4 iWrf ,"S '- ' yr .n :r- K i1 M Vi THE EETTSBUBGh -SlSPATOH. " STTCTbAY, MAY !,'" l&9t ' LLAVATSKY IS DYING, Wor,Id Famous Exponent ol V Theosophj Is Suffering From an Incurable Illness r FT K SKETCH OF HER STRAKGE CAEEEB. I Her Childhood Remarkable for Phenomena Which Shs Kef used to idmit Were Splrltnalistic 9 WHIT SHE CLAIMS FOB HERSELF. fU lavHtigslica it til IuUbm t! til Scdety ef Pljtiicil Eucnti. rWEITTSK FOB THH DISPATCH.) In Tiew of the convention of the Ameri can lection of the Theosophical Society, which opened in Bolton last Sunday, a few words in relation to the founder and leader of the theosophical movement in general may cot come amies. That much has al ready been said and written concerning the lady in question, is to those who know whereof they speak an argument without point Few women have been io persist ently misrepresented and slandered as Madam Helena Blavatsky a fact in itself far from surprising, seeing that most of the alleged information regarding her given out to a confiding public has come from the mouths and pens either of her bitterest ene mies or of those whom ignorance and preju dice b&Te rendered incapable of correct judgment As usual there are two sides to the ques tion; the exclusive representation of one only is, to say the least, un-American, in that it is unfair and misleading. Moreover, with all due regard to the feelings of those who believe to the contrary, "H. P. B" is too considerable a person to be forever palmed oil on the public as an "unmiti gated fraud," "a clever sharper," Or to be vilified as "infamous" uni' "notorious," without some indisputable proof to back such statements. The w Tork Libel Suit The fate of the law snit instituted for libel by Madame's friends, now pending in Uew Tork, is a case in point; nothing can be proved acainst her lair name and honor, nor ever will be, simply because the gross charge made by a certain disgruntled and self-centered individual, expelled iron) the ranks of the society asunworthy of member ship therein, is based only on a figuient'of his own distorted imagination. To the bru tal onslaught of such a one, a work of spite because Madame would not play the part of tall to his own particular kite, does the pub lic at large owe most of its prejudice and misconception concerning a lady who is, to use the words of one who knows her inti mately and well, "constitutionally incapable apart from all questions of morality of carrying out an elaborate and prolonged system of fraud. She is hasty, impulsive, unconventional, frank to unwisdom (as the world estimates wisdom) and most transpar ently honest" Were the whole correspondence, of which there are hundreds of letters still in exist ence, leading up to the dastardly attack of last year made public by this same ex-member, the world would quickly see where charges of fraud and of immoral character rightsully belonged. To the Psychical Research Society aiso.do we owe much of the widespread prejudice against Madame B. This sapient group of hunters after ghosts and the supernatural, hearing of the wonder ul occult phenomena atMadame's headquarters at Adjar, India, tent out in the spring of 1884 a young man a Mr. B. Hodgson, ot St. John's College, Cambridge to investigate and to take evi dence concerning the genuineness of its character. A piece of purely gratuitous work, this, since so one had appealed to its oninion or judgment in the matter. Their choice of emissary was also, to say the least sineularly unfortunate, as his own report proves him prejudiced from the start, ignor ant of Hindu modes of thought, gullible to to the extreme, and what is worse, untrust worthy, and whether intentionally so or not, dishonest in at least one very im portant if not the most important, particu lar. Tlie Room ot the Itriestes s. I re "'.r to the sketch of Madame's room at Adjar, which Mr. Hodgson produces a? his own, "from measurements taken by him self." As a matter of fact the "plan" is that drawn up by Mr. William Q. Judge, oflsewYork City, and which shows this room as the treacherous and uugrateful Coulombs left it with nil its recent addenda of helps toward fraud, gotten np during Madame's absence in Europe that year. Now Mr. Judge arrived on the scene before Mr. Hodgson did; he saw the room pre cisely as it had been left the day before by the expelled housekeeper and her husband, drew a clan of it and hail witnesses to prove the recent and therefore impracticable un finished character of the work, M. Coulomb having to clear out before completing his little "piece de convenience," and finally had the walls of the room restored to their former intact condi tion. Mr. Hodgson therelore never saw the place as it then appeared: nor could he as a consequence, have drawn a "plan" of it from sight It follows therefore that the sketch in question wjs either a copy of Mr. Judge's or of one obtained elsewhere. And yet he claimed it as his own, taken from measurements of what he sawl The bulk of his report, moreover, rests upon the evidