THE PITTSBURG DISPATCH
SECOND PART.
INTO THE INTERIOR
The Scientific Expedition
Penetrates Africa.
SLAYEEY IN A NEW FOBM.
The Vices and Superstitions Peculiar
to the Katives.
JEBOCITI OP THE CROCODILES
rCOKEEEPONDSKCK Or THE DISIM.TCH.1
Cte TOWN, S. Africa, February 22.
KB of the kindnesses on
the part of the Governor
of the ProTince of An
gola, referred to in my
last letter, wai the pre.
Bentation of railroad
passes to those of the
scientific expedition,
who remained at St.
Paul de Iiounda, These
were available lor an
the time we should
spend in the province.
Saturday, December 14,
was the day agreed
when the naturalist and
anthropologist, accom
panied by assistants,
should start for the in
terior. At 10 o'clock
on the previous even
ing word reached us from the railroad su
perintendent that a special train would be
ready to take us and our baggage, of which
there were many hundred pounds at 6 in
the morning. We arose early and three ox
carts were secured. Tank after tank of al
cohol, boxes of arsenic, photographic out
fits, rifles, guns and ammunition; quinine
and other fever preventatives and remedies
were loaded on them to be taken to our
special train which stopped at the crossing
of the street near us.
"We are behind, the oxen are slow and
ore urged by the goads of the sticks in the
hands of the native drivers. In a few min
utes the cars are reached and the unloading
ot the carts and loading of the cars finished.
But we now notice that there are only two
coaches preent for the rest of the special
train has gone farther ahead to receive
freight (a special train, remember).
Of course, you being an American
would say wait for the locomotive
to come back for our coaches; but this is a
Portuguese railroad, in a Portuguese coun
try, so all hands, including less than a dozen
natives, will unite and
TUSH THE COACHES
up to the rest of the train. It is up grade,
but we can, by hard work, keep going very
slowly and in time reach the train ahead.
This part of our special train numbers over
a dozen cars, some of which are filled with
coal and other freight At 7:30 we start and
are soon going 15 miles per hour, with amo
tion which anyone who has ridden in the
caboose of an American freight train will
recognize. The road is narrow gauge, the
rails being three feet three inches apart, and
is as, so not very smsoth. The country
along the railroad is mostly level, with
patches of woods here and there And tall
Brass everywhere. Many of the trees are
quite beautiful the cactus or euphorbia
tree, for example. Groves of these are olten
seen, and a vague idea of their appearance
may perhaps be obtained from the cut here
given.
Then there are the famous baobab trees,
with their huge triangular trunks and
whitish bark, distinguishable for a consider
able distance. It is these trees in which
monkeys delight to dwell and eat of the
fruit, as I am told. The mango and cocoa
nut, loaded with their splendid iruit, are
common, as also is the cajou or cashew tree.
The fruit of this latter tree is very pleasant
and relreshing, and is much enjoved by all
people I know of no fruit to which it can
be compared. Its acid has a peculiar taste,
Caclut or Euphorbia Trees.
and is regarded quite healthy. The soil
along the railroad varies in color from a
dark reddish to a black. Much of it ap
pears to be rich, but almost none is culti
vated. Many birds, both large and small,
attracted our attention, because of their
beautiful plumage and sweet singing.
SLAVERY STILL EXISTS.
The first stop that we made was at ajsmall
village where considerable salt is mined.
Upon noticing a large yard surrounded by
a high fence and containing as many as 40
email houses arranged in two rows, I in
quired what they were. The reply of a rail
road official present was that they were
slave houses, and he invited me to go and
see them.
"But slavery is forbidden by law in An
gola, and how can these be slave houses ?"
I asked.
"They don't call them slaves, but they
really are," was the substance of his reply
in rather broken English. "They volun
tarily hire themselves by contract loraterm
of years," said he.
"Are thev in any sense free or are they
wholly under the control of the man to
whom they hire?"
The answer was that they are entirely sub
ject to the command of their master, and
have no liberty whatever. I speak upon this
point at tome length, because of the facts
that the Government of Portugal has passed
a law absolutely forbidding slavery in all of
its provinces, and that the officials of An
gola always strenuously deny the existence
of slaverv in this province whenever oppor
tnnitv offers.
Shortly after leaving this station we
reached the village of Qmfangondo. Here
we observed a large crowd of natives stand
ing under some trees several hundred yards
awav, and we judged it to be market day.
Very soon, however, our attention was
drawn to a number' of natives who rushed
up to our car, and with numerous gestures
so characteristic of the "West Coast Alricans
exclaimed "caymen" a word which we did
not men understand. But we 'knew that
tbey had something to show us, so we fol
lowed to the crowd.
A CAPTIVE CROCODILE.
Here we found a large crocodile, fully 15
feet long, chained to a tree. This creature
had been trapped in some way during the
night, and as the crocodiles are a terror to
the natives and the Government pays a
bounty for every one caught, the capture ot
this one was a matter of public interest
This was evident from the excitement and
pleasure displayed by the satires of the vil
0
mmmaAM
lage as they stood close bv gazing at the
huije animal so much dreaded by them.
