the djor can get in.
I will even allow the rule to be shoved out
through the tent for those who have no rule,
or, in extreme cases, I will suspend the
rules.
I desire, howeves, to warn all friends of
the press not to fool with our clown or reply
to any oi his sallies, for' he will humiliate
them in the presence of their friends. He
is English in his style of ring humor, if I
may be allowed that little pleasantry at the
expense of onr clown, and his jokes, if they
fall from a sufficient height, will crush the
life out of anybody. So do not tamper with
our clown. He has a scathing style of re
ply and a pile driving mirth that come
home to our hearts with crushing force.
He has also a hearty laugh which
enables him to be absolutely inde
pendent of outside indorsement The
audience can join him in silvery laugh
ter or not.- It Is not material. He is above
craving the co-operation of people who are
cawse. Mr. McAllister has told him that
he is funny and so bo will supoly his own
laughter in all the smaller towns.
The .press will be- sa ted. where, lna&te,
this'elowaj.stwld be skppe4,aywt.by-tbe
iiJBI itfl&
Tt
BdNDAT, JUNE 9,
Arabian horse Embongpong, and killed
they will get a good view of the calamity.
We cordially invite the press to come
early and converse with the woman who has
the iron jaw. Her Tantivy stage name
will be Mile. LeBIanc Ety Blanc. She
will hold conversaziones with the press
from a. m. the forenoon, to p. m, the
afternoon. During the street pageant she
will ride an open chariot with a large, wilt
ed boa constrictor in her bosom. The bedaz
zled and bedizened street pageant will suc
cessfully knock large rectangular chunks
from the fame of other shows. We do not
commit the folly of running three or four
rings and a case-knife-swallowing contest
at the same time. One good performance
on all the time, is good enough tor ordinary
people and we cannot pander to the oblique
tastes of a cross-eyed minority.
I-LEASE EECIPEOCATE
The press will please make copious notes
and call the attention of the people to onr
refined show. Nothing put of character
will be permitted, and even our wild beasts
will have to conform to the rules of etiquette
or quit and go home.
We shall introduce the only living zebra
that has ever had his tail banged in captiv
ity. The widow of the man who did it will
travel with us.
There will be a choice minstrel perform
ance in the ring, after the regular perform
ance isover, and highly cultivated young
men will step on the audience and refer to
it occasionally, standing in front of the
spectators whenever the bare back rider
falls off, in order to obscure the vision and
hide the embarrassment of the management.
The highly accomplished and almost
human intelligence of the mare Robert
Elsmere, will be a feature ot the afternoon
and evening performances. She will be ac
companied by her most recent colt, Mr.
Barnes of New York. They will be driven
bv the well-known bare back savant,
Sylvester VanAmburger, Jr., of Little
Firth avenue. He will drive the mare and
trust to the colt's better nature to follow.
Is it asking too much for me to request
the public to wait for our show? Will the
press aid me in calling the attention of our
besjt.people to this wonderful aggregation of
artistio merit, combined with rich, navy
blue blood which courses through the veins
of every performer and every employe?
Even our stake drivers and canvas men are
thoroughly refined, and come from good old,
decrepit families.
DENNIS, THE LION TAMEE.
Wewill also have a lion tamer whose
stage name will be-Dennis. He will quell
the haughty spirit of the lion and lioness by
his wonderful will power and matchless
clothes. We also have a bright young un
derstudy who will succeed to the place in
case Dennis should fall up in his lines
while insertinghishand in the lion's mouth.
We have not done all of our printing yet,
but it will be highly ornamental and yet in
perfect taste. Mr." McAllister and I will
unite our efforts to refine and elevate the
circus, as I say, and make it take high rank
with the best people. To do this we are
straininz every nerve and sparing no ex
pense. We will ransack the gilded palaces
of New York for contortionists. We will
search the homes of wealth and luxury for
bare back riders. We will enter the abode
of magnificence in search of candy butchers
and canvas men. We will climb the tallest
family tree on Manhattan Island in search
of curiosities for our menagerie.
