fifi. 'y j 'A u THE PITTSB DISPATCH 6rg j SECOND PART. PAGES9T0I7.' "" i - - - . i i i r QC IULi Possibilities of the Future in Southern Africa. CAPETOWN'S MIXED BACES How American Ships Get Worsted in the Carrying Trade. GOLD AKD DIAMOND INTERESTS ICOBBESrOXDEIlCK Or TIIB EISPATCB.1 Cape Town. South Africa, April 10. FBICA suggests to the average American a vast continent inhabited almost 'wholly by savages and wild animals, with a climate i deadly to the white man. It lis a very erroneous notion indeed. By a glance at the sketch of Sooth Africa here given the four political di visions under control of the white man will be seen. These are Cape Colony (En glish), the Orange Free State, the South African Republic and Natal,an En glish colony. Cape Colony is the oldest and largest of these divisions. It was first settled several centuries ago,and has been an English colony for the past 80 years. The combined area of the four di visions of South Africa is 308,500 square miles and the total population about 2,426, 000, distributed as follows: Cape Colony Area in square miles, 200. 000; population, 1,000,000; whites. 300,000. South African Republic Area, 110,000; population, 810,000; whites, 100,000. Orange Tree State Area, 41,500; popula tion. 136,000; whites, C9.000. Natal Area, 17,000; population, 480,000; whites, 30,000. Thus it will be seen that there are over half a million whites in a total population of two and a half millions in South Africa. Cape Town is the most important city and the capital ot Cape Colony. The city is ' peculiarly situated. For almost the entire distance around it on the land side are mountains. One of these mountains rises seemingly perpendicularly to a height of 3, COO feet, and then appears to be cut off so that its top is level over its entire extent. From its appearance the mountain has re ceived the name of Table Mountain; and tbe pretty bay, directly in iront of the city, which is overlooked by Table Mountain, is Table Bay. A view of part of the city as seen from tbe bay is shown here. The mountain appears to be quite near the water, so that the city seems to cover little gronnd. Indeed, as one approaches Cape Town by water lor the first time, he does not think it is a city ot 50,000 inhabitants. THE PEOPLE OF CAPE TOWS'. But it contains fully that number, and a more mixed mass of humanity it would be difficult to nod mixed botn as to race, color and religion. Besides large numbers of English and Dutch, there are blacks of all TABLE MOUNTAIN shades and bloods. There are 12,000 Malays among the colored population. There is such a mixture of whites and blacks that It is unusual to see one who has not the blood ot different races or ot different tribes in his Teins. For instance, many years ago Hot tentots were very common here, and to-day not one full-blooded Hottentot could be found in Cape Town. The Hottentots have been mixed with other blacks, and whites as well. Very many of the blacks are part Dutch, part Malay, and perhaps part some thing else. In short, the colored popula tion of Cape Town, aside from a few thou sand Malays, may be summed up as a mix ture of Dutch, Malay, Hottentot and various other branches of Kaffirs. All sorts of features and colors are to be seen. From this it would seem that the laboring class is large and labor plentiful, but a more independent set of people than the Cape Town blacks cannot be found and labor is very scarce. The majority of the Malays work for a few days, earn a few shillings, and then '"lay off""and spend the money. Saturday afternoon is a general half holiday here and besides this and Sun day when all labor ceases, the Malays take Mondays, so this day is always known as "blue" Monday, ana you must not count on having work done by Malays upon that day. COMMERCE OF CAPE TOWN. Most of the English and colonial people of Cape Town are well-to-do and in very good financial circumstances, many of them being wealthy. Cape Town is a good busi ness point. Because of its location great num bers of ships stop for supplies, and there are several large firms who supply coal and provisions to ships. Coal sells for about 517 per ton. Another colonial industry carried on extensively Fs the manufacture of wines. The Cape wines are famous for their quality and the low price at which they are sold. It is neediees to say that almost everybody drinki wine, and the wine market is chiefly a home one. Ostrich farms were once" very common throughout Cape Colony, but as the demand for ostrich feathers has greatly diminished the indus try has decreased accordingly. There are no large manufactures of anr kind in the colony, and hence all supplies are brought from England. England's South A.rican colonies, as well as the Free State and the South African Bepublic, furnish an immense market for her goods. There are. however, two or three firms who deal in American coods only, for a tew articles such as chairs, doors, window frames, blinds and some hardwares can be bought in the United States and delivered here with duty paid cheaper than they can be made here." This is because skilled labor is so scarce and expensive here. There are two English lines of steamers which run regularly between England and South A rica. Each line runs two steamers a month, so that one arrives from England every week and one leaves for England as often. Both lines are first-class, and carrr the mail and passengers with great regu larity. It requires about 18 days to make tbe passage, and the lare is from ?140 to $200. Ships of all nations except America ere quite common. AMERICAN SHIPS ABROAD. American ships cannot compete with those A UNO OF PRQMI V ii; of most other countries, because the various Governments subsidize their ships. We had an instance of this several weeks ago when an American barque, which had brought a cargo from New York, was obliged to return to America with nothing, because an Italian barque bound for the United States carried a cargo which both bid for, much cheaper tb3u the American could do it. The Italian Government paid its barque about $2,500 for carrying the cargo. Of course the American stood no chance. "While npon this subject