One o'clock saw us at Cnbiri station,
where were we took a much desired break
fast Five hours later we reached the end
of the first division of the railroad so we
were obliged to camp here for the night
There were six of us, and all were tired, so
the question of the necessity of guarding
the camp during the night arose. The
recollection of a retnsal of some natives to
carry a man's baggage alter dark be
caue of the fear of the dangerous African
buffalo, the reports that wolves, jackals and
hyenas prowled around about and the pres
ence of some 50 natives near us, assisted in
the decision that it was necessary to hold
watch. The night was divided into six
watches of 1 hours each and the watch of
each man was determined bv lot My
watch was the first, so at 9 o'clock I took my
stand armed with a large revolver and lully
determined to shoot any man or animal that
shonld molest us. All others retired.
Everything is qniet Only the jibbering
of natives is heard. The dew falls fast and
soon everything is fairly wet. Meanwhile
I put on a rubber coat and carefully place
my revolver in the outside pocket It is
strange what a friend a revolver seems to be
under certain circumstances. I march around
the tent keeping a sharp lookout "What do
I hear? A low noise which may be that of
some animaL I look cautiously about and
listen. The noise increases and seems to ap
proach. I am ready for the enoonnter and
wait The noise does approach, but I see
nothing. It is close around me. Still I
see nothing. Presently I feel a stinging
bite upon my hand, another upon my lace.
I soon discover that the offenders are mos
quitoes. THE AFRICAN MOSQUITO.
And they were mosquitoes, African mos-
SIjj5 R5
QUARTERS OP THE
quitos. O how they buzz and bite. During
the remainder of my watch I heard nothing
but the buzz of these pests and
the noise made by the men in
tbe tent fighting them. After being
relieved from the watch I filled the tent
with smoke in order to drive out the mos
quitoes, I retired and covered myseJf over
with two thicknesses of netting, fully be
lieving that I should not be annoyed. But
alas, how mistakenl I could not sleep, not
because of any bites, but because of the con
tinual buzzing on the netting. It seemed
as if they were tugging at the netting, trying
to remove it This continued all night Hot a
man of us will ever forget that night Not
one slept for a minute during the whole
time. In addition to the attacks of mos
quitoes, fleas or some other equally trouble
some insect managed to bite each of us, in
spite of all the precautions we could tate.
In the morning it was necessary to have
our luggage taken over the gap between
the two divisions of the railroad to the next
division, where we were informed a train
would be ia waiting to convey us to Cunga,
the present terminus oi the road. By 2
o'clock carriers were engaged, and we said a
glad larewell to "mosquito camp." We
lound the train, and Cunga was reached
after 6 o'clock, when camp was set up on
two flat cars. During the night a heavy
rain tell, and little rest was secured. "We
were up early Monday morning, and took a
survey ot our surroundings. A few feet
south was the Quauza river. On all other
sides was a very heavy vegetation, includ
ing thick woods, in which were many beau
tiful birds.
WEATHER OF THE COAST.
"We were told that the summer season was
just coming on, but it certiinlv seemed to be
already at hand. " A lew words can give a
correct idea of the climate of the "West Coast
of Africa. The sun is never seen to rise be
cause of the cloudy sky. "While the clouds
remain it is cool, and one can move about
with comfort, but about 10 o'clock every
morning the sun appears and the heat is
then intense until 4 in the afternoon, when
it again becomes cool. In the evening a
breeze usually springs up, so that it is com
fortable for the night A very heavy dew
always forms during the night, and all na
ture is so wet by morning that you are likely
to suppose rain fell.
Our party remained at Cunga for two
weeks, during which time the naturalist
made large collections 'offish birds, insects
and a few large animals. Game is plenti
ful in this vicinity, but time is necessary in
order to secure many large animals. The
Quanza river is the home of many croco
diles and the bathing place of numbers or
hippopotami. The crocodiles are very bold,
and often attract persons who go near the
edge of the water. Scarcely a week passes
that several natives do not lose their lives
at Cunga by being caught by these animals.
I remember upon one occasion, when pass
ing in a cauoe a few native houses along the
river, hearing a loud voice which sounded
like the wailing of a woman. It was very
similar to that I had heard at a native fun
eral a few days previous, and suspected a
death had occurred here. Upon inquiry of
the natives who were paddling the canoe I
learned, through many gestures and few
words, that a woman had been killed by a
crocodile. I had the canoe stopped, and
went up to the houses. Here I saw women
with painted faces, dancing and uttering
undescriabble wails.
IN THE JAWS OF A CBOCODILE.
Again gestures were brought into use, and
the house containing the body was discov
ered. "Upon entering I was shown the body
of a woman, with several large lacerations
upon the chest, the women present at the
same time exclaiming the native word for
crocodile. I afterward learned from men
who could speak English that on ths even
ing before a woman had gone to the edge of
the river to fill a jug with water, and as she
stooped over, a crocodile grabbed her in its
month and started for the opposite bank.
When it came near the middle of the river
it raised its head above the water and
actually shook the woman in the air. It
then went on the shore opposite, where four
or five others of its kind were ready to assist
in devouring the body, and would have
done so had not some men closely pursued
the crocodile with a canoe and driven them
away, thus securing the body badly muti
lated. I donbted parts of this report, bat it
was fully corroborated by several men.
There is no doubt about the boldness of the
animals. I have seen Portuguese and
natives refuse to cross a small stream by a
narrow bridge a few feet above the water for
fear crocodiles would attack them.
The hippopotami spend the daytime in
high grass and laroons off from tbe river,
and at night go to the river to bathe. There
is no difficulty whatever in finding them,
but to shoot and kill them is another thing.
Their skin is so tough that a bullet unless
shot with a large quantity of powder will
not penetrate it, and the bones so thick
that they can be broken in only a few places.
The natives here, as in other parts of
Angola, live in mud huts o.f the plainest
kind. Their manner of living is very sim
ple, for their only desire seems to be to live.
fi I,. SSS&CK
5?
African Vegetation.
The average native is content to possess a
hut and a canoe,, if he lives near a river.
They usually raise a few potatoes, for this
vegetable, together with flour made from
mantioca root, and fish constitutes his bill of
fare. The flour is called ferrenia, and when
prepared by cooking is "fungi." This
healthy food is used extensively by both
whites and blacks, and the stranger soon
acquires a taste for it
HIRED SLAVES.
All natives drink a rum that is made from
sugarcane. Every trading house keeps this
liquor to sell to the natives, who alone use
it It contains a very large per cent of
alcohol and so is very powerful as a liquor.
The natives all love it, and when one has
finished a job of work for yon and received
his pay he will usually ask for a "mack-a-bish,"
or money for drink. Men, Women
and children all smoke to a degree which
would be excessive for white men, but I did
not notice any injurious physical effects of
either the rum or tobacco. Another very
common practice among these people is that
of cupping, and it is done in a manner quite
ingenious torthem. Two incisions are made,
either in the arm or back. Two small horns
are applied, one to each incision, with the
large ends over it A vacuum is then made
probably with the mouth and the small
end closed tightly with a stopper. The
blood is thus drawn into the horn which is
, removed when well filled. Thev seem to
use cupping for a variety of diseases, and
you will olten see dozens of scars arranged
in some rudely artistic order on the arms
and backs of men and women.
Fetichism is found among nearly, if not,
all natives of Africa that are known, and it
does not want for believers among those ot
Angola. It would be wholly impossible to
give a correct list of the objects that are be
lieved to possess the power of protecting one
irom injury, disease and death, and of re
lieving one who is suffering from pain or
disease for the number and variety are in
numerable. Thus a small and filthy turtle
shell, or a small hoof of the deer, or a piece
of wood with an image upon U is often worn
fastened by a string to the neck or waist.
A bracelet or anklet ol iron or beads is
frequently used, and when a native is asked
why he wears it he will laugh and seldom
say more than to make him well and strong.
ArMCAN SUPERSTITIONS.
It is impossible for one to learn much of
the meaning of fetichisni or of the religious
beliefs of natives unless he has had a long
and friendly intercourse with them. They
will not reveal, as a rule, their beliefs for
fear of being ridiculed, and will often at
tempt to deceive by answering incorrectly
Missionaries have the best opportunities for
securing information regarding fetichisni
and religious beliefs, but unfortunately too
many of them pay no attention to the sub
ject, considering, as they do, that all native
religious beliefs and practices are the works
of the "devil," instead ot viewing them as
stages in the evolution of religion.
There are several possible partial expla
nations as to how an object becomes a fetich.
The object may be one that belonged to some
ancestor who was believed to possess the
power of curing disease and of transferring
this power to objects; secondly, the belief
that a certain object is a preventive against
danger and disease may have arisen from a
false method ot reasoning. Thus the object
may have been worn by some person who
was never sick. The conclusion that the
object was the cause of his not being sick is
a quick one for the native mind to reach.
It has been held, and with good grounds,
by persons whp have spent years among the
natives of Alrica that it is not possible to
induce an Atrican to give up all belief in
fetichisni and superstition.
IT IS FIRMLY BOOTED.
However this may be, certain it is that the
people have been "steeped" in tbe fetichism
and superstition of ages, and that their be
liefs have become so rooted by heredity and
practice that it is extremely difficult to eradi
cate them by any means whatever. It may
fairly be doubted whether this has ever been
done. Babies as soon as born have fetiches
of some sort put upon them, and are made to
wear them. Thus they are taught from their
birth up to believe in and practice the cus
toms of their parents. Is it any wonder that
when this has been carried on for genera
tion after generation the belief in letiches
becomes firmly fixed in their minds?
I have seen natives who were' claimed to
be thoroughly converted to orthodox Chris
tianity and yet were slaves of leticbisni.
This leads to the question of missiouary
work among the African natives a question
which deserves a somewhat lengthy discus
sion. Photographs from the illustrations ac
companying this article were not easy to
secure. The men were easiest to persuade
to step before the camera, but with women
and children it was different For the group
picture I spent an hour in persuasion, and
was about to give up when the oldest woman
consented to stand before the camera: One
by one the others followed, with the result
shown. , Claire A. Ore.
V"II1Z?
PITTSBURG-, SUNDAY, APEIL 6, 1890.
LAWYERS AND LAW.
Their Defects Pointed Out by Far
Famed David Dudley Field.
CONSEEVATISM A GREAT FAULT.
Two-Thirds of the Jury Should be Able to
Bender the Verdict.
