,K&
y -1-.
u
t
r
5
10
OR THE SERPA PINTO
Steamboat Bide Into the
Interior of Africa.
SHOTS AT HIPPOPOTAMI.
The City of Dondo and the Peculiar
ities of the Natives.
FAILTJEES OP THE MISSIONABIES.
rCOBJtlSrOXDEKCI Or TBI EISrATCK.1
Caps T0W2T, S. Africa, March 31.
HOUGH the Qnanxa river
is navigable for imall
steam era tor a distance or
200 miles from its month.
and though the Portu-
cnese hare possessed the
province of Angola for
four centuries, it wag not
' until quite recent years
i that there has been any
(navigation on this river.
I At present one company
has the sole right to run
ateamers on the river, and
four small steamboats plv
between St. Paul de Loan-
da and Dondo, where large
rocks in the river's chan
nel bar the progress of all
boats. One of these is the Serpa Pinto,
which, by the war. is named after
the Portuguese major who is said to
have been the cause of the recent
disturbances about the railway on the
east coast of Africa which led to an
interference on the part of England and
America and resulted in England sending
nearly a dozen men-of-war with sealed or
ders to the seat of the trouble. Several
cores of natives standing on the Serpa
Pinto's deck are the second-class passengers.
There Is no place to put lugeage, so we will
have ours all flooded on the after part of the
deck, the apartments of the first-class pas
sengers. There are no staterooms, hut there is a
washroom, however, and you will wish to
take a refreshing wash. But there is no
water, no soap; only an empty washbowl
and towel. Call up the cabindas (native
servants of the bo.it s) and say "agua"
(water). Altera few experiences in this
province you will understand that patience
is a necessary virtue, but you will get the
water after awhile.
SEEK ALOKO THE QUANZA.
The scenery along the river is interesting.
To the left is grass that is over six feet high,
very thick and impossible of passage, ex
cept where paths have been cut On the
right are beautiful cocoanut groves and the
(? ..,
Jtfap of the Quanta Territory.
forest farther along. That is the Kissama
side. The Kissamas are a tribe of natives
who claim all the countrv just south or this
river. It is all in the province of Angola,
hut the Kissamas are powerful natives, and
have never submitted to the authority of
the Portugnese. 2To white men are allowed
to settle in this country, nor would it be
safe to go through it unless well protected.
They pay no taxes to the Portuguese, who
say that the country is not worth the trou
hle that would be involved in taking pos
session of it. Perhaps, however, it would
require a creator military force than is now
maintained in Angola to force the Kissa
mas to submit to the white man's rule. All
other natives, and Portuguese as well, fear
the Kissamas, and when you speak of them,
they will say, "Kissamas non bon." Their
country is rirh and capable of being made
very productive.
I remember my only experience on the
Kissama side. I arose early one morning
and decided to go for a hippopotamus hunt
I took my rifle and cartridges and went to a
small village t.ear by to secure a native
guide and canoe. I found the man whom 1
-wanted asleep on a mat before his hut door.
I called him and mde known my wants.
He assured me we would find hippopotamus.
"We started alone in the canoe, and, after
going down the river for a mile, landed. I
observed that my guide understood his busi
ness well, so said nothing and followed him,
though X very much feared being alone in
Kissama territorv, Tor I bad been told that
the Kissamas were acenstomed to conceal
themselves in bushes and shoot white men.
They use the old fiiut-Icck guns and iron
" slugs for bullets. We very soon found fresh
hippopotami tracks and traced them from
the river back through the thick grass,
using a path made bv the huge creatures as
they returned before daybreak from the
river, where they spend the night time.
SHOOTING AT HIPPOPOTAMI.
A short distance back we found a large
lagoon which my guide surveyed very care
lull in the hope of finding' hippopotami.
&-
Some Soys of Dondo.
"We were not disappointed or to our right
several heads were observed just above the
water. These were the first I had seen but
they looked exactly like the pictures in
books upon Airica. We went carefully
around behind some bushes and came out
near the water within shooting range of the
creatures. Taking aim I fired at one of them.
The animal was hit for he jumped out o'
the water and went down below it with an
awlul splash. Meanwhile I fired again but
was unable to know whether I hit my mark.
All the hippopotami now ditappeared be
neath the water. They are not oiten killed,
experience upon this occasion was that ot
Baby others. It is exceedingly difficult to
shoot and kill a hippopotamus. Crocodiles
are o'teo seen along the river.
Tillages are numerous along the river
and invariably the natives rush down to the
bank in crowds to gaze at the passing I
turner. The water is not deeD and the I
Channel of the river changes almost con-J
ASK' " xSiJ,'Zxmt',
M
,
SI
xam W
Awf
m aw
Wry
ItM.
0 1-- 5-Sa
-f- a '
K Vf A E
jffgill(i,lir
rVk. S?5--i-mrw C?Ji-r
tinually, so that it is different each month
and must be learned anew by the pilots.
You hear those men calling out in front.
They are the "sounders." "When the depth
of the water ii uncertain a man is stationed
on each side of the deck with a long pole
to ascertain the depth. One "rounds" with
his pole and calls off the number of feet in
Portugese; the other does likewise, so the
pilot knows the course to tafce.
It is now 6 o'clock and here comes the
cabinda to announce dinner, so let us go.
"What is that man saying?" you ask. He
is swearing in Portugese because his nap
kin is not clean. XiOok at yours; see mine.
Throw them aside on the bench, for you
will have alreadv noticed that we are sitting
on a wooden bench. So Tou thought that
because you paid 20 milreis ($21 60) for
this trip yon wonld find some accommoda
tions. Do not deceive yourself, for you will
have none.
At Baraca we stopped for the night, for it
i, of course, impossible to find theproper
channel in night time. Wood for fuel is
purchased by the thousand cut sticks.
Everv stick is counted and the number
brought aboard is checked so that several
hoars were consumed in getting the wood.
EEQUIKEMENTS OP ETIQUETTE.
After having finished your dinner eti
quette requires that yu sit here until the
Portuguese have finished smoking their
cigarettes and the a'ter dinner conversation.
This may be an hour, and as you do not
understand the Portuguese language, you
will undoubtedly become very tired.
Baraca is only a small station, the loca
tion ot a Portugese trading house and a tew
native huts. In (act most of the river sta
tions are such. There are English and
Dutch trading houses as well, and ther do a
large and profitable business trading with
the natives, who bring great quantities of
A STREET IH THE
coffee to sell or trade. The trading houses
sell them rum and provisions of various
kinds.
In a day and a half more we arrived at
Dondo, the chief town of the interior of
Angola. The town is entirelv surrounded
by high hills, and this makes Dondo one of
the hottest places in West Africa, and as
verv little wind can reach the town tho
nights are never cool. The place is un
healthy and fever is common. It is said
that the only medicines used here are qui
nine, astringents and cathartics. This brings
up the subject of the healthfulness of the
climate of West A rica, which, as is well
known, is the most unhealthy ot that of any
part of Africa. Angola is indeed unhealthy,
especially back from the coast, where
the traveler must be careful to
avoid fever. With proper precaution,
however, there is little danger of having
the fever in its worst forms. Most all
white persons who live there seem to have
the lever at times, but little difficulty is ex
perienced in treating it if proper attention
is given the patient. Of the six of us who
spent a month in the different parts of the
province, but one took quinine for several
davs betore going there, and continued
every day while there, and for seveial days
after leaving. This person was the only
one of the six who did not have the fever.
Three of the five who had it, dia not recover
tor a month. Whether the quinine did
actually prevent the lever in the one case,
cannot be known. Of course, such a method
could not be used with success by one who
lived in the country for a long period of
time.
THE CUT OF DONDO.
Dondo has a population of over 3,000,
nearly all of which is native. A view of
On the Dondo Market.
the principal streets is shown in the accom
panying cut. It was taken in the middle
of the afternoon when fewer natives are to
be seen lounging about the streets than
earlier in the daw Several distinct tribes
may be seen at Dondo among which the
Bailundas, Lobollos and Kissamas are
most important. Members of these tribes
are readilv distinguished from physical
characteristics. The Bailundas are very
tall and slim. Tlie.Lobollas are short and
quite effeminate in appearance, so mnch so
that one could be easily deceived as to the sex
of some individuals. Their legs are small
and the muscles below the knees are so little
developed that there is almost no "call of
the leg." The Kissamas resemble the
Lobollos in physique, but they may be
known from their stvle of wearing the hair.
Their features are coarser and betray a
vicious disposition which is absent in both
of the other tribes. The Bailundas are mus
cular and make excellent workmen as
laborers and carriers. The Lobollos and
Kissamas, on the contrary, do not work and
have as little as possible to do with the
whites.
Nearly all the natives look upon white
men with great suspicion and believe them
to be thieves. This suspicion has arisen
from the fact that these natives have for
many vears come in contact with unprinci
pled white men who have robbed and ill
treated them. It is perfectly natural that
the Angola natives should look upon white
men us they do. Had the traders and
other whites who settled in Angola, dealt
honestly with the natives, tlicir condition
to-day would have been far better than it is.
It is almost impossible to make natives be
lieve you have any interest in them. This
state ot things is bound to exist when the
law is always executed in favor of the white
man.
LAW FOE WHITES ONLY.
From all that I could see and learn I am
obliged to say that the laws ol Angola are
not executed with justice, though the laws
give the same rights to both whites and
Hacks, it is said the black man has no
rights. Slavery, for instance, is absolutely
prohibited by law, yet it is said to exist.
Upon this subject let me quote from a con
versation held with an intelligent and edu
cated Portuguese who has spent 12 years in
West A rica. He says:
"Slavery does exist; I have seen it. The
contract labor law is only a blind for
slavery. According to this law natives may
hire out for a term of years for an amount
of money stipulated in the contract, but
most native know nothing of this contract.
They say they are slaves, and if you tell
them
they are not they laugh at you and
thins: you are joking.
.Portuguese buy na-
T-2S CSl 1
'iiilJlll
W - I
ii rwmninr i inrrii iiiiiiiiiiiiwiTTTMmwinTMii r r r 1 1 irnranMir iriThmiiiaiaiMieMWMirriTiniiM m m i iiv -ami it - -y i y -, .,. u .,, . i,- ,.-i?v.- . a- -
THE
tives in the far interior and sen! them in
Angola for 25 or 30 milreis. Many mer
chants buy them and fhen go to the chief of
the town, who is an officer in the Portuguese
armr, and have the contract filled out. The
natives as a rule know nothing of this."
Such are the words of a man who cer
tainly seems competent to speak on the sub
ject. If a native commits a crime he is
punished severely, especially it it be against
a white man. I was present upon one occa-
sion when three natives who had stolen a
trunk from a white man were being beaten
with a bastinado. The official who was on
hand to superintend the beating would re
mark every now and then during the inflic
tion of the punishment: "You will steal
from a white man? You ought to know bet
ter. Steal from a white man, willjou?"
These words were significant in that they
CITY OF DONDO.
seemed to convey the meaning that it was
regarded a greater crime to steal from a
white man than trom a black man; or, in
other words, the men were being punished
or a crime committed against a white man
and not tor a crime against the law.
NO EEFINED SENTIMENTS.
One of the characteristics of the mind
worthy of mention here is that of the lack
of feeling; both physical snJ mental. They
undergo great pain as shown bv manv in
stances, but the more important act is that
the feelings of love, gratitude and sympathy
seem to be almost wanting in the average
native. Men who have spent years among
them say they have never seen a man show
any affection for a woman or vice versa, no
matter what the relations might be. Cases
ofafFection being manifested by parents for
children are almost unknown. I have seen
parents moutn for children and children for
parents and in each case it was a matter of
form without any' real feeling whatever.
The ceremony consists of the dancing and
wailing of the female relatives who along
with the male relatives have their faces
decorated with a white and red powder.
I once went among some natives who were
mourning the death of child, and I chanced to
have a Colt repeating rifle. In a few
minutes I was surrounded by a very curious
crowd of men, women and children, in
cluding the parents of the deceased, who
were intent upon examining the rifle. It
was especially puzzling to them to see a
rifle that would carry so many cartridges.
All mourning had been forgotten and re
placed by an intense curiosity to see te
rifle.
The question as to the future of the Angola
natives is a difficult one to treat. That
African natives cannot civilize themselves
is certain; that contact with white men has
a powerful influence either for good or bad
is also certain. I am sorry to believe that
the influence of the whites upon the natives
of Angola has in many respects been bad.
WOBK OF THE MISSIONABIES.
I certainly saw no natives who were
"thirsting ior Christianity" as stated in a
missionary journal, but I did see most all
thirsting for rum. One gets a very different
idea of missionary work by going upon the
ground than he does Irom missionary talks
or printed reports. It may be, however,
that lar to the interior of Angola the natives
do really desire Christianity and civiliza
tion. I inquired at a mission station on the
coast as to the success of their work, and
was informed that very good success marked
the results of their work, especially at the
older stations. The station in question has
been in existence for five years, I believe. I
asked to be told of any natives who bad be
come thoroughly converted and civilized,
and was told of but one man who wentabout
clad in an old coffee sack only.
The missionaries of Angola certainly have
much against them. I met no whites,
Portuguese or English, who were not in one
way or another opposed to their work. The
objections were of various kinds. Many
have no desire to see the condition of th'e
natives improved as they have more to gain
pecuniarily if they are not civilized. Others
object to the persons sent to do the work and
to their methods. The objections of these
latter people alone are worthy of considera
tion. Their objections seem to be based
upon good grounds, for itis well known that
any person "who feels called upon" is sent
to labor among the heathen to do a work
that ought to require a trained mind, one
that can see the practical side of things and
one that is not so hampered by religious be
lief, as not to be able to pursue a course
which will be the best and most practical
under given circumstances. It is true so
far us iny observation and information go
that many missionaries Lelong to the class
uusuited for such work. There methods are
wrong.
ANOTHER PLAN PEOPOSED.
The problem is a most difficult one and
probably not fully appreciated by the aver
age missionary. Wonld you endeavor to
remove the superstitions by replacing them
with a system of religion many of the
teachings of which are beyond the compre
hension o' the savage mind and which seems
to him to emDody superstitions as gross as
those to be removed? For example, thou
sands of the African natives firmly believe
that the spirits of their ancestors interfere
with their daily affairs, so they are very
caution" about their actions. How shall we
attempt to overthrow his belief by the doc
trine of the immortality of the soul in any
form, however sim pie? To teach amtive
that the spirit ol his ancestors cannot inter
fere with his affairs, and then teach him
that his ancestors still live and will forever
live in another world, to my thinking only
tend to strengthen his conviction that
his ancestors, if they still lived, would
surely take part in his affairs. Instead of
employing such a method, would
it not be wiser to begin by educating the
mind, and thus train the faculties so the su
perstitions would become gradually under
mined and finally fall because the- had
nothing on which' to rest, and then give the
religious instruction afterward, if it is to be
given at all? In short, why not begin by
educating the native mind, and leave relig
ious instruction until the mind is prepared
to receive it? Claire A. Obb.
Streets graded, walks laid, trees plant
ed. See page 14, to-day's Dispatch.
Household goods packed for shipment.
' Hauqh & Keenan, S3-31 Water sf.
mm
m
mm
Spr.
Fint View of Dondo.
PITTSBUIl&-J DISPATCH,
PFAFFS ROUND TABLE
A Little Cellar AlcoTe Where Liter
ary Genius Once Thrived,
BOHEMIA'S CENTEfi IN HEW TOSK.
Brilliant Ken Who Gathered Inspiration
Oier Beer and Cigars.
ADA CLXBB WAS A LEADING SPIRIT
coBRXsroNPEircx or Tire dispatch.
New York, May 3. Pfoff is dead and a
few days ago he was placed beneath the sod.
With him was buried an unequaled fund of
anecdote of the Bohemia ol New York
that undefined and uudefinable land which
nowadays has disappeared beneath the
turbulent seas of the modern, practical,
commercial methods which has brought
even literature, and especially newspaper
literature, under the staid regulations ot
methodical ways. For years PfafPs place
was an institution of New York City, and
to this day many eyes which glisten in gray
capped heads twinkle more brightly when
the name is mentioned. What delightful
memories cluster about itl At its sound
what thoughts arise of sparkling stories, of
merry jests, of biting quip, of tuneful lays,
of bright faces, of curling smoke that
wreathed itself as smoke never does nowa
days, and of foaming beer, which tasted as
beer never tasted before and never will taste
again. ,
Pfaffs place was in a cellar on the west
side of Broadway, above Bleecker street.
Sawdust covered Its floor. It made no pre
tensions to style, but that fact did not lessen
the smoothness of its Welsh rarebits, or the
sncculence of its famous liver and bacon.
Through the center oi the main room along
table extended around which on equal plane
the patrons of the place were seated. But
therare resort, the inner penetralia of the
shrine, was under the payement where in an
alcove stood a large, round t;tble which
gathered at various times the brightest men
known to literature and art The bonds of
conviviality fastened these into a sort of
clique whose fame under the title of
KNIGHTS OF THE BOUND TABLE
spread throughout the city. Goodfellow
ship was the only test of admission to this
unorganized body. In time it was fashioned
into a semi-formal condition nnder the name
of the Bohemian Club, of which Ada Clare
was by acclamation made the presiding
genius. While occasionally other women
known upon the stage or in literary circles
found sufficient courage to drop in upon the
witty revelers at Piaffs, Ada Clare was the
only one who possessed all the qualities con
tained in the term goodtellowshtp and whose
presence was lound to enhance the con
viviality of every occasion in which she
took part. She was the embodiment ol
female Bohemianism. Seated at the table
with her big blue eyes fairly smiling, her
mass or yellow hair shining above her head,
her face flushed with excitement, she parried
thrusts of wit as de tly as a swordsman
would a foil, and her laugh rang the clearest
when an unfortunate one was unhorsed in
the shock ol intellects.