let me speak of an A'merican schooner which has been stationed here for several months. There are immense quantities offish in Table Bay, and among them many mackerel which heretofore were never used. Mackerel are becoming scarce on the United States coast, and an American captain leirning of the Cape Town mackerel ventured to come here (a distance of over 7,000 miles) and see what he could do in the way of catching the mackerel and shipping them to America. Everyone at home ridiculed his adventure and predicted failure. Captain Chase, the American referred to, came here with an American crew and, shortly after being here made a shipment of over 100 barrels. In due time he learned the fish proved to be as good as the Ameri can mackerel and that they brought a good round price. As there is very little expense involved in catching, salting and shipping them, Captain Chase is realizing a very handsome profit, and has proved beyond tm ng I pifliM 1 B If iTlf H U iaiBilji j j J GHEENMARKET SQUARE, CAPE TOWN. any doubt that mackerel fishing in Table Bay is a snre and paying business. Since the captain started catching the mackerel they have come to be in demand here, and now every one wonders that they were not used before. GOVERNMENT OF CAPE COLONT. Cape Colony is as independent of En eland as any of the English colonies. The Queen appoints a Governor and Judges of the Supreme Court together with other officers. All laws are made by the Colonial Parliament, but are, of course, subject to the veto of the Crown. This power is, I believe, never exercised by the Queen. A new Parliament House has been recently erected. The Government is fairly progressive, and has supplied good railroad, telegraph and postal service throughout the colony. There are at present about 2,000 miles of railroad in operation. The main line is from Cape Town to Kimberley, the seat of the great diamond fields. This line, as well as all the branches, are shown in the m.ip. An ex tension is ryiwbeing made beyond Kimberlev, and this will soon reach tbe rich gold fields to be mentioned later. Many more miles of railroad are needed in South Africa, and there is no doubt that a hw years will see a great increase in this respect xne cumaic ui ouuiu .o.iriua is a very healthy one. The thermometer never goes lar below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. In the summer months, November, December and January, it is sometimes very hot, but - the FROM THE DOCKS. oppressive days are generally very few. The winds of Cape Town are very peculiar, and during certain seasons blow qnite hard. The one from the southeast is best known. It can always, I am told, be predicted from the appearance of a white cloud over the top of Table Mountain. This white cloud olten forms over Table Mountain in such a wayas to give a very beautiful scene. It is known as the "table cloth" of Table Mountain. THE MINEEAL RESOURCES. In 1872 diamonds were discovered at a place which is now Kimberley. These dia mond fields have become lamocs all over tbe world for the great quantities of dia monds which have been taken from them. But I hope to make Kimberley and the dia mond mines the subject of another letter, and so take up the gold fieds. For many years, or even centuries, Africa has been thought to be rich in gold. Trav elers who were in Africa a century (ASHOHALAHb 't-KAOMT Hap of South AMca. ago, said there were rich mines of gold and silver in Eastern and South Africa. It has been known for these many years that natives from the interior of South Africa used gold as a medium of ex change. I find it is generally believed that Ophir, the place where the Scriptures, say Solomon obtained gold to the value, as some one has estimated, of 54.500,000,000, was situated in Southeastern A rica. A traveler of a century ago gave this subject much attention, and after consulting ancient Portngnese and African records and the traditions of Arabs, fully believed Ophir was in Africa. Five centuries ago gold mines were known to be in operation in South Africa. Notwithstanding the fact that gold has been known to exist in Africa for centu ries, there has been no attempt on the part of white men to get this gold until very recent years. The reasons for this are found fa"? :.. I J 1 J j --mirr in the fact that vast numbers of natives were ever ready to oppose anv such attempts of the whites, and that the climate of the gold districts was believed to be deadlv to whites. BThis belief has been proved a mistaken one, ior torn uu oeen louna to ejeist in large areas of country which are unusually healthy. CALIFORNIA SCENES EE-ENACTED. From 1870 to 1880 gold was mined in small quantities, but it was not until about 1884 that lame discoveries were made and a great rush of people has followed. "Within 3 years.from 1884 to 1888,over 20,000 people were drawn to tbegoldfieldBof South Africa and $50,000,000 were invested. The greater part of the discoveries were made in the ter ritory of the South African Republic. Three years ago gold was found at an nninhr 'Sited place, where there now stands a citr of over 40,000 people. This is the city of Johannes berg. From all that I can learn Johannes berg is a well-built city. It has many large and fine buildings. America cannot show a case of such marvelous growth the dis covery of gold, founding and building a city of over 40,000 inhabitants, when there were no railroads within 300 miles, 'and all of this in three years' time. Though Jo hannesberg is now down, and "times are bard" there, it is not due to an insufficient quantity of gold, but to the fac that it costs too much to get the gold. There being no railroads, transportation is very expensive, and all supplies are exceed- ingly high. Besides this, the Government seems to have done its share by burdening the people with heavy taxes. Many mines are, however, not paying well, and a near future will undoubtedly see a change for the better at Johannesberg. The South African Republic is almost covered by gold fields. But to the north of the Republic lie two countries where gold has been found by travelers. These coun tries are Matabeleland and Mashonaland. The former is under