THIS IKC0JIES OP NdTED ATT0RNEIS
lCOItRESrODENCE OT TIIE DISPATCH. I
New York, April 5. It is the hope of
fame rather than fortune which animates
the young man who takes up the study of
the law. Yet fame brings fortune to the
lawyer. There is probably no profession so
greatly overcrowded as the legal profession.
Where one succeeds in it 100 fail, or at least
attain neither fame nor fortune. Lack ot
ability is probably the chief reason for
failure. There are hundreds of practicing
lawyers in New York City who do not make
even a decent living, but there are others
who make a fortune every year.
It is the "corporation lawyer" who makes
the most money. By the term "corporation
lawyer" is meant the lawyer who conducts
the legal affairs of a railroad or other cor
poration and not the counsel to a munici
pality. Every large corporation has a
lawyer whom it pays a fixed annual sum to
which are added contingent fees that may
double or treble the first sum. The fixed
amount ranges from $5,000 to $25,000.
There are lawyers who have "desk room"
costing tbem $5 a month or $60 a year and
there are others who have offices that cost
them $25,000 a year. The offices of one firm
of lawyers in the mammoth Equitable
building cost them the last named sum and
their other office expenses make the total
about $50,000 a year. The income of this
firm, which has several members, is under
stood to be $250,000 a year.
EOSCOE CONKLING'S EABNINGS.
Koscoe Conkling earned $100,090 a year
alter leaving the United States Senate, and
coming to New York to practice law he was
literally overwhelmed with business. There
were better lawyers in the city than Mr.
Conkling, but there were few who could
command as much attention in court. He
had a great reputation as a statesman and
orator and what he lacked in one way he
more than made up in another. His strength
lay in his ability to convince judge and jury
by the manner in which he conducted a
case. "Where another lawyer might excel
him was in the presentation of the law
points. Another politician who has made a
great deal of money in the practice of the
law in New York is ex-Governor Hoadly.
He joined a firm of corporation lawyers not
long after leaving the Gubernatorial chair
in Ohio. His individual income must be
$50,000 a year. He devotes himself mainly
to "preparing cases" for his firm.
Ex-President Cleveland has had more law
business thrust upon him since he took an
office in New York than he can attend to.
He has refused some very remunerative
business because it was of such a character
that political capital would have been made
of it He declined the position of counsel to
the largest life insurance companies in
America. A fair estimate of his present in
come is $25,000 a year. He might easily
make four times that He does not appear
in court at all. He has, however, served as
referee in a number of cases. This is not
large-paying work.
JIE. CLEVELAND'S LAW BUSINESS.
The greater part ot Mr. Cleveland's in
come is derived from, the preparation of
opinions on important legal questions -Tor
corporations. Mr. Cleveland also draws up
a great many contracts aBd agreements cov
ering extensive transactions. He has an
office in "William street, close to "Wall, but
David Dudley Field.
does most of his work at his home in Madi
son avenue. At his office there is almost
constant interruption. '
Senator Evarts' law firm has a very ex
tensive business. It has been engaged in
some of tbe most notable cases tried in New
York. It is employed largely to represent
institutions in will contests. It has also a
large corporation practice. Senator Evarts
appears in court occasionally, but for the
most part he attends to the office work. His
income is probably about $35,000 a year.
Not a few lawyers have forsaken their
profession to become financiers. Samuel J.
Tilden was a lawyer, but was best known as
ji capitalist. The two lawyers who have
been the greatest successes as financiers in
recent years are Colonel Calvin S. Brice,
Senator-elect from Ohio, and Deacon S. V.
White. Brice, who was a not particularly
prominent memberof his profession in Lima,
Ohio, got in with a lot ot men whose business
it was to build railroads to sell, with the re
sult that in ten years he ha rolled up a
fortune of $8,000,000 or $10,000,000. Latterly
the syndicate, ot which he is now practically
the head, has not been able to build roads
fast enough, and so has been buying them
almost at wholesale. Brice is growing
richer all tbe time. He is at his Wall
street office daily. As Chairman of the
Democratic National Committee he will be
a conspicnous political figure in 1892.
DEACON WHITE'S METHODS.
Deacon "White derives his sobriquet from
the fact that he was treasurer of Henry
Ward Beecber's church. He was fairly
successful as a lawyer. He says that he saw
other people making money in Wall street
and concluded that he would go and do
likewise. He "busted" two or three times
before he got a start His first success was
the great "c,alico pool" in Lackawanna
stock, in which he made something over
$2,000,000. It was called the "calico poo)"
because in the syndicate which Deacon'
White made up to "bull" Lackawanna in
the stock market, one of the leading mem
bers was the late H. B. Claflin, the dry
goods king. Deifton Wtfite is worth, it is
estimated, $6,000,000. His particular hobby
is astronomy. He has an observatory at his
residence on Columbia Heights, Brooklyn,
and spends a good share of the clear nights
star gazing.
David Dudley Field has been called the
Nestor of the American b'ar. He has writ
ten every code in use in New York State,
the famous penal code among the others.
Some of his codes have been adopted in
every English speaking country in the
world. He is 85 years old, and continued
in active practice up to a few years ago.
He is still writing on law books. His head
is as clear as a bell and the average man of
GO is not nearly as hearty as he is. He
looks not a little like De Lesseps. He
lives on Gramercy Park, one of the prettiest
and quietest spots in New York. There
the correspondent of The Dispatch had a
chat with him about lawyers and the law,
in the course of which he said:
DATID D0DLEV FIELD'S ADVICE.
"Hard study is the one thing required to
make a good lawyer. First", the aspirant
for a' position at the bar ought to bs taught
in a law school, and then he ought to have a
training in a lawyer's office to acquaint him
self with the practical part of the profession.
I should say that at least two years ought to
be spent in a law school and one year in a
lawyer's office. When I was young there
was scarcely any instruction egcept in
lawyer's offices. There were very few law
schools in those days. The most prominent
one was perhaps in Litchfield, Conn. I
think the law schools have been a great ben
efit to the profession. Still they fall short
of what they might accomplish.
I am decidedly of the opinion that the
improvement of ihe law has not come from
our law schools. Unlike the law schools of
Continental Europe they do not interest
themselves in the improvement of the law.
In fact I do not now recollect one of onr
law schools which has undertaken to grap
ple with the needs of law reform except
perhaps in a very moderate way. Our law
schools are too apt to fall into dead conser
vatism. When I consider what they do
and what they might do, I can see how
much they lack of fulfilling their mission.
We are using, for instance, the same bonds,
contracts, bills of lading apd other legal
forms that our ancestors did 100 years ago.
The ordinary bond of to-day is a most an
tique and outlandish affair. The law schools
ought to teach not only what the law is, but
also point out its defects. At present they
teach the law only as it exists.
SPECIALTIES IN THE LAW.
"The lawyer's requirements have expand
ed considerably during the past few decades.
Several new branches of the law, for in
stance, have been created by the develop
ments of industry. Then again, while the
general principles of law have not changed,
there are new situations to which they must
be applied. There are, of course, different
branches of law, the same as there are dif
ferent branches of medicine. It is a matter
of preference which one the lawyer takes up.
One turns to patent law, and another to real
estate law, the same as one doctor pays at
tention to the eye and ear and another to
the lungs. General practice is most re
munerative as a rule, I thirik.
"The'principal defect in the average law
yer is his intense conservatism. Think of
the lawyers opposing with all their might
the writing down in the statute book of
what the courts have decided. The Civil
Code now before the New York Legislature,
for instance, professes to give, and I think
does give, the decisions of the highest courts
in language which not only lawyers but the
people can understand. Yet a laree body
of lawyers whether they are in the major
ity or not, I have no means
of knowing opposed the writing down
in intelligible language of what the
courts have decided. The motives which
impel them to this action are undoubtedly
different with different persons. Some, no
doubt, wish thn law to be left uncertain, so
that the courts may decide differently in the
future from what they have in the past, thus
lea vine tbe client to struggle as best he can
with uncertainties and an abundance of
fees.
LAWYERS AEE TO BLAME.
"In all this I think lawyers are greatly to
blame, and fail of their duty to the State.
The lawyers are not only greatly in fault
lor tbe defective state ot the law, but also
iorthe deplorable delays in the dispensation
of justice. The great delay, in fact, is the
great defect in our legal administration. It
is greater, I believe, than in any country in
the" world, and is a grave reproach to our
lawyers.
"The essential principle of New York
practice is as plain as can be stated in
words, but it has been latterly overloaded to
the last extent with details. Still the gen
eral legal system has been much improved.
The penal code and code of criminal pro
ceedure have been of great benefit. So the
code oi civil proceedure would have been if
kept in its original simplicity and freedom
from unnecessary details.
"The jury system ought not to be abol
ished, at least in criminal cases, but the
right ought to be given to two-thirds of the
jury to render a verdict I would encourage
the trial of civil cases without a jury so lar
as practicable. Tbe jury is useiul as a
check upon judicial usurpation and a de
fense for the citizen against arbitrary
power." H. i. S.
THE BUZZARD LOPE.
A New Dancing Step That Has Captured the
Whole of Georgia.
New York Trlbnne.3
An aged Georgia darkey had lost his
mule and went out one Sunday to bury him.
Arriving within sight of the body he came
upon a group of 49 buzzards. Forty-eight
of them flew away. The 49th, whose feath
ers were gray with age, or early piety, or
something, declined to retire. Looking
straight at the old darkey he spread his
wings they were nine feet from tip to tip
tucked his tail under his body, diew in his
chin and proceeded to lope around the dead
mule.
The old darkey had been a wonderful
dancer in slavery days, and prided himself
on knowing every step that anybody else
knew. But here was a brand new step. It
wrenched his soul to see that ancient buz
zard loping there at his ease, as he had
never dreamed any creature on earth could
lope. He stood aghast. The spade fell
from his shoulder. He spread his arms, bent
bis body in the middle, stiffened every
joint except those at the elbow, wrist,
ankle and knee, and forgetting both the day
and the place, followed the buzzard around
the mule for lour solid hours, keeping step
with the bird. At dnsk the buzzard flapped
his wings and went to roost, while the old
man loped home, feeling ten years younger
than the youngest "coon" in the county.
Such is the legend of the "Buzzard
Lope." The step captured everybody.