She had ran through almost the entire
social range, contributing much to the cur
rent literature ot the day, lacing the foot
lights as an actress and making occasional
marital experiments. From 1859 until
about 1862 she reigned as Queen of Bohemia,
and during that time the circle at Pfaflfs was
brightest and best. Beer was the favorite
beverage of this coterie. It was onlya short
time prior to this period that this drink was
first manufactured in this country, and the
Bohemian Club became quite an important
factor in making it the popular beverage, a
revolution which forever drove away the
daily brandy tippling which was the practice
of men of those times.
AROSE WITH THE SUN.
With Pfaff's beer and Pfaff's pipes and
tobacco and Pfaff's rarebits and wit and
humor and poetry and prose time passed so
quickly at the Bound Table iu the cellar
alcove that all too frequently the sun rose
upon the close of the session. Pfafl himseli
was the most genial and kindest of men, and
with most benevolent intentions frequently,
though mildly, endeavored to enforce his
nightly violated rule that his house was to
be closed at 1 o'clock in the morning. Upon
these occasions, which became rarer and
rarer, it generally occurred that it required
about one hour to get the proprietor into a
proper irame of mind to humbly apologize
lor having dared to suggest that be wished
to close his doors upon the Princes of Bo
hemia, and when this amend had been made
it was Pfaft'himself who was most reluctant
to end the proceedings.
O. the men who wereamong the Knights of
the Bound Table many have passed away dy
ing generally in happy poverty, and of those
who still remain upon life's scene some
have reached affluence and others are still
busy, but more prosperous workers with-the
pen. Ada Clare's Minister of State was
Henry Clapp. He was one of the brightest
newspaper men of the day and his con
tributions to various New York journals
invariably attracted attention. But he
unfortunately went beyond the bounds
which confined the conviviality at PlafPs
and giadually drifted away until be was
lost sight of entirely. His closest friends
did not know what had become of him until
by an accident it was discovered that he had
died under the saddest circumstances and
that his unidentified remains had been
buried in Potter's Field.
HONORED AFTER DEATH.
Joe Howard, Pfaff and one or two others
inspired by Howard formed a lund with
which a burial lot was bought in a com
manding and delightful location in Green
wood Cemetery and there poor Clapp's body,
alter having been disinterred, was taken
and placed beneath a tenderly inscribed
monument.
A favorite figure about the alcove table
was that of young George Arnold. He aud
Willie Winters were almost inseparable
companions. They were not of the rollick
ing spirits who gathered "about the board,
but they rarely tailed to contribute some
thing, generally a poem, to enliven the occa
sion or enhance 'the value of the flying
moments. Winters who was even then
ou the Tribune staff was a splrituelle,
lar away young fellow in whose
ears the bells and distant minarets were al
ways softly chiming. His first toyings
with the muse did not invariably 'meet
with financial response from hardhearted
publishers, and when he did succeed in get
ting his name upon the page of a magazine
there was rare rejoicing at PiafFs which
Winters always subsequently complained
cost him more than he had received for the
poem. Arnold was at times buoyantly
cheerful and at others moodily sad. Al
though bis literary career only extended
over a period ot 12 years, he dying when he
-was but 31 years of age, the quintityof
written material which he produced during
that time was surprisingly large. As Win
ters has said of him: "He wrote with equal
fluency and versatility stories, sketches, es
says, poems, comic and satirical verses,
criticisms of books and of pictures, editorial
.articles, jokes and pointed paragraphs. His
poems, which were collected and published
by Mr. Winters a few years ago, display a
man of rare genius.
ONE OF ARNOLD'S SONNETS.
It was on the round table at Pfaff's and in
commemoration of the delights of the alcove
that Arnold wrote these lines:
Here,
With my beer
I sit.
While golden moments flit!
Alast
They pais
buugeucu ujii
And, as they fly,
Unheeded by:
Being dry.
Bit, Idly sipping hire
My beer..
O, finer far
Than fame, or riches, are
The graceful smoks-wreathi of this
;,STJNDAT, MAT 4,
flee clgart
Why
Should I
Weep, wall or sight
W hat if luck has passed me bjf
What if my hopes are dead
My pleasures fled?
Have I not still
My fill
Of right good cheer
Cigars and beer?
Go, whining youth,
Forsooth!
Go, weep and wail.
Bigb. ana grow pale.
Weave melancholy rhymes
On the old times.
Whose joys like shadowy ghosts appear.
But leave me my beerl
Gold is dross
Love is loss
Bo, if I gnlp ray sorrows dovn.
Or see them drown
In foamy draughts of old nut-brown,
Then do 1 wear the crown.
Without the cross!
Arnold wrote for the press until within
four weeks oi his all too sudden cutting
down. As his bosom friend and admirer
has said of him, "To the end of his life he
worked with the pen, incurring the perils,
bearing the sorrows, surmounting the ob
stacles and enjoying the pleasures of the
noble and fascinating profession of letters."
THE OOOD OBAY POET.
There were many other courtiers of the
Muse who were numbered among the
Knights of the Bound Table. For several
years be 'ore the breaking out of the war a
picturesque figure at the Pfaff gatherings
was that of Walt Whitman, who even then,
through the premature whitening of his
locks and the beneficence of his character,
was called "The G md Gray Poet," and who
even then wore his flowing shirt collar thrust
back in display of a hairy chest. He owed
much in those days to the openhaudedness
of his friends in Bohemia, and he only left
them when President Lincoln gave him a
sinecure iu the Attorney General's office in
Washington; a post which he continued to
occupy until the Hayes administration
drove forth the man who had been guilty of
writing "Leaves of Grass."