the absolute control of a native King, Lobengula by name. He is the absolute owner of every living person and thing, as well as every acre of ground within his territory. His word is law, and death is invariably the penalty for every re fusal to comply with his law. Lobengula has an army ot 20,000 men, and with these he has assumed control of Mashonaland, a country to the east of Matabeleland under independent chiefs, Lobengula has nearly exterminated the Mashonas, who are a very peaceful and industrious people. PLUNDER AND SLAVEET. Agreeably to the King's wishes a number of his warriors go into Mashonaland, cap ture all the cattle and people they can, kill aii me men, anu bring an the women and children back as slares for his own people. The Matabeles proper are a branch of the Zulus and are well-trained as warriors. They are a very warlike people and have never been conquered. Lobengula has for years known somelhire of the mineral wealth M hi., couury,o.ad he has navr al lowed whitas or blacks to touch auy gold. Natives have been known to find large nuggets of gold and to have hastily thrown them back into the streams from which they came. Death is the penalty for touch ing the gold. Many whites have tried to get permission to dig lor gold, but the King has always re lused. He readily grants permits to whites to hunt and trade in his country, but ap points a guard of half a dozen warriors to stay continually with every white until he leaves the country. Thus no whites have ever been able to touch the gold. But Lo bencnla is smart enough to see that he can not always keep the whites from his coun try, and so about two years ago he granted concessions to some Englishmen, who have formed an immense company. Tbe conces sion gives the right to hunt for gold in Lo bengula's tributary possession, Maihonland. The capital of this company is $20,000,000, and it is backed by a charter from the En glish Government. TheKing has been very iriendly to this company, which has made him valuable presents, and he is lull aware of the company's doings. Two of his coun cilors went to England and were presented to the Queen. The Queen sent a commission with a royal letter to Lobengula, and they were received very kindly by him. The first expedition of the English com pany, which is called the British South African Company, leaves for Mashonaland about April 15. I shall accompany this ex pedition and hope to be able to inlorm tbe readers ot this paper of the journey to Mashonaland. Without any doubt the suc cessful opening of this fine country and its judicious settlement by the whites will prove a great benefit to South Africa. Claire A. Ore. TEE HEW INDIAN MESSIAH. lie U Bald Beaded, Wears a WIr and ! Tenelilnc Nfir Iteliaioa nances. An Indian runner reports at Helena that couriers sent out by the Cheyenne Indians to find the new Messiah, or second Christ, heretofore mentioned in The Dispatch, saw him and talked to him. They located him in tbe mountains beyond Salt Lake, and from their description of him he is an old man with a long white beard, which hangs down over his breast Some days he wears white hair, and at other times has no hair on his head, from which it ap pears that he is bald-headed and wears a wig. He made one of the Cbevenne Indians who visited him a high" priest, and instructed him in the rites and mysteries of the new religion. He gave him th'e figures and ceremonies of a new In dian dance, which takes four nichts and one whole day to perform. The Cheyennes have just finished their first performance of this religious dance at the Eosebud sgency. They all believe in the new Messiah, and all work has about ceased among the Cheyennes. Major Carroll says the new Christ Is no doubt some old Mormon elder or bishop who is a spiritualist, and is proselyting Indians to Mormonism through mystery and deceit. The cell in the guard house at Fort Custer has been dusted ont and prepared for the Messiah if he can be caught. NEW FEVEE BEMEDY. Antipyrin Succeeded br Anilkamnla, Wblch la S.ilrt to be HormlcM. St. Louis Ulobe-Democrat.3 The opposition which began in Europe to antipyrin, as a dangerous agent for the re duction of fever and the abatement of pain, has been the indirect cause of the introduc tion of a new remedy of the same class and the same general origin. It is called antikamnia, which means "op posed to pain," and is a product of coal tar, as is antipyrin. The new medicine is a cer tain remedy lor headache, neuralgia, loco motor ataxia, sciatica, and in fact for all pains that can be reached by medicine taken into the stomach and diffused into the blood. Antikamnia does not excite the heart, nor doeslts use grow into a habit, as it contains neither opium, cocaine nor any other dangerous drng or chemical. It does not produce gastric disturbances. PITTSBURG, SUNDAY, MAY 25, 1890. SHARES AND FLATS. Men Who Live by Their Wits in New Tork and Their Victims. WALL STEEET A DEN OP THIEVES. Promoters and Brokers Who Eob Tinder Cover of Sheet Iron Safes. SWINDLES Tfli ARE MORE BRAZEN ICORBIBFOXDINCX OV THB PISrATCH. J Kew York, May 23. The "sharps" and "flats" of New York form a social study worthy of many chapters. Whether the "flats" are responsible for the "sharps," or the reverse is the case we need not stop,Iong to inquire. Perhaps there would be no fishers of men if there were none to be caught. My own opinion is that both are the natural product of a higher civilization. In London, Paris and other old European cities the classes of men andTromen who prey upon each other are scarcely more dis tinctly marked than in this American metropolis. The nice shades of business morals, where legitimate dealings fade into robbery and innocence becomes indistin guishable from crime, are unobserved and unrebuked here the same as in the great cities of the effete East. New Tork has some 10,000 dissolute fe males,50,000 indigent persons and 5,000 pro fessional criminals, it is said. There is something inspiring in the fact that there are about 2.000 persons in this city while I write who would nothesitatean instant to clap a deadly sandbag to my head, or thrust a knife between my shoulders as I go