Clubs were formed all over the State to
learn it, and for the time being all unhap
piness over the appointment of negro post
masters was forgotf. The "Buzzard
Lope" beggars description. You cannot
appreciate it till you see it. It ought to go
on the stage for the benefit of the com
munity. BEECIIER LOVED JEWELRY.
A Snppblre Kins; Which He Admired and
Goto to Ellen Terry.
Henry Ward Beecher loved jewels. The
Ladies' Home Journal prints an enthusi
astic letter he wrote in acknowledging a
gift of a sapphire ring. It is now among
the most valued possessions of Ellen Terry,
the actress. Mr. Beecber gave it to her one
day when she and Henry Irving were
dining with him at his Brooklyn
home, after a morning at Plymouth
Church where they had been to
hear him preach. Miss Terry admired the
ring, and he drew it from his finger and
presented it to her. Miss Terry was in
ecstacies. "Why, Mrs. Beecher, does he
mean it ?" she cried in delight, turning to
her hostess. On being assured that the gilt
was made in good faith, she put it on her
finger, and wears it still in memory of a
pleasant day and a well-beloved friend, who
is, alas I no' more.
The Non-Magnetic Watch.
It was discovered recently that the bal
ance wheel spring, which is of steel, is the
part of the watch affected by electric in
fluence. A new metal, known as palladium,
is non-magnetic. It makes a perlect spring,
and all that is, necessary is to have a palla
dium spring substituted for the one in an
ordinary watch, and then it is non-magnetic.
A Steed That Bared His Master.
"I love this old horse," said the Colonel.
"I feel that he saved my life at Gettys
burg." "How?"
"He kicked me in the stomach before the
battle so that I couldn't go on the field, and
my substitute got shot in the neck."
A ROMANCE PF RUSSIA MB SIBERIA.
WRITTEN EOB
BY PBINCE JOSEF LUBOMIRSKI,
Author of "Safar-Hadji, a Story of Turkistan," Etc.
The drizzling rain that had continued
several hours increased the darkness which
in late autumn evenings covers St Peters
burg as with a pall. The gas lamps bad
not yet been lighted in the streets and on tbe
square adjoining the Blue Bridge tbe semi
circle of lamps was still dark; only here
and there a faint ray of light came through
the show windows of the large stores on the
wharf, which we're always lighted early.
The long passages in the Ministry of the
Interior were deserted. Here and there a
lamp suspended from the smoke-blackened
and vaulted ceiling gave a little light and
much bad smell. On a dirty bench, carved
by awkward, idle hands, a humble official
snored aloud.
Suddenly the sleeping official started up;
an unusual noise, coming from the broad
staircase, had frightened him out of his
sleep. The quick steps of a man approached,
spurs rattled and a sword knocked at every
step against the stairs. Tbe soldier listened
in surprise, and the walls of the building
seemed to be similarly impressed, for they
echoed the poise in a low, subdued tone, as
if they meant to protest and complain. The
old guardsman was not long left in doubt;
he smoothed his slightly disordered hair,
straightened himself into the shape of a
lamp post and in this prescribed posture
awaited the newcomer. Soon the dim light J
of the laiu( showed an umcer, who came up
with hasty strides and now stood before the
old soldier. ,
He was a man of gigantic stature; his
features were hard and in his eyes resolute
courage shone brightly. His beard was jet
black. Tbe whole face produced an im
pression of stern severity. An ominous
ironical smile played now and then around
his narrow, pale lips. In his whole carriage
insolence was reflected; in every gesture
boundless pride.
He saw the soldier in the uncertain light
and called out enrtly in a tone of command:
"I must see tbe Minister."
Tbe official shrugged his shoulders con
temptuously. "The Minister! I crave your pardon!
A nlfce desire! He is not here, for the pres
ent moment. Those who have anything to
do with him must demand an audience."
The Colonel looked anything but patient.
As the official spoke to him in a somewhat
bold tone of voice and did not by any means
cringe, as many did, his eyebrows twitched
very ominously. Unfortunately the official
smiled. This was mors than the officer could
endure; be seized the "unfortunate man of
tbe pen by the ear and pulled him up vio
lently. "I, lean see the Minister at all times!
Do you hear?" he exclaimed furiously.
The poor man yelled with pain.
"Helpl helpl Save me!" he cried in de
spair. "Hush!" broke in the officer. "I am Col
onel Palkin, aid-de-camp ot the head of the
gendarmes!"
The official was silenced instantly. The
name ot tbe head of the gendarmes, a person
who in the reign of Emperor Nicholas was
omnipotent, was a terror for everybody.
The unfortunate man of the pen turned
deadly paJe and tried to suppress his groans,
although the Colonel still held his ear. A
whole long minute he continued this torture
and finally he let him go, saying:
"You see, the Minister must always be at
home for me; make haste, therefore, and an
nounce me, and then yon may hope that I
shall forgive youl" f
The man assumed a humble and devoted
posture.
"Your Excellency," he Baid, almost cry
ing, "I told you the trnth. At this hour
the Minister is never here."
"Then send word to him that I am wait
ing for him."
"We do not know where to find him. But
if Your Excellency have very urgent busi
ness, the Head of the Division for Political
Affairs, the Minister's alter ego, has not yet
left."