A frequent trio at Pfaff's was formed by
Charles G. Halpine, better known to fame
as Miles O'Bielly; the late Fitz James
O'Brien, one oi the brightest of the young
literary men of the day, and Hugh Farrar
McDermott. It was on the Bound Table that
the last named wrote his verses beginning,
"O, do not sing that song again." McDer
mott is a remarkable exception to all rules
governing poets, if those who are frenzied by
the Muse are governed by any rules. He is
now affluent and a political power, and yet,
like Silas Wegg, hestill "drops into verse."
In his Pfaff days Harper's Weekly fre
quently gave a full page to his effusions. It
was not poetry, however, which brought him
riches. He got into politics, started the
Jersey City Herald, through his influence
MADE IT OBLIGATORY
that all legal advertisements should be in
serted in the columns ol that newspaper and
thus be piled up hundreds of thousands of
dollars, while bis son Albert McDermott has
been installed as the Democratic boss of the
State of New Jersey.
It was at Piaffs 'that the brightest liter
ary men of those times read manv of their
effusions before submitting them for publi
cation, the Bohemian circle being, as it
were, the fortunate canine upon which they
were tried. There William 'O'Brownell
first read bis lines beginning, "All that I
Ask is Let Me Alone;" there Stephen Mas
set, who is still a valued contributor to hu
morous publications, submitted the pungent
sayings of "Jeenis Pipes, of Piptsville;"
there Henry Clay Lukens who is still wield
ing his pen, notably lor the Arkansas Trav
eller, had judgment passed upon the prose
humor ot "Erratic Eurique;" there Frank
Bellew invited criticism ot the sketches
which were to be submitted to the Harpers
or Frank Leslie; there Thomas Worth, now
the high salaried caricaturist of Texas Sit
ings, displayed the clever pencilings which
he sold wherever he could find a purchaser;
there Edward H. House, now occupying re
sponsible and confidential relation with the
Imperial Government of Japan, fascinated
the circle with the brilliancy of his conver
sation and won its admiration with the
breadth and depths of his general imorma
tion. OTHERS THAN WEITEBS AND ABTISTS.
But there were others than writers and
artists who made the Pfaff coterie brilliant.
Frequently seeu about the Bound Table were
Edwin Adams, genial, whole-souled and the
most versatile ol all actors; Lawyer Charles
W. Brooke, whose recitation of ""The Bells
of Shandon" was then and is now consid
ered the perfection of rhythmic and melo
dious elocution; the late Dan Bryant, the
king of all negro minstrels; the late Nelse
Seymour, one of the husbands of EfEe Ger
mon, and with whom died a peculiar phase
oi Duriesque in negro minstrelsy ot which
he was the only exponent; self-assertive and
dogmatic "Show" Bateman, the father ot
the Bateman Sisters; Dolly Davenport, a
Eopular actor of his day and the one-time
usband of Lizzie Weston, who afterward
married Charles Matthews, the celebrated
English actor. There were also occasional
droppings in of such men as James W.
Wallack aud John Brougham, and E. L.
Davenport and others, who could add to the
conviviality of a collection ot choice spirits.
It was a famous coterie while it lasted, but
ruthless progress soon caused this order,
whose knights had never felt the touch ol
accolade, to dwindle and pass away.
Bleecker street, which had been the avenue
for fashionable residences, was given up to
commerce and became "far down town."
But the first blow delivered at PfafTs was
when a man named Garrad opened a rival
chop house in Bleecker street next to the
savings bank, which was also graced with a
Bound Table. This caused a division in the
Bohemian circle, and from that time the
fame of the cellar alcove began to pale until
it was no longer found profitable to keep it
open and Pfaff went uptown in a vain search
lor his former patrons. That ended the story
which his death now revives.
Louis N. Meoaroex.
The Ulaes.
This is a synonym for that gloomy, harrassed
condition ol tho mind hlch has Its origin in
dyspepsia. All the ugly suirits that under tho
name of the "blues," "blue dovils," "megrims"
and "mulligrubs" torments the dyspeptic al
most ceaselessly, banish when attacked with
Hosteller's Stomach Bitters, that, moreover,
annihilates biliousness, constipation, chills and
f ever, kidney complaints and nervousness.
Lots given away to builders.
11, to-day's Dispatch.
See page
Wood Mantel.
Visit our wareroom fitted up with the
latest styles in all the hard wood now fash
ionable. James C. Thompson,
610 Liberty avenue.
Homes! homes! homes!
day's Dispatch.
See page 14, to-
Briko yonr photos to be copied to Eleo
trio Portrait Company, 10 and 13 Sixth st.;
crayons, water colors, etc.; best work;
lowest prices. WSu
A home on $1 capital,
day's Dispatch.
Sea page 14, to-
Ijonvre Drcsamnklns Lonvre.
Now is the the time to leave vour special
orders for ladies' and children's gingham
suits; all work done on short notice.
Louvre, 24Sixth st.,
Directly opp. Bijou Tneater.
No Branch Store.
Here is the place to put your money.
To-day's Dispatch, page 14.
BemnANTS of table 'linens at about K
price on Friday and Saturday, May 9 and lu.
ttssu Huoub & Hackb.
Safe, sure and profitable. See page 14,
to-day's Dispatch.
Dabbs has made many beautiful and fine
photographs this past week of notable and
prominent people.
High, dry and healthy,
day's Dispatch.
Bee page 14, to
1890.
A CHAT WITH LOTTA.
The Richest Actress of America En
joying Life In Washington.
HER FIRST SHOWER OP SILYER.
She Has All She Can Do to Manage Herself,1
Let Alone a Husband.
PATH'S THOUSAND-DOIiLAR LETTERS
rwBiTxxx roa THB DISrATCn.1
HE charming actress
Lotta, whom John
Brougham immortal
ized as "the dramatic
cocktail" of Ameri
ca, has this year
spent the quietest
winter of her life.
The sprain in her
ankle, which she re
ceived in jumping
from a runaway car
riage in Boston, has
has kept her indoors
at Washington and
out of society, and
she has devoted the
winter to art. She
is delighted, she says, in the discovery that
she has a new talent, that of painting, and
Washington artists tell me .that her work is
very creditable indeed. She has picked up
all she knows herself, and without a lesson
she has painted a half dozen pictures, all of
which are of more than ordinary merit.
I looked at these recently. Some of them
are country scenes, and the air,-the sky, the
fields and tbe log cabins carry one back to
As She Captivated Us All.
Lotta's early days in California, and tbe
scenes look as real as though they were
painted out of doors. In portraits, also, she
is doing very well, and I took a sketch of a
picture of a little negro model who stood for
her as Topsy. Lotta's painted Topty is as
black as ebony, and she has as bright, danc
ing, mischievous eyes as those possessed by
the character made lamous in "Uncle Tom's
Cabin." The figure has real life, and it
glows upon the canvass with all the vivacity
of Lotta upon the stage.
RICHEST ACTBES3 IK AMERICA.
Lotta had expected to have rested this
winter and to have gone much into Wash
ington society. She is one of the few
actresses who can afford to take vacations,
and she is by all odds the richest actress in
America. She is said to be worth at least
$1,000,000, and her mother is one of tbe
shrewdest financiers, aud Lotta says one of
the best managers in America. It was
through her that the Park Theater in Bos
ton was bought and the International Hotel
in connection with it. For this Lotta paid
$350,000 in cash, and she paid 25,000 ad
ditional for the furniture which it con
tained. She has investments scattered all
over the United States, and she told me that
she and her mother had lately planted some
money in Kansas City, which she hoped
would grow a good harvest. She has in
vestments in California, is said to have
$100,000 in New York property, and she has
$400,000 ic United States bonds laid aside
in case of a panic. Her mothermanages all
money matters lor her, and she defers to her
iu everything. She is here with her this
winter, and she has taken such good care of
her that Xiotta will be able to return to the
stage next fall.
When I called upon Lotta at her home,
on Fourteenth street, above Newspaper
Bow in Washington, I found that she had
discarded her crutches. Her eyes were as
bright as they have ever been upon the
stage, her skin was as fresh and clear as that
of a baby's and her plump round form ac
corded with the statement that she made to
me that she was in perfect health and that
she weighed 125 pounds. Strange enough
the conversation first turned to money
making and acting and I asked Lotta the
secret of her financial success. She re
plied: OWES MUCH TO HER MOTHER.
"I owe nearly everything to my mother,
and I really know very little about our
money matters, but I think one reason for
our prosperity has been in the fact that we
have not been extravagant. We do not care
to pay anything tor pure show, and when we
are mating a tour we do not take all of the
best rooms on the ground floor of every hotel
we stop at, ride out in a coach-and-four, nor
give great dinners. I do not wish to make a
splurge, and I prefer quiet rooms higher up
where we do not attract so much attention
and have more rest. Besides the profits of
my acting have been well invested, and my
mother is a shrewd business woman. The
trouble with many actresses Is that they al
ways' spend as much as they make, and
never learn the philosophy oi interest and
accumulation. People on the stage receive
very good salaries.' The public has been
very kind to me, and I have been very suc
cessful in pleasing them through a long
series of years."
"You began to act almost as a baby,"
said I.
"Yes," replied Lotta, "my first acting
was so lonir a;?o that I can hardly remem
ber it. 'My father waf, you know, a book
seller' in New York, and he had a store oh
Nassau street when gold was discovered in
California. After a lew years he got the
fever and went West, and three years later
my mother aud I went out to him. We
lived in a little log cabin at the mining set
tlement of Laporte, but times were not very
good and my father, though he got some
gold, never 'struck it rich,' as tbey say.
When I was about 7 years old a dancing
school was opened in the camp and I there
took rav first lessons iu dancing. I learned
the steps easily, and, they tell me, developed
at once some musical talent.
HER FIRST SHOWER OF SILVER.
"At the close of the term a performance
was gotten up at a little theater ot the town,
and after much urging my mother allowed
me to take part. I both sang and danced
and I was a great success. The miners, you
know, were especially fond of children and
they went wild over me. When I came out
on the stage at the close of the performance
I was received with a shower of silver half
dollars and dollars, which the audience
threw at me. Our funds were rather low at
that time and this ovation was quite accept
able. "That night decided my career as an
actress, and shortly after this I started out
with my mother and traveled over Califor
nia m t star. I wsj known u Li J'etitt
WW
Mm jm
WE3k
Lotta, and my name was tbe biggest one on
the billheads. This was in the days of
mining excitement and mining profits, and
our troupe made money. The miners were
very liberal, and this custom of throwing
presents to the successful actress was -in
vogue. I received all kinds of things, from
$20 gold pieces and ruby rings to sets of
jewels and diamond-backed watches. I re
member two elegant diamond-studded
watches tbat'were given me in San Fran
cisco, and I was everywhere received very
kindly."
"But was not the society and tbe life a
rough one?" I asked.
"As to the li e," replied Lotta with a
smile, "there were a few hardships. We
had no modern conveniences in tbe shape of
railroads, gas and theater arrangements.
There were no roads and we had often to
travel from mining camp to mining camp by
BRIDLE PATHS AMONG THE MOUSTAINS.
"I bad a suit of boy's clothes made tor
me and I used these on these tnps. As to
the society, ladies were as well treated by
the miners as they are treated in anv of the
drawing rooms or the world I might say
even better and among the miners were as
well-bred men and as well-read men as you
will find in any of our cities. The gold ex
citement drew all classes to the West and a
graduate oi Harvard or Yale with the bluest
of Mayflower blood in bis veins might be
the driver of your mule team-or the sane at
the theater. Mother traveled with me and
she was vrry carelul of both my manners
and morals. I was more polite then than I
am now. I remember it was a enstom at
Laporte for the children to go about on
Christmas to the stores and ask for Christ
mas presents. I was never allowed to do
this and the merchants evidently appre
ciated the tact, for they sent me presents of
their own accord and 'one Christmas I re
member I received seven new dresses."