Let me say again that the press will bep
looked out for. Come both afternoon and'
evening. Come early and stay till after
the minstrel performance. Visit the side
show, as you will have ample time before
the large show commences. Test your
lungs by means of the lung tester. Come
and listen to the zephyrs soughing through
the whiskers of the bearded lady. .Come,
gentlemen of the press, and give yourselves
up to the keenest enjoyment
We hope to do some of the seaside resorts
with our circus, and will show, also, in the
Adirondacks several times, if we meet with
no mishaps.
The animals will be fed morning and
Dennis, the Lion Tamer.
evening. The snakes only on Tuesdays and
Fridays.
GOEGEOUS COSTUMES.
Some of our ring costumes will be very
attractive. Signor Widepantz will wear
pink steamer trunks nd pale blue hose,
flesh colored shirt and spitz whiskers.
Birdie Pudd'nbag will wear in the ring a
pair of heavy-set check red trousers with
French yoke and sleeves. He will sing a
song in a hoarse voice.
The dashing equestrienne, Mile, de
Plunc, will wear 6hrimp pink satin short
skirt, mosquetaire tights and lavender
bodice, cut decollette, filled in with real
point lace Hunter's Point lace.
The lion tamer will wear a haughty mein,
a Kussia iron blazer and tin overalls. He
will submit his head to a cod liver oil
shampoo and Limburger cheese .massage
treatment before inserting it in the liou's
joyous smile. This is said to go farther
toward quelling a lion who has been out
late the night before than any other moral
suasion known to zoology.
We have a man abroad at present looking
for a complete outfit of aggressive lions and
Boft-voiced parakeets. New fangs have
been put into the lions on hand, and our
old tigers have been refitted and refurnished
throughout This show will be full of nov
elties and it will contain the cream of New
York society. No matter what the quality
of our audiences, it cannot show up with
that of our performances. Grace, beauty,
blood, breeding and a fine stud of grass-fed
horses will characterize the ring, pure, rich,
unctuous humor will mark the efforts of the
clown, and overflowing urbanity, from first
to last, will characterize our treatment of
the press.
We have recently upholstered our rich
press seats, and a pillow slip filled with bay
will give a feeling of delirious comfort to
the worn and weary opinion molder.
BrxiiNrE, Press Agent.
P. S. Enquire for me at the door, or at
the tail gate of the tioket wagon. I will
not be there, however. I will be in the
next town, where the press agent always is
when yon want to get in. B. N.
STfiAXGER THAN FICTION.
Tho Wonderful Case of a Retired Clergy
man and a Collar Button.
Burdetteln the Brooklyn Eagle. l
A retired clergyman, the sands of whose
life have nearly run out, writes to us as
follows: "In the year 1879 I was pastor of
a church in Herkimer. One Sabbath, hav
ing made a call upon a parishioner who
was very ill, I was detained in my prepar
ations lor the morning service, and just as
the second bell was ringing a collar button
which I was endeavoring to force through a
new three-ply linen collar, exceedingly stiff
and with rather a small button hole slipped
from my fingers and fell to the floor. Cast
ing my eyes in the direction which it would
naturally take, I saw the button lying in
plain view close to my foot, just where I ex
pected to see it. I picked it up, fastened
my collar with little or na trouble, and
leisurely walking to the church arrived
there iu ample time, not in the least excited
or harried, and conducted .the services as
uaal."A j'Ihe tarings of this pWwvatioa
toys fo tae.appueawws e iWj
1889.
LIFE Df THE C0DHTET.
Why Some City People Are Not Ben
efited by a Summer Outing.
THE TAMERS OP THE FARM WELL.
A Little Peep Into the Cellars of Some Old
. Homesteads.
TH IDEAL C0UNTEI EES1DENCE.
rwErrrajr toe thi dispatch. 3
I am requested by the editor of this paper
to give my views on the- sanitary aspects of
the country as compared with the city.
On such a subject broad generalizations
are dangerous. Whether a person is better
off in the city or country depends, in Buch
case, upon where and how he lives. Many
city people who go to the country for a more
or less protracted stay during the summer
season receive no benefit from the chanee:
-some of them select a locality which is ma
larious, or, in some way unhealthy, while
others, 'owing to over exertion and impru
dent habits in regard to eating and drink
ing, receive barm rather than benefit from
the change.
It has been observed that typhoid and
malarial fevers are prevalent in cities in the
autumn, and chiefly among those persons
who have been enioving a rural vacation.
During the fall of 1888 the chief inspector
of the bureau of contagious diseases of the
New York Health Department investigated
146 cases of typhoid fever in New York, be
tween Twenty-third and Forty-second streets.
Of these 72 had been away from New York
during the preceding 30 days, and 34of them
had been in places known to be infected with
typhoid fever. Seventy-five had not been
away from the city, so far as conld be
learned. Some of the cases were caused by
rSIPUEE WAXES.
Four cases, occurring in boys, were traced
to their habit ot bathing daily in the East
river, near the month of a sewer, on a line
of which several cases of typhoid fever ex
isted. Many city people seem to think that if
you can only get ont into the free open
country breathe the fresh air and run
around in the green fields, you will be sure
to gain health. This is by no means neces
sarily true. The fresh air may be laden
with fever, and the gr,een fields may cover
up a pestilence. I suppose that typhoid
fever is most frequently propagated by con
taminated well water. Dr. Edson, of the
Board of Health, has said that scarcely a
well existed in the country the water from
wnicn is sate to arinE. Tne water is con
taminated through the proximity of the out
house which the unenlightened countryman
sinks near the well so that both may be con
venient to his back door. He wants to "save
steps" and so the well, the cess-pool or blind
drain, the barnyard and the pig-sty are all
grouped so conveniently together that the
waterof the well is sure to be contaminated.
Sometimes the well water is poisoned by
the entrance of kitchen slops thrown on the
ground near the well, and sometimes dis
ease is caused by the leakage of a badly
constructed wooden drain, which has become
decayed and ceased to answer its original
purpose. It must he remembered, too, thati
when the water is contaminated by solutions
filtering through the earth from above there
is no safety, as some people may imagine,
from a driven well; the impure water will
still be raised up. The Michigan State
Board of Health recommend as the cheap
est and most desirable the wells that are
constructed by means of a well auger, which
can bore from 25 to 60 feet in a day; the well
is lined with glazed tile or pipe, cemented
at their joints ny water lime cement When
the well has been lined, a filter is made by
throwing in coarse sand and washed gravel
to the depth of 15 to 20 inches; the top is
securely closed with stone laid in cement
In such a well contamination by soil water
would be completely avoided, and if the
water oame from below a stratum of considerable-density
it would remain uninflu
enced by the local impurities of the region
much longer tnan it drawn irom an ordi
nary dug well.
CELLAES IN THE COUNTET.
Whether cellars are necessary to the
health of country houses depends, I think,
very much upon circumstances the site,
soil and many other conditions peculiar to
the house selected for a habitation. An
open air space under the floor is often better,
cleaner and dryer than the cellars we find
under country houses. A few years ago
Mr. Henry F. French prepared a special
article for the Massachusetts Board of
Health on cellars. He wrote that in many
of the fine old country houses in Massachu
setts (and in other States as well) no pro
vision is made tor the draining of the cellar,
and that every three or four years it is cov
ered with water to the depth of two or three
feet, which remains for several weeks. In an
old farm house cellar which has been in use
50 years there have been stored the potatoes,
turnips, cabbages, onions and other vegeta
bles for family use. The milk and cream,
the pork and beef, the cider and vinegar
have met with various accidents and have
had their juices absorbed by the soil of the
cellar. The cats have been there to fight
the rats and mice. When the water is'in
the cellar it makes a broth of all three in-
often lifting the carpet from the floors, and
is breathed day and night by those who
dwell In the house. Above all, cellars
should be carefully ventilated and thor
oughly drained. If the owner has not suffi
cient knowledge to attend to these matters
himself he should employ an expert to do
the work for him.
THE SUITMEB BESIDENCE.
In selecting a residence I should want a
house on a knoll or rise of the ground with
good natural drainage in all directions.
Shade trees are very desirable, but they
should, if possible,- be near the house and
not over it Nothing compensates for the
absence ot sunshine in and about a house.
Clinging vines on the little rural cottage or
the stately old country mansion may nave
a very picturesque appearance, bntthey al
ways induce'dampness, and dampness leads
to prosaic rheumatism.
Cleanliness in all outbuildings on the
country farm is absolutely necessary. The
barn and its surroundings should not be too
near the dwelling, and preferably on a lower
level. Whether the well is without pollu
tion can onlv be determined by1 a proper
analysis. The earth closet should take the
place of the more ancient abomination, the
out-house, bnilt over a hole in the ground.
The dwelling should have plenty of sun
shine upon and around it, and better care
should be taken of the water used in the
kitchen than is usuallyconsidered necessary
in the country. There is no donbt that one
might ride a good many miles before finding
a country boarding place which would pass
a critical sanitary inspection. However,
the same can probably be said of the city
dwellings the health seekers have left be
hind them. The subject of rural hygiene
would, of course, fill a book; I am only
touching generally on a few important
points.
In regard to this matter of summer vaca
tions the question is often asked whether or
not people who remain in the city during
the warm season are not, after all, quite as
well off as their brothers and sisters who go
into the country. As a rule, they are cer
tainly more comfortable, and comtort if not
carried to the point of laziness and slothful
ness, certainly conduces to health. A per
son who lives in a healthful, convenientnnd
well appointed city house is better of if he
remains in it than if he exchanges these
surroundings for a less health ml environ
ment in the country. This, ol course, is
one of those obvious truths which can be
classed among the platitudes.' The princi
pal advantages of a country residence are
found in rest and change. It should be
beneficial to the city resident, and usually
is. X presume that 0 per cent of the peo
ple who go away from NewTorkin summer
flrfl-mnre lir Iaoa fanifftfl t liadvaai miiul
AswwwilwiTWBWMif.Miewefte.wgt'K
i
I
easy to overdo even so good a thing as'recre
ation. Over-fatigue and undue exposure to
the sun, irregular eating, overfeeding on
food to which one is unaccustomed, sitting
or lying on the ground and unnecessary ex-
Iposure to the dew and dampness after night-
lau are an to be avoided by people wno
value health.
SPEINO WATEB.
I believetbat many city people sow the
seeds of disease in their systems by drink
ing spring water indiscriminately. Sprint.
water often looks crystal clear aid the'l
gcuai presumption is mat it must oe
pure, but, it must be remembered, as the
water has been filtered through the earth
it becomes impregnated with various sub
stances. How pure it is depends upon the
strata of earth through which it passes.
The want of sanitary precautions will pol
lute a well; it will also contaminate a
spring. Clear brooks sometimes supply
good water; running streams are liable to
contain vegetable matter or animal re ruse
washed into them by tne heavy rains.
When country places become more popu
lated and factories are started the seeds of
disease are pretty sure to crop out, owing to
the pollution wrought by chemicals, or from
other causes.
Simple tests are sometimes published in
the newspapers for the analysis of water. I
do not think a layman can rely on the result
of such tests. Water analysis is one of the
most difficult and delicate processes in the
whole range of chemistry. Such work, should
be done by a professional expert, whose
opinion may well be worth the 510 or $20
ne will charge for it According to Prof.
C. F. Chandler many persons-have a notion
that a chemist cm take a substance like wa
ter apart, like a telescope, putting one con
stituent in this saucer and another in that
one. Prof. Chandler says "the germs of dis
ease are invisible. We can simply say tnat
certain peculiarities found' in water, sup
posed to have produced typhoid and other
zymotio diseases are present You may take
it as a rule that, unless your cesspool is as
tight as a bottle the sewage will find its way
to your own or your neighbor's well."
PBUDENCE NECESSABY.
But the danger of contracting sickness in
the countrv can be almost entirely avoided
by good judgment and prudence in guard
ing against known or probable dangers.
Good rules are useless unless intelligently
applied, and are more likely to be mislead
ing than helpful. In a general way it may
be said that the ideal conditions of sanitary
excellence in country honses are very rarely
found, and when found are usually at vari
ance with preconceived notions. The fine
old country homestead, surrounded by tall
shade trees, is seldom a safe place for one
not inured to its conditions by long ex
perience with them. Such houses are com
monly a mass of rotting wood saturated
with dampness, moldy and generally
unwholesome. Their ancient wells are more
than likely to be poll n ted by equally an
cient local nuisances. They are, as a
rule, bad places for children, es
pecially infants who cannot run the
fields and climb the hills and so gain the
health and vigor which will enable them to
resist the unwholesome influences ot bad
in-door surroundings. Summer hotels and
boarding houses are , no better than the
old homestead,unleBs they are supplied with
impure water or unwholesome food.
Where to go is a question largely answered
by circumstances. The summer sojourner
should study the general topography of the
country and should be able to learn much
from the medical records of the locality.
What he shall do when he gets there shall
be determined by the exeroise of good sound
common sense. It is a safe rule to keep out
of doors as much aspossible,exercising mod
erately and avoiding fatigue, eating simple
food at regular intervals, avoiding water
from sources open to suspicion, and getting
plenty of sleep. Under these circumstances
the chances are largely in favor of benefit
to result from the change. Further than
this generalizations are unsafe.
J. O. Bayles.
MEDICAL ETHICS,.
Be Got tho Kind of AdrertlalncIIe Wasn't
Looking For. Q
American Cultivator.:
Some years since, in a certain town "out
West" it became necessary in a surgical
case than an amputation of a limb should
be made. The ''regular" doctors in the
country nowadays are great sticklers
for the observance of the code of
ethics, and this code discountenances
advertising ic all its forms. All the same,
the surgeon in the smaller places rarely
performs even the most trivial operation
without accidentally dropping a word or
two in the hearing of the local reporter, and
should the paper chance to say that "Tom
Jones fooled with a buzz saw, Dr. Pilbox
dressed the wound, and Lane is doing as
well as could be expeoted under the doctor's
skillful treatment," why, of course, the
doctor can't help that. He is very much
annoyed, to be sure, but the thing is done.
At the amputation above mentioned were
present Drs. A, B, C, and D, and the enter
prising newsgather for the Weekly Bustler
found the operation a veritable bonanza for
his paper, and wrote it up in great style.
Unfortunately he omitted the name ot 'old
Dr. D from his account, and the old doctor
upon meeting him a few days later, "turnea
him over" in great shape for nis alleged
discourtesy. The newspaper man made
every apology and promised faithfully to
make amends in the Hustler of the week
following, and this is the way in which he
did it: "In onr account of the amputation
in Jast week's issue we inadvertently
omitted the name of Dr. D. We have since
been informed that the doctor was one of
the leading snrgeons in the case and assisted
very materially in the operation. The
patient died last night at 8 o'clock."
War He Hates 'Em.
Tene Haute Express.
Miss Pyrte What makes yon such a con
firmed woman-hater, Mr. Olebach.
Mr. Olebach Weil, when I was a young
man a woman made a fool of me.
Miss Pyrte And you never got over it?
BILE POISONED BLOOD.
Nearly every one is occasionally troubled
with bilious attacks," more especially in the
spring months, after the svstem has been sur
feited with hearty food during the winter. The
action of the Liver Is interfered with, causing
an overflow of bile Into the blood. The blood
carries this bile Into every part of the system,
causing yellow skin, yellow eyes, liver spots,
etc, and often serious cases of billons fever
originate from this bile poisoned blood. A
few doses of Burdock Blood Bitters, taken on
appearance of bilious symptoms, wUl remove
them and protect the system from a probable
serious attack.
Ron Dawn In tho Sortno.
I am using Burdock Blood Bit
ters for Sick Headache and Bil
iousness. It is the best medicine 1
ever took. I was so run down this
spring from overwork that my
husband urged me to Fee a doctor.
I was scarcely able to stand and
concluded to try B. B. Bittersfirst;
the flr3t bottle is not yet finished,
but I can go about my work with
pleasure already. I shall take an
other bottle.
Mbs. John Bonnellt,
care of Edwabd Doolet,
IS Lyman Street, Springfield,
Mass.
I tell yon for the benefit of oth
ers what Burdock Blood Bitters
has done for me. I have been a
sufferer for years from Liver Com
plaint and weak stomach. At
times I was so bad that I would
apply to onr family physician for
relief, which would be buttempor
ary.Last falll had an unusually bad
spell. My mother bought a bottle
of Burdock Blood Bitters, and it
(rave me ereat relief. -It helped
f!fefNfllii
1
BOTTLE
Will Relievo
a
Clogged Liver
and Cleanse
Bile Poisoned
Blood.
me more than anything I have"
ever lasen. n is aiso excellent
for constipation. Mrs. Lizzie
GBtlBB,Ickesbnrg. Perry Co., Pa.
I LA3I SK-HINU,
Vat spring my ntaltli Decatr.o verypo
ioor. I
hadUoAppetitcand my liver troubled mc. I
used.vevflral medicines, bnt obtained no relief
.untlL'I wm finally persuaded to try Burdock
B3o
-.u.n amiwag iu.ci ixic.
Matjb fmh
m
FLORIDA WED HOGS!
Vicious Little Man-Eaters, Whose Ma
tures Know Ko Fear.
THE ALLIGATOR'S CHIEF ENEMY.
They Infest the Wild3 of Southern Florida,
and Are a Source of
TEEEOE TO HDSTEB AND 21 ATIYE ALIEB
rwMTTE FOB THX DISPATCB.1
One of the many terrors that theNorthera
huntsman has to deal with ln Southern
Florida is the ferocious wits ji. 'So one
who has not encountered this animal can
appreciate its thorough "cussedness." They
are among the fiercest animals that inhabit
the wilds of any land, although but little is
known of them right here in our own coun
try. The wild hog of Florida will attack
anything; he seems to fear nothing, and is
by great odds a bolder fighter than the bear.
There is nothing foxy about him. He does
not possess any of the traits ot the coyote or'
wolf, but will march- fearlessly into
a fight, alone, unaided and with
the odds against him. When as
sailed he becomes a fiend incarnate
and will attack anything from a cougar to
an alligator. He has none of the fear
which the latter possesses; and while he
keeps away from the cavernous jaws of the
alligator as much as possible, yet he does
not tear to assail him, and il on dry land,
will swoop down upon the alligator without
the slightest provocation, and the chances
are that in less than an hour's time there
will not be a shred of the alligator left to
tell of the terrible conflict, except the hide
and skull.
THE HUNTEB'3 TOE.
The huntsman would rather run into a
school ofsleeping, 'man-eating alligators, or
a den of rattlesnakes, than take his chances
with the hog. He is by far the most danger
ous foe that a hunter can encounter in the
wilderness. If he stumbles upon a pack of
them unknowingly he is, nine times out of
ten, a dead hunter. Even should he succeed
in killing any of them, he does not escane.
, for their dismal death portending howls
poon bring reinforcements by the dozen.
They attack the hunter atall points. While
some are snarling and snapping at his legs,
others are springing upon him from all
sides, some have him bythe throat, and
others are upon his arms. To shake them
off is an utter impossibility. It cannot be
done. Soon the hunter becomes weak, and
siriks to the ground lrom utter exhaustion.
When this stage arrives, the balance is com
paratively easy work for the hog, and the
sportsman soon shares the same fate as the
luckless alligator. Their teeth are small
and as sharp as a razor, and they have been
known to gnaw at a tree lor hours in their
mad efforts to
APPEASE THEIE HUNOEB.
Should a hunter be fortunate enough on
running across them to have a good-sized
tree within easy distance, he 'may save his
life by taking to it, but he Is even then in a
bad way. The hogs are bound to scent him
out, and as soon as they do they are sure to
range themselves abont the base of the
tree and remain therd for hours,
until hunger compels them to start in search
ot pabulum. Even then tne old-timers will
notleave until they have thoroughly shown
their disgust by champing their foaming
jaws at the fugitive: and their little eves.
L full of malice, seem to snap sparks of fero-
cionsnre. Jbor anortnerner wbo contem
plates hunting in South Floridal would ad
vise him to steer clear af the everglades, un
less accompanied by an experienced native,
who knows the haunts of these maneaters
and how to contend with them. C. D, H.
THE BPEEI) OF A BULLET.. L
The Subject Treated to tho Satisfaction of
tho Average Header.
Fhuadelnhla Kecord.1
How fast does a bullet travel? If it is in
proper shape for traveling,-Colonel Flag
ler and his officers say it ought to go
at the rate of 1,275 feet a second upon
leaving the rifle. This matter of speed
is very important, and if a cartridge is
kfive or ten feet too fast or too slow the
quantity of powder must be changed. ThU
matter of speed is tested in a very interest
ing way. At the northern end of the arse
nal grounds is a long wooden shed, in
which a distance of 100 feet has been care
fully marked off. At either end of this
space is a stand something like a target with
a large circular opening where the bull's-eye
would be Across each opening is stretched
a small electric wire connected with a deli
cate instrument in another room.
The rifle from which the firing is done is
so aimed that the bullet which Met from it
cuts both wires. Obviously the difference
in time between the cutting of the first and
of the second wire will mark the speed of
the bullet through 100 feet The measure-
ment of this brief space of time is done by
an instrument of French invention called
the Boulinge chronograph. When the first
wire is cut an electric circuit is broken and
a rod which is suspended from a magnet
falls a short distance, touching in its de
scent a point which makes a mark on its
side. The breaking of the second wire lets
drop a second smaller rod in the same way.
By means of the difference in the marks on
the rods it impossible to estimate the differ
ence in the time of their falling, and from
this the speed of the bullet per second. This
is a provision for detecting any error, and
nearly absolute accuracy is secured.
An Uncommonly Prettr Frofesaor.
The new Professor of Pathology at the
venerable University of Bologna is Sig
norina Giuseppina Cattani, an uncommonly
pretty young lady of profound scholarship
U you suffer from Headache, Nausea, Diziz
ness, Faintncss, Alternate Costiveness and'
Diarrhoea, Yellow Complexion, Weakness, Ach
ing Shoulders or any other symptom of bilious
ness or Liver Complaint procure a bottle or
B. B. B., which will correct the clogged condi
tion of the Liver, cleanse the Mood of all Im
purities and tone up the entire system. It is
an acknowledged fact by all who have used
BURDOCK BLOOD BITTEHS THAT OSE
BOTTLE CONTAINS MORE CUBATIVB
PROPERTIES THAN GALLONS Or ANY
OTHEB MEDICINE KNOWN.
A Horrible Condition.
Iwasfn a horrible condition from
dyspepsia and a combination of other
complaints. In the morning when I
got ont or bed it seemed as if I conld
notstand np on acconnt o dizziness.
Hearing Bnrdock Blood Bitters high
ly recommended, I am now using the
first bottle, and, although not having
used quite a full bottle, the dizziness
has entirely disappeared and I am
much better of my other complaints.
I have tried many other medicines,
with no relief.
Mbs. Mart Chauscet,
625 E. Ransom sfcr Kalamazoo. Mich.
I had been troubled with-LIv
Complaint, Indigestion and Palpi,
tion ot the Heart for five or'six yews
yews 1
and could get nothing to aa me-'aar
bottles and now I am a sound rawli;
reel better than 1 ever am in my.ljffc'.
Mv dlffestion became all right andif..
pave no more trouble with ray beMC
I feel very gratefal toward B. BL'B.
and feel like recommendine It every.
where. Yours respectfully, Fxast
Hickhaw, New Sttaitsvflk Perry
C(x,Obio. , ' '
THISSPRINO.
I have been ta'.ins Burdock Blood Bitters
and using it in my family this spring For
tnree ye.irs i nave nau tne uy.pepsia. I'rot a
bottle or two of your Bitters and they have
cured see, and I never felt better in ay fife: It
ia a safe wwfof dyspejelaaad kat Mtlclne
. BLB.. I
Z.L&. . i-tjtf-'VsJarJ?'
.Vfc,.
BV