along the darkened hall if they felt any reason able certainty of realizing ?10 by the opera tion. Most of these financial operators are known. No man falls into their clutches knowingly or willingly. Their victims are involuntary. Tbe kind of robber I now have in mind to write about is not that sort of a man. He is a good deal more numer ous and a good deal more dangerous. His victims outnumber the involuntary sacri fices 10,000 to 1. A WALL STREET BROKER told me the other day that there were more "suckers" in New York than in any two other cities of the United States. A good many of these suckers find their way to Wall street and some of them are brokers. Now "a Wall street broker" carries with it to the verdant eat a financially solid sound. I used to consider a 'Wall street broker a man among financiers, beyond the respecta ble reach of other commercial gentlemen and to be envied of his kind. Some merit this imaginative tribute of respect. The most of them, are men of the mental and moral grade which characterize the ordinary banker faro banker. If you want the fairy edge taken off of yonr imagination, go down on New and Broad streets occasionally and cultivate these gentlemen of the road. Or, go into some of their bogus offices with formidable vaults and sheet-iron safes and try them on a "flyer." Of course, you can have more fun for your money at the races, or sitting up over faro and roulette, but go in the interests well, let us say in the interests of moral science. There are more men operating in "the street" literally than have offices in "Wall. The legitimate and financially honorable brokers of Wall street, who control the exchanges, form but a small majority of the number reaching out. J lor oasiness i inne wiiao oi tne jiroiesajTM .., m . . . rt" V -: .i a i '.. " lying in wait for the flats with more money than brains. That the number of the latter is legiou is evidenced by the luxurious offices, expensive homes and colossal for tunes of many of these sharps. When there is any lack they turn upon and rend each other. Like race-track bookmakers and other gamblers everywhere, they have cer tain rules of honor among themselves which are scrupulously observe.!. HOW THE ROBBERS WORK. These rules, however, do not prevent, they facilitate the robbery of their victims. There are members on the' floor of the Stock Exchange who have been convicted of put ting the money of a customer in their pockets without a pretext of equivalent. This right belore the man's face. In the trial that followed they were only "cen sured." This was the case where a broker had an office system whereby bis partner on the floor of the Exchange was instructed by telephone in the hearing ot the customer to purchase or sell certain stocks. The floor partner responded by telephone report; but the deals were never made where a "flat" was concerned, the money of the latter be ing promptly placed in the broker's inside pocket. They finally made a mistake by "sizing up" a man wrong. He wouldn't stand it. But this is being done in Wall street everyday. Let mc warn'you against the seductive advertisements of alleged Wall street brokers who claim inside knowledge and large and certain gains on small in vestments. You have no more show for your money than if you played it up against a brace game of faro or put it in tbe.Louisi ana Lottery. On general principles dis trust the man who offers semething for noth ing. The corporation with just a little stock to sell, which will pay 500 per cent (some day) is a common form of the sharp to catch the flat. Lower Broadway is full of them, and so is every side street below Chambers. The electrical companies alone, having nothing but their patents, samples and office furniture, can be counted by the hundred. They exist on the proceeds of the stock they can sell and not on legitimate earnings. DIRECTORS THAT DON'T DIRECT. "There are probably a thousand such cor porations in New York. They are duly in corporated and pay taxes, sometimes, and o:ten have imposing offices in big build ings down town. Their seductive" adver tisements can be read in all the leoding newspapers in the country. Their corre spondence is conducted on" engraved letter heads containing a long list of officers and directors. Of course, these usually have no financial interest in the concern they are purely and simply dummy officials, with say one share of stock each. There are men in New York who make a business in di rectorships. They are negative quantities, attend board meetings regularly, register the will o, the controlling stockholder and are not too inquisitive. These professionals get from $5 to $20 for every attendance and frequently a good dinner into the bargain. If the man ha enongh directorships be can pick up a very comlortable living. Is this a traud on ths business public? Well, it would be if the public didn't know all about it. There are some people, perhaps, who are flat enough to believe that directors direct, but those are getting fewer every year. The recent check-kiting operations of certain bank wreckers In this city caused a visible fall ing off in believers of this sort. HOW PROMOTERS WORK. Hand-in-hand with the corporation of the above description is the promoter. He may be seen fluttering around the corridors of the great office bnildings down town during the day, and at night about the uptown ho tels and Delmonico's. The promoter is a man oi great schemes and bewildering gall. He is the middleman between the bottom less corporation and the flats who have money to invest. A man I have known for a long time as a promoter said to me re cently: "If I could raise $1,000 to fully equip a nice office down town, put in a clerk and typewriter and observe other appear ances oi respeciaoie business llle l coma make $25,000 a year oa my knowledge ofmay not bo retarded a single day. New York. You can't make anything on the curb. It takes a little money. You've got to make a show. You mus$ have a nice place to take customers, and when you get them there you must be surrounded by evi dences of business." "It was suggested that a sheet-iron safe, well painted, was highly ornamental to an office of that character, but conld hardly be put down as an evidence of business. "It would do just as well," said he. "You can do a legitimate business with an empty sheet-iron safe, just the same as with a $1,000 one. It is no sign a bank has money because it has vaults and sares and a lot of loose bills scattered about- Why, there are hundreds of men doing business in New York on appearance. You must have ap pearances." HOW ONE PELLOW "WAS -WORKED. And there are unquestionably thousands of business men here doing business on ap pearances. While in Chicago recently I met a man who had invested $5,000 in the stock of a New York corporation with the agree ment that he was to have the Chicago agency at a certain salary. The Chicago man went on to New York and visited the main office. Everything seemed to be all right. There were all the indications, so far as handsome office rooms, pretty typewrit ers, clerks, office boy and other appurte; nances were concerned, of a big business. The money was paid in and stock issued. The man returned to Chicago wth instruc tions to spare no expense in fit ting up the local office and send in the bill. He followed the instructions. He also sent in a bill for some $250. He also paid the bill himself, finally, the New York "Com pany" having vanished in tbe meantime with his $5,000. Inquiry elicited the fact that it had never had any business and had tnever even paid tor the furnishings in he New York office. The "promoter" did the business. The metropolitan newspapers fairly teem with the advertisements of these specula tors. The very extravagance of the prom ises they contain should be sufficient to de ter any investor from even answering them. The theatrical swindler has a permanent lodgment in New York. He preys upon stage-struck young women and poor actors outot a job, principally, though everybody who has money is fish for hiui. It was only yesterday a New York paper ran one of these vermin to earth. His scheme was to advertise for actresses and actors for certain plays to be put on the road, offering to pay traveling expenses and for wardrobe and a comfortable salary. WHERE THB MONET CAME IK. The preliminary stage ot the game was to send the manuscript part to be played, the charge for the copy ot the play being $5, C. O. D. This was the end of the game, so far as the aspirant for histrionic fame was con cerned. But this is a single case. There are alleged legitimate theatrical agencies here doing a thousand times more damage. The loss of $5 to a theatrical swindler is a small matter, and the result is doubtless beneficial to both parties. The agents who bring young women to New York and work them for every dollar they have for so-called instruction, and then, having ruined them financially, turn them loose to shift for themselves, are the worse criminals. There are a dozen agencies of this kind. Last summer a bright young lady came to my office with an actress, and asked my ad vice as to a certain man in this line of busi ness. She had lived in Indiana and had come to New York to study for the stage. An advertisement brought her to the theatrical agent. He took the easiest way to get rid of her turned her over to a broken-down act ress for instruction at so much per week. It was a good deal from her slender means, but she was an enthusiast, and had resolved to win herself a place. She had been promised a part from one of his friends in a company to go on the road, but had been put off from -Ksiuit tu titue uutit dug iinu ut uuu nusuiviUUA iima 4a tlma nntil atik lMi-l iHAinn nani tin m t00 the pains to look into the matter, and tound that' the broken-do own actress was living with the agent, and the latter turned in these feminine flats as payment. OTHER POEMS OP FRAUD. The bunko steerers and green goods men have been so often described that it would seem to be superfluous anywhere to mention them, and yet scarcely a week goes by but the papers contain glowing accounts of their successful operations. A new crop of fools spring up daily. The clairvoyant thrives in this city. You can see this by the daily standing advertisements. Sometimes there is a halt column of them in a single paper. And they reach ont far and find victims all over the country. This class of sharps has been exposed time and time again, but ridicule and abuse, imprisonment and finest, have no appreciable effect on tbe profession. The flats who patronize them are the silly and ignorant, who never read newspapers, and if they ever learned by ac cident the character ot" the Iraud, have not the strength of mind to profit by the sad experience of others. This is but a brief outline of the list of harpies who prey upon weak humanity. Of the man who lives by his wits without violating the moral code, I will write here after. The grouping of the sharps and fiats here given illustrates with extended signifi cance the adage, "The tool and his money is soon parted. Charles T. Murray. HIS t IDEA OF EXTEAOEDINAEY. Nothing Remarkable About a Man Fnlllng 1.000 Feet Dnleii lie Lived. Wew York Herald.: Some 10 or 12 years ago an incident hap pened at Gibraltar which illustrates the practical -views of a certain class of people. A subaltern named O'Donohue was the offi cer of the guard at the Elphinstone Guard. At this point of the world-known rock there is a sheer drop of over 1,000 feet. A lieutenant who had taken too much champagne at a mess dinner walked over the rock and undoubtedly was dead before he reached the rocks far below. When the officer of the gnard came to fill in his report and reached the question, '.'Has anything extraordinary happened while you were officer of the guard?" he wrote in the blank space reserved for tbe answer, "Noth ing." Of course, he was summoned before Lord Napier of Hagdala, the Governor of Gibral tar. When he appeared, Lord Napier asked: "You were the officer of the guard at El phinstone Guard yesterday?" "I was, sir?" "And this is your report?" "It is, sir." "Lieutenant M was killed by walking over the rock?" "He was, sir." "You knew that when yon made oat your report?" "I did. sir." "That he was killed?" "Yes, sir." "And yet you said in your report that nothing extraordinary had happened on Lyour gnard?" P "I did, sir." "Wen, Mr. u-JLonohue," said Lord Na pier, sternly; "don't you think it is ex traordinary when a lieutenant walks over the rock, falls 1,000 feet and is killed?" "Indeed, sir," was the prompt reply, "I should think it was extraordinary if he had fallen that far and not been killed.". DrETEEEHT BIBECTI0HS. Iilne of Procreas la Undertaking In Amer ica and Encland. In America the undertaking fraternity prides itself on its embalming ability and on being able to prepare a body for burial in such a form that it will withstand the ravages of time and decay. In England they are going just the other way. Lead coffins and even oak caskets are being ta booed in favor of wickerwork and other light coffins, In order that decomposition THE GOOD GRAY POET A Piclnre ot Walt Whitman on the Eve of His 71st Birthday. SCARCE EVER LEAVES HIS ROOM. This is the Golden Age of Literature, Especially in America. HIS PAEALISIS A RESULT OP EXPOSURE rCOEItESrOMDZNCE or TBI DISPATCH. 1 Camden, N, J., May 24. HIS is a quaint old town to be sure! Its pilence is almost idyl lic. The air is per fumed, the grass is green and the plants in the gardens are nod ding and smiling in the warm sunlight. Camden has one claim to greatness. It is the home of Walt Whit man, and here that grand old poet is passing the last years of his life. In a few daya he will have reached the seventy-first milestone. He is very feeble, being racEed with paralysis, and only on great occasions goes out of his house or sees visitors. The poet lives at No. 328 Mickle street. In a little old house far from the nose of street cars and wagon traffic. A ring at the door bell brought a young man, hatless and coat less, to answer our summons. He politely asked us in, but a shade of donbt gathered over his face when we said we had come on a pilgrimage to the old poet, but he soon re turned with the annonncement that Mr. Whitman would be glad to see us in his ( room upstairs. "You may have just two minutes witn mm. ne said, lor ne is very feeble." We walked up two half flights of narrow, wooden stairs, and were at the chamber of the poet. In response to our knock, there was a pleasant "Come in." The room seemed at the first glance to be almost square, with a low ceiling and two windows looking into the street. There sat the ven erable, "good gray poet" in a large arm chair, wearing a light-blue blanket overcoat or dressing gown. He made a splendid picture as he sat there with the morning sunlight dancing in and out of the room, and making grotesque figures on the wall. A PICTTJRE OP THE POET. He had a leonine look. His long white hair fell partly over his face. And such a facet Strong, manly and full of human nature. His gray beard, thick and fluffy, seemed to be scattered all over his huge chest. His shirt was wide open at the throat, exposing his large neck and part of bis bosom. His steel gray eyes snapped with pleasure as he extended his large arm and big right hand. He did not look decrepit. If he could have stood up straight, he would have measured nearly six feet in height, and exhibited the frame of a man who, even now, at 70 years of age, weighs 200 pounds. Itacked with pain and rhenmatio gout, The aged poet, gray and stout, Alone within his modest room Bat weaving thoughts from fancy's loom, lie saw tbe years of youth and dreams Gliding away Ilka summer streams, And in bis sonl a vision came Of honor, friends and lasting fame. The little room was almost covered with papers, magazines and periodicals. They lay around in heaps, and evidently had not been moved for many months. In fact. there was nothing to admire about the dis order of the room. The poet's bed was on one side of the room. Bigbtln front of the poet's chair was a large table, with a pyra mid of old papers on it. At the base of the pyramid there was enough clear space left on the table for the bard to lean over and write his name. His hands are not paralyzed and he can write bis signature in a bold, legible hand, which often he kindly does for autograph collec tors. There was no attempt'at bric-a-brac, pictures or fairy lamp ornamentation in the room. "I am glad to see you, sit down," said Mr. Whitman, after a cordial handshake. Lean ing back, he said he was unable to get to his bed, a few feet away, without assist ance. A MEMENTO OP THE WAR. "I would like to talk to you at length and ask many questions, but I cannot," he said. "Say to the boys that my heart is in the highlands with them. You see, I am whacked and banged up so with paralysis that I am not fit for anything. It is the di rect result of my war experience many years ago. My brother was wounded and T went to him. I exposed myself, and from that time I have never been the hale and hearty man that I was previously. It is a great trial for me to get away irom my room. I do not write any now and have nothing un published." The poet paused, put his hand to his head a brief moment, and in answer to questions said: "Yes, I have many visitors, and it warms the cockles of my heart to have my friends drop in and shake me by the hand. Sir Edwin Arnold called upon me and we had a friendly time ot it. I have never read his 'Light of Asia,' but I have heard others speak highly of its merits. The apostle, or rather the former apostle of testheticism.Oscar Wilde,is a friend of mine. Outside of his long hair he has it cut now and his Bunthorne attitudinizing, I found him a whole-souled and natural fellow." SOME REMINISCENCES. Mr. Whitman then spoke ofbeinginNew York over two years ago, and speaking at Madison Square Theater one afternoon on the anniversary of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, when he stirred every body by reciting "Captain, My Captain!" James Bussell Lowell and Edmund Clar ence Stedman, the poets, were there to hear him and chatted with him after his dis course. , "You ask me about cotemporary literature, and it I think literature in America is de teriorating. Well, I must confess that I do not keep up as I should. Things are moving with a rapid pace. Since I published my 'Leaves oi Grass in 1855, nearly 35 years ago, many, many volumes of poems and literary works have been published. It would not be fair to criticise works that I have not read. I am not a pessimist. I see that the march of progress cannot be stayed, and but lor these pains that keep me in active, I would be, I hope, in the swim." The old poet moved about uneasily in his chair as he spoke, and seemed like a great wounded animal eager and anxious to arise in his majesty and do something.. But the paralysis of which he spoke chained him to his chair. FATHER OP AMERICAN LITERATURE. "This is the golden age for literary work ers," he went on. "They are better paid for their productions now than ever before. Tbe publishers get up their books in better style than ever before. Americana are a bnsy, rushing people, but have time to pause and listen to the Muses, and if they sing in tune our people are ready to applaud. Our liter ary workers have done wonderfully good work and will do better. There are scores of promising young men and women in this country, and the bannerol American liter ature will never trail in the dust." , We had conversed longer than his vis itors are usually allowed to converse. We arose to go and he bent forward, shook us cordially by the hands, and said: "I am glad you came. I wish I could talk longer. Bemember me to all my friends, and above all do not forget to say to them that my heart is in ths highlands with them. Good by." Foster Coatxs. Homes Tost. ily -MffMMMMmW cwnrrnir tor th DisrATcn.1 CONCLUSION. CHAPTER XXX ATE ATQUE VALE. That frightful journey no nightmare was ever half so awfull But it came to an end at last there was the Brynzelly station. Geoffrey sprang from the train, and gave his ticket to the porter, glancing in his face as he did so. Surely if there had been a tragedy the man would know of it, and show signs of half-joyous emotion, as is the fashion of such people when something awful and mysterious has happened to some body else. But he showed no such signs, and a glimmer of hope found its way into Geoffrey's tormented breast. He left the station and walked rapidly toward the Vicarage. Those who know whata pitch of horror suspense can reach may imagine his feelings as he did so. But it was soon to be put an end to now. As he drew near the "Vicarage gate he met the fat Welsh servant Betty running toward him. Then hope left Geoffrey. The girl recognized him, and in her con fusion did not seem in tbe least astonished to see him walking there at 6:45 o'clock on a summer morning. Indeed, even she vaguely connected Geoffrey with Beatrice in her mind, for she at once said .in her thick English: "Oh, sir, do you know where Miss Bea trice is?" "No," he answered, catching at a railing for support. "Why do you ask? I have not seen her for weeks." Then tbe girl plunged into a long story. Mr. Granger and Miss Granger were away from home, and would not be back for an other two hours. Miss Beatrice had gone out yesterday alternoon and had not come back to tea. She, Betty, had not thought much of it, believing that she had stopped to spend tbe evening somewhere, and, being very tired, had gone to bed about 8, leaving TOU UNMANLT the door unlocked. This morning, when she woke, it was to find that MissBeatrice had not slept in the house that night, and she came out to see it she could find her. "Where was she going when she went out?" Geoffrey asked. She did not know, but she thought that Miss Beatrice was going out in the canoe. Leastways she had put on her tennis shoes, which she always wore when she went out boating. Geoffrey understood it all now. "Come to tbe boat house," he sxid. They went down to the beach, where as yet nobodv was about except a few working people. Near the boat house Geoffrey met old Edward walking along .with a key in his band. "Lord, sir!" he said. "Yon here, sir! and in that there queer hat, too. What is it, sir?" "Did Miss Beatrice go out in her canoe yesterday evening, Edward?" Geoffrey asked hoarsely. "No, sir; not as I know ot. My boy locked up the boat house last night, and I suppose he looked in it first. What I You don't mean to say Stop; we'll soon fcnow. Oh, Goad ! the canoe's gone!" There was a silence, an awful silence. Old Edward broke it. "She's drowned, sir that's what she Is drowned at last; and she the finest woman in Wales. I knewed she would be one day, poor dearl and she the beauty that she was; and all along of that dd unlncky little craft Goad help herl She's drowned, I say" Betty burst out into loud weeping at his words. "Stop that noise, girl," said Geoffrey, turning his pale face toward her. "Go back to the Vicarage, and if Mr. Granger comes home before I get back tell him what we fear. Edward, send some men to search the shore toward Coed and some more in a sailing boat I will walk toward the Bell Bock you can folio ir mel" He started, and swiftly tramped along the sand searching the set with his eves. On he walked sullenly, desperately, striving to hope against hope. On, past the Dock Bocks, ronnd the long curve of beach, till he came to tbe Amphitheater. The tide was high again; he could barely pass tbe projecting point. He was round it, and his heart stood still. For there, bottom upward, and gently swaying to and fro as the spent waves rocked it, was Beatrice's canoe. Sadly, hopelessly, heavily, Geoffrey waded knee-deep into the water, and catch ing tbe bow oi tne canoe, dragged it ashore. There was, or appeared to be, nothing in it; of course he could not expect anything else. Its occupant had sunk and been carried out to sta by the ebb, whereas the canoe had drifted back to shore with tbe morning tide. He reared it upon its end to let the water drain out of it, and from the hollow of the bow arch something came rolling down, something bright and heavy, followed by a brown object Hastily he lowered tbe canoe again, and pieced up tne bright trinket It was his own ring the Boman ring he had given Beatrice, and when she told him in the letter she would wear in the hour of death. He touched it with his lips and placed it back upon his hand, this token from the beloved dead, vowing that jt should never leave his hand in life, and that after death it should be burled