The Colonel interrupted him eagerlv.
"That is Schelm, is it not?"
"Yes, Your Excellency."
"I am not an Excellency. You can show
me proper respect without giving me titles
that I do not own."
"Very well, Your Colonell"
"And now announce me quickly to
Schelm."
The official opened a door nearlv opposite
the bench, and showed the Colonel into a '
large room, saying uuuioiy;
"Colonel, condescend to wait a momsnt
here."
Well! Make hastel I have no time to
lose."
The aid of the head of the gendarmes
walked up and down in the vast apartment,
chewing his mustache almost fiercely.
Three minutes had passed; his impatience
was visibly growing and showing itself very
clearly when the door opened and the man
of the pen said:
THE DISPATCH
"I pray, Colonel
-1"
Behind a table, covered with documents
and papers of all kinds, sat Mr. Onopbri
Schelm, Head of the Division of Political
Affairs under His Excellency the Minister
of the Interior, Count Perowski. His study
was large and comfortable; the furniture
covered with green velvet; thick curtains
and portieres at all the rooms and windows;
a thick carpet covered the floor. Two enor
mous paintings, representing Alexander I.
and Nicholas I., looked down upon a desk
in oak, standing in the center of the room.
A mysterious, dim light reigned in the
apartment; a half-covered lamp on the writ
ing table and a flickering fire on the hearth
alone lit up these dark walls, out of which
tbe stern figures of the Czars ot all the Bus
sias seemed to step forth.
Mr. Schelm was still young; he could
hardly be more than 35, but his features
looked worn, full or wrinkles and without
expression; his complexion was yellow, like
parchment, and his hair, carefully oiled
and brushed, could not quite conceal a
premature baldness. His small gray eyes
looked keen and sharp around him. Herr
Schelm, however, subdued his glance by
wearing large spectacles.
When tbe head of tbe division was alone
he frequently took off his glasses to wipe
the perspiration which continually shone on
his face. Then Mr. Schelm looked posi
tively fearful; bis eyes flashed lightnings,
the red lids opened wide as if they wished
to draw breath; tbe dark mark which the
spectacles made on his nose turned bright
THE QUARREL OP PALKIN ANflf SCHELM.
red, and the nose itself looked not unlike
the beak of a bird of prey; an uncanny
smile played around his pale, firmly closed
lips. Schelm felt in such moments that he
was alone, and took no pains to disguise
himself, and his eyes turned from his own
person to the forms of the all-powerful
rulers of Bussia, which he had continually
before his eyes.
As soon, nowever, as somehody entered he
closed his eyelids and hid them behind the
glasses, sat square down in his arm chair
and assigned, with his inky, crooked fin
gers, to each visitor his place, as if he did
it not from courtesy, but in wrath and in
dignation. In short, Schelm's exterior was terrible;
the expression of his half concealed squint
incr eyes did not encourage tbe boldest of tbe
bold. This delighted him. All who entered
this luxuriousapartment felt instantly what
power this man possessed, and were uncom
fortable, even anxious. Schelm was fully
aware of this; quite conscious, in fact, that
he made a painful impression upon all, and
he liked it. It gave him a kind of joy and
he took it almost amiss if anyone did not
seem to be afraid of him and to tremble in
his presence. In the meantime our officer
had not in the least changed his appearance;
he remained as cold and asianghty as before.
Upon a sign from Schelm, who seemed to
ask permission to finish tbe perusal of certain
papers before him, the Colonel answered
with a slight bow, threw himself into a com
fortable easy chair, put one leg over the
other and looked at the ceiling asif studying
the stucco ornaments. Schelm noticed all
this through his spectacles. Tbe head of a
division under Count Perowski was a great
man and almost omnipotent in the Ministry.
The Emperor knew him personally and oc
casionally deigned to have him near him.
Tbe Colonel's indifference offended him,
therefore, and in order to give him a little
lesson he seemed to be absorbed in his
papers.
The Colonel waited patiently five min
utos, looking fixedly at the ceiling. Alter
five minutes more he looked fixedly at tbe
writing desk. Schelm pretended to read,
but in reality he did not cease watching his
visitor.
The aid-de-camp smiled ironically, raised
his eyes once more 'to the ceiling and at the
same time began to whistle very softly.
When the head of division heard these sub
dued, measured notes, he jumped up from
his chair and began to cough aloud. The
officer coolly continued a familiar Italian
air, but getting louder and louder. Behind
one of the portieres suppressed laughter
could be heard.
Angrily Schelm threw away the docu
ments, arranged his chair so as to face his
visitor, and said rather roughly:
"What is you desire, Colonel Palkin?"
Palkin answered with a honeyed smile:
"It is a mere trifle. The head of the gen
darmes has charged me to Inform His Ex
cellency the Minister of the Interior of the
arrest of Count Prosoff and Prince Marin,
who are involved in a conspiracy against
the Emperor."
Schelm sprang up, and, forgetting, his
usual cautiousness, beat the table so that
several papers fell to the floor.
"Again!" he exclaimed.
Palkin's smile was sweeter still.