"Do you ever get anysuch presents now?"
I asked.
"Not in the way of having them thrown
upon the stage," replied Lotia. "That has
gone out of fashion, and the best we get are
flowers. You may remember an incident
which occurred while I was playing Musette
at Philadelphia a few years ago. A lady
sitting in a box was so delighted with the
acting that she threw me a most beauti'ul
ring. It contained two large diamonds and
ten smaller ones and these were set about
two rubies and two sapphires. I noticed the
lady in the box while I was sitting on the
stump chatting with Billy Bradsbaw.
A BHTO- WITH A STRING TO IT.
"She was pointing her finger at the stage
and thrusting it out again and again in a
way which I feared would attract the atten
tion of the audience. I wondered what she
wanted and was considerably annoyed. I
told Billy to look at the woman. "He did
so and hfs eyes lollowed her finger and saw
this ring lyi'ng on the stage. He handed it
tome, and I was, of course, delighted to re
ceive such a beautiful souvenir. Billy re
mained some time sitting on the stumo
and I asked him why he did so. He
said he was waiting to see her throw him a
ring. ""After the play was over the lady
came behind the scenes and I had a very
pleasant talk with her. This, however, was
not the end of the story. About two years
after this I received a letter from the family
of the lady asking for the return of the ring.
At the same time the lady wrote me that
she had given the ring out of pure admira
tion for me and she did not want it returned.
I conld not keep it when I knew that her
family did not like it, and I sent it back to
her."
The conversation here tnrned to Philadel
phia and New York, and Lotta told me the
story of her first success in the East. Said
she: "I was playing in New York when I
was 14 years old and my great hit there was
"The Marchioness, which was written for
me by John Brougham, and from the acting
of which be dubbed me tbe 'Dramatic
Cocktail of America.' The play was a great
success, and I have been playing it for
years.
A FORTUNE FROM A QUARTER.
"You ask me for my favorite characters.
I have so many that I can hardly say which
I like the bestT I am perhaps best known
as The Marchioness, Topsy, Sam Willough
by. Musette, Bob aud Zip, and as to 'The
Xiittle lletective, l nave played it season
alter season and year after year until I am
really ashamed to" show my face in it upon the
stage again. That clay has always been a
great hit and it has brought me in no end of
money. We paid just 25 cents for it, tbe
cost of the book trom which it was adapted
to me. and we have made thousands upon
thousands out of it,"
"How about your future? It has been re
ported that you will soon retire from the
stage."
"There is no truth in any such report,"
replied Lotta, emphatically. "I expect to
have three new plays next year and Mr.
Ford, of Baltimore, will be my manager.
These plays are now being written for me
and I expect to spend next summer by the
sea at Nantasket studying them. Two of
the plays are adaptations from the French
aud the German and the other is an Ameri
can play written for me by Mr. Kidder, the
man who wrote 'A Poor Belation' tor Sol
Smith Bussell. This play is entitled 'Mis
chief the German has the name of 'Doctor
Lol' and it is tbe translation of a German
comedy fitted for me. The French play is
entitled 'Flourette.'
"As to retiring from the stage, when I get
ready to go I will not make a great fuss
about it. I don't believe in making a fare
well tour again and again. I want to keep
before tbe nublic as long as the public wants
me, and when I do take a notion to retire it
may be that I will change mv mind after I
have had a few mouths' vacation and want to
go back again. The report of my retirement
probably came from the fact that I had set
aside this winter as a vacation. I find mv
life upon the stage, as much as I love it. an
uunatural one, and the atmosphere is differ
ent irom that of real ine. During these
periods of rest, n hich I take, I am able to
get acquainted with my audiences, and I be
lieve that I act all tbe better for them."
YOUNO WOMES OS THE STAGE.
"What do you think of the stage as a
place for young women?"
"I think," replied Lotta, "that there is
no better field in the world for the young
woman, provided she possess talents and has
a guardian to watch over her as a balance
wheel. In this case the serpents that now
and then bang around the stage cannot
sting her, and she will find in ner work a
field for tbe development of all ber faculties,
and one in which she may find both profit
and happiness. I presuppose, of course,
that the woman has talent."
I here showed Lotta a paragraph pretend
ing to give a resume of her lovers and asked
her whether she was still among the ranks
of the single blessed and whether she in
tended to remain so. She raised her band
as she replied and brought it down with em
phasis, saying:
"Yes, thank heaven! It is all that I can
do to manage myself with tbe aid of my
mother, and I can see no reason why I
should undertake the management of a hus
band or accept s husband to let him manage
me. I am satisfied with my present con
dition, aud I expect to continue in it."
SOMETHING ABOUT PATTI.
Speaking of .Lotta's early career reminds
me of a talk I had at Washington vritb one
of Patti's first managers. This man is now
a little white-whiskered clerk in tbe Treas
ury Department. His name is Widdows
and he is tbe most noted chime-ringer of
America. Fatti was 13 years old when she
starred the country in a concert troupe, with
Ole Bull, under him. She then got $100 a
week instead of $5,000 a night. I under
stand that Patti will spend the summer
at her castle in Wales, and it
may be that she will devote her'
time to writing her reminiscences. Not
long ago Harpers Brothers ofiered her $1,000
a letter for a series to be used by them in
Harper's Weekly. Patti agreed to write
tbe articles, but she was not satisfied with
the way her manuscript was treated in New
York, and she threw up the contract. The
price had, I think not, much to do with the
matter, as an article which would taEe a
week or so to construct is a bagatelle at
$1,000 to a woman who can make $5,000
every night she chooses to open ber moutb.
Feank G. Oakpestbb.
Toxth money works while you. sleep,
page 14, to-day's Dispatch.
See
INiNOCENTJffi. NAST.
. Continued from Nineth Page.
lace! How can they do such a thing? I
shouldn't think tbe law would allow it. I
should think "
Mr. Nast did not conclude his remark.
Another journalist uttered a witticism, and
it struck my companion dumb. He looked
around as if he expected to see the heavy
hand of the Federal law swoop down upon
the press gallery for its unseemly levity in
the oresence of this angnst assembly.
"I think I'll bs going now," he said, with
a timid tremble in his tone.
He promised, however, to come to tha
Senate with me again. I anticipate some
real pleasure in showing thesightsof Wash
ington to Mr. Nast, and in getting from him
some pictures ot scenes as they appear to
one whose interest is whetted by his own
sweet simplicity and childlike innocence.
Willis b. Hawkcts.
Ablr Brooklyn Jurjmen.
Brooklyn Citizen. J
After a jury in one of our courts brought
in a verdict for tbe plaintiff, the other side
asked that they be polled; that is, that each
juror be asked individually whether it is
his verdict. Beginning, of course, with the
first juror, the clerk asked:
"Is this your verdict?"
"No, sir; its the plaintiff's," waa the
prompt answer, in a tone of surprise.
"
Save Tour Hair
BY a timely use of Ayer's Hair Vigor.
This preparation has no equal as a
dressing. It keeps the scalp clean, cool,
and healthy, and preserves tha color,
fullness, and beauty of the hair.
"I was rapidly becoming bald and
fray; but after using two or three
ottles of Ayer's Hair Vigor my hair
grew thick and glossy and the original
color was restored." Melvin Alurich,
Canaan Centre, N. H.
" Some time ago I lost all my hair in
consequence of measles. After due
waiting, no new growth appeared. I
then used Ayer's Hair Vigor and my
hair grew
Thick and Strong:.
It has apparently come to stay. Tha
Vigor i3 evidently a great aid to nature."
J. B. Williams, Floresville, Texas.
"I have used Ayer's Hair Vigor foz
the past four or five years and find it a
most satisfactory dressing for the hair.
It is all I could desire, being harmless,
causing the hair to retain its natural
color, and requiring but a small quantity
to render the hair easy to arrange."
Mrs. M. A. Bailey, 9 Charles street,
Haverhill, Mass.
" I have been using Ayer's Hair Vigor
for several years, and believe that it has
caused my hair to retain its natural
color." Mrs. H. J. King, Dealer in
Dry Goods, &c, Bishopville, Md.
PBIF-inzD BT
Dr. J. C. Ayer & Co., Lowell, Mast.
Bold by Druggists and Perfumers.
MARVELOUS Triumph Over DISEASE
, WITHOUT MEDICINE.
Db. WlLroBD Hall's HKAl.TH PAMPHLET
shows how IlTspeDsla, Constipation. Piles. JTeTers,
Rheumatism. Colin. Liver or Kidney Troubles, or
aunost any ailment is Conquered Without
Mudicixe. The Treatment Is Harmless. easllTaD
plled; relief Is speedy and permanent. It Is
neither Mind Care. Faith Cure nor a set of rules,
hat a Positive '1 reatment based upon Ine Laws or
Life. For particulars inrl Indorsements address
(with 20 stamp) HYGIEN IC TRLATMUNT CO..
Agent, p. u. Box 335, Plttshnre, 1'a.
apIttt-TTSSU
Some
Children
Growing
Too Fast
become listless, fretful, without ener-'
gy, thin and weak. But you can for
tify them and build them up, by the
use of
OF PURE COD LIVER OIL AND
HYPOPHOSPH1TES
Of lame and Soda.
Thav will take it readilv. for It Is al
most as palatable as milk. And it $
should be remembered that AS A PKE- (
TESTITE OB CUBE OF COUGHS OB COLDS, I
IB BOTH THE OLD AND YOUNG, IT IS
UNEQUALLED. Avoid substitutions offered. J
OC2S-2MWFSO
CATARRH CUREDJO STAT CUBED.
AS AGGRAVATED CASE OT FTTB TZASS1
Sotteriso Cored Br Db. Btibs Ovzb
TWO YXAE3 AOO BZMAE?3 WELL TO IBM
rsKSEST Time.
Mrs. JPerry, eor. Ann and Moultrie BU.. eiljf.
For five years Mrs. Perry suffered from such
severe pains that she could not give attention
to her household dnties. could get air through
neither nostril, conseqnently slept with her
mouth open and snored so loudly that none
conld sleep in adjoining room". Food she
could not retain n ber stomach, especially
supper; this she vomited as soon as eaten. Sr.
Byers removed tbe swellings from ber nostrils,
opening them up so sba conld breathe thronh
them, reduced tbe soreness and inflammation,
and gave ber medicine for ber stomach. She
never vomited after taking tbe first dose of
medicine, and in three months was entirely
welL A few days ago Mrs. Perry called to con-
suit Dr. Byers about ner arm and said her head,
and toruach -till remained well, thus disprov
ing the popular idea that catarrh cannot bo
cured to stay cured.
HOME TREATMENT A SUCCESS.
A lady patient of Howard, O., writing fer
her second mouth's treatment, sajs; "I am
feeling much better, my head has not pained
me for over two weeks, and tbe terrible pain t
bad in my back Is gone."
TBKATMENT S5 A MONTH. fc
Dr. Byers continues to treat catarrh and sUJ
chronic diseases for So per month, medicine in- -V
eluded. That tbe public appreciate good, "
bonest treatment at low rates Is evidenced by
the fact that he is kept busy from morning till ' .
night. One dav he treated 24 people for ca
tarrh alone. He consults with and treat
every patient himself. Office established 1S8&
DB.BYKBS,
Successor to Drs. Logan A Byers, 121 Fenn ava.
ap&Ola
Ayer's Hair Vigor,
r SSssaSSS
SCOWS
mwm
.
nnammaBMaraMHaHHHaHlnH-agmmHHVatBHHHHpji WHb