on him. And so it will e, perhaps, to be dug up again thou sands of years hence, and once more play a part in the romance of unborn ages. Are atque vale that was the inscription rudely cut within its round. Greeting and farewell her own last words to him. Oh, Beatrice, Beatrice! to yon also ave atque vale. You could not have sent a fitter mes sage. Greeting and farewell! Did it not sum it all? Within tbe circle of this little ring was written the epitome of hnman life; here was the beginning and the end of Love and Hatred, of Hope and Fear, of Joy and Sorrow. Beatrice, haill Beatrice farewell! till per- chance a spirit rushing earthward shall cry, "Greeting," in another tongue, and Death, descending to his own place, shaking from his wings the dew of tears, shall answer in his turn, "Farewell farewell to me and Night, ye Children of Day I" And what thii other relic? He lifted it it was her tennis shoe, washed from her , foot Geoffrey knew it, for he once had tied it Then Geoffrey broke down it was too much. He threw himself upon the great rock and sobbed, that rock where he had sat with her, and heaven had opened to their sight. But men are not given to such ex hibitions ot emotion, and fortunately for him the paroxysm did not last. He could not have borne it for long. He rose and went again to the edge of the sea, and just then old Edward and his son arrived. Geoffrey pointed to the boat and then held up the little shoe. He walked back. Mr. Granger and Eliza beth had not yet arrived, but they were ex pected every minute. He went into the sitting room. It was full of memories and tokens of Beatrice. There lay a novel which he had given her, and there was yesterday"i paper that she bad brought from town, the Standard, with his speech in it Geoffrey covered his eyes with his band, and thought None knew that she had committed suicide except himself. If he revealed it things might be said of her. Ha did not care what was said of him, but he was jealous of her dead name. It might be said, for instance, that the whole tale was true, and that Beatrice died because she could no longer face life without being put to an open shame. Yes, he had better hold his tongue as tohow and why she died; she was dead nothing conld bring her back. But how, then, could he account for his presence there? Easily enough. He would say frankly that he came because Beatrice had written to him of the charges made against her, and the threats against himself came to find her dead. And oa CUR, HE CRIED. that point he would still have a word with Owen Davies and Elizabeth. Scarcely had he made up his mind when Elizabeth and her father entered. Clearly from their faces they bad as yet heard nothing. Geoffrey rose, and Elizabeth caught sight of him standing with glowinz eyes and a face like that of Death himself. She re coiled in alarm. "What brings yon here, Mr. Bingham?" she said, in her bard voice. "Cannot you guess, Miss Granger?" ha said, sternly. "A few days back you mada ' j certain charges against your sister and my sen in the presence of your father and Mr. Owen Davies. These charges have been communicated to me, and I have coma to answer them and to demand satisfaction for them." Mr. Granger fidgeted nervously and looked as though he would like to escape, but Elizabeth, with characteristic courage, shut the door and faced the storm. "Yes, I did make those charges, Mr. Bing ham," she said, "and they are true charges. But stop; we had better send for Beatrice hrst." "You may send, but vou will not find her." "What do you mean? What do you mean?" asked her father.Japprehensively"' "It means that be has hidden her awayT suppose," said Elizabeth, with a sneer. "I mean, Mr. Granger, that your daugh ter Beatrice is dead." For once startled out of herself command, Elizabeth gave a little cry, while her father staegered back ag linit tbe wall. "Dead! dead! What do you mean? How did she die?" he asked. "That is known to God and her alone," answered Geoffrey. "She went out last evening in her canoe. When I arrived here this morning she was missed for the first time. I walked along the beach and found the canoe and this inside oi it," and he placed the sodden shoe upon the table. There was a silence. In the midst of it Owen Davies burst into the room, with wild eyes and dishevelled hair. "fs it true?" ha cried, "tell me it can not be true that Beatrice is drowned. She cannot have been taken from me just when I was going to marry her. Say that it is not true!" A great fury filled Geoffrey's heart. Ha walked down tbe room and shut the door, a red light swimming before his eyes. Then he turned and gripped Owen Davies' shoul der like a vise. "You accursed blackguard von unmanly enr," he said; "you and that wicked woman," and he she ' :i hand at Eliza beth, "conspired together to bring a slur upon Beatrice. You Ji-i more; you threat ened to attack me, to try and ruin me if she would not give herself up to you. You loathsome hypocrite, you tortured her and frightened her; now I am here to frighten you. You said that you would make the country ring with your tales. I tell you this a're you listening to me? If you dare to mention her name in such a sense, or if that woman dares, I will break: every bona in your wretched body by heaven I will kill you!" and be cast Davies Irom him, and as he did so, struck him heavily across the face with the back of his hand. The man took no notice either of his words or ot the deadly Insult of the blow. "Is it true?" he screamed, "is it true that she is dead?" "Yes," said Geoffrey, following him, and bending his tall, square frame over him, for Davies bad staggered against the wall, "yes, it is true she is dead and beyond your reach forever. Fray to God that you may not one day be called ber murderers, all of you you shameless cowards." Ovreu Davies gave one shrill cry and sank in a huddled heap npon the ground. "There is no God," he moaned; "God promised her to me, to be my own you have killed her; you you seduced her first and then you killed her. I believe you killed her. Oh, I shall go madl" "Mad or sane," said Geoffrey, "say thow -5
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