"What will you have?" he continued
"Tbe police must watch over the life of
the Czar when they have no time to do so in
the Ministry of the Interior. This is now.
the fifth conspiracy which we have discov-
ered without your knowledge and your as
sistance." Schelm turned pale; he was furious, and
entirely lost his self-control.
"Or which you pretend to have discov
ered?" he sneered.
"Mr. Schelml" exclaimed the officer
threateningly.
The head of the division replied in the
same tone:
"Mr. Palkin!"
Their eyes glowed with hatred and thus
they measured each other for some minutes.
At the same time the folds of one of the
portieres moved gently and for a second the
face of a curious official peeped in. The two
adversaries saw nothing; they were on the
point of falling one upon the other. The
Colonel, however, resumed his seat and
laughed aloud.
"Your insults do not reach me and I
should be foolish indeed to feel annoyed. It
proyokes you to find that we are cleverer
than you! I understand your anger and can
easily explain it!"
"Cleverer!" repeated Schelm; "say.rather,
greater intriguants!"
"Oh, call it what you choose!" replied
Palkin, shrugging his shoulders; "I will not
discuss that with you. I have been ordered
to deliver that message to Count Perowski,
and as this affair concerns you likewise or
rather mainly I have done my duty as
promptly as I could. Yonr criticism does
not concern me. I repeat, therefore, that I
have been ordered to report Last night the
police occupied the house of Prince Marin;
after a long search documents were found
there which strongly commit tbe Prince as
well as Count Prosoff. Both have been ar
rested forthwith; the examination will take
place next Monday. The conspiracy seems,
however, to extend over the whole province,
and hence the head of gendarmes requests
the Minister ot the Interior to take charge
of this matter as soon as possible. The
papers and documents on the question will
be sent to-day."
"How can a conspiracy that never existed
extend to the province? Marin is known to
be a drunkard, Prosoff a philosopher. The
whole affair reminds me enriously of your
last conspiracy, which ended in sending 12
young men to Siberia, who every week gave
a dinner to ballet dancers. Your reports
stated at the time that the regularity of these
meetings looked very suspicious and little
was wanting or you would have convinced
yourself that the ballet dancers talked poli
tics." "That was a plausible pretext," said Pal
kin. "The Agent Black himself heard how
one of those men said the Czar ought to give
Bussia a Constitution."
Schelm clapped his hands in apparent in
dignation. "And that was enough for you to send 13
men to Siberia. And you have the face to
acknowledge it?"
Palkin laughed bitterly.
"This holy indignation is exceedingly be
coming to your honorable chetalier. Con
fess, however, that you would be very glad
to bear something of the kind yourselr, in
order to discover behind it a grand conspir
acy. But, no! You are too well known;
nobody would speak aloud in your presence.
We, we have our secret agents, whom no
body fears because nobody knows them.
And that is what grieves your chivalrou
head o'f division."
Scneim gave him a poisonous look.
"A nice craft, no doubt," murmnred
Schelm to himself. "That was the way
Kuloff got into the Senate, bad high decora
tions, etc. One of these days Count Palkin
also will make a brilliant career; be will be
made Colonel of a regiment in a distant gar
rison, where the echo of his deeds has never
reached. After a while his original profes
sion will be forgotten, and then the spy will
be made a General."
"And you consider already in yonr mind,
honored friend, how you may denounce, me?
I warrant you it will be useless. The Czar
is high above us, as the eagle above the
toad! He knows nothing ot us and if he
ever should hear anything bis contempt
would hurl both of us'into eternal oblivion!
Onr superiors do not wish to soil their hands
with this profession and bear with us, be
cause they must have tools tools that are
very vulgar, but also very necessary tools
that are too much despised to be easily re
placed. Your possible report passes through,
the hands of my superior, as mine passes
through your hands. Where others would
be punished we receive a reward. But that
you must know even better than I do."
Suddenly an official interrupted them,
opening the door and announcing:
"Count Lanin, aid-de-camp of his Maj
esty the Emperor."
Schlem and Palkin rose quickly and
bowed deepljr.
The Imperial Adjutant noticed their sub
missive bows with contempt and said in a
haughty tone:
"Glad to find you here together, as I have
important orders for both of you from tho
Emperor."
Schelm and Palkin, who had risen again,
bowed once more to the ground.
"Too much grace and happiness," they
exclaimed.
The imperial aid, hearing the two voices
blending so closely that no separate voice
nor single word conld be heard, could not
keep Irom laughing.
"Colonel Palkin," he said at last, "the
Emperor sends you word through me that
he is well pleased with you. and as a token
of his favor he bestows upon you the order
of St. Vladimir."
"Excellency!" was all Palkin could utter,
so overwhelmed with happiness was he.
"For you, Mr. Schelm, I have less pleas
ant orders. You know nothing of the most
important events and affairs! You are
asleep while the empire is in danger, and
yet tho high office which the Emperor has
entrusted to you ought to have spurred you
to be unceasingly watchful!"
"Your Excellency, the secret police if aot.
in my hands."
The Adjutant did not let him finish.
"You are not expected to be a spy only
watchmlt You are not spies, only senti
nels!" he added, without concealing hit
scorn, "only with this difference, that Colo
nel Palkin has known how to watch. His
Majesty the Emperor has therefore ordered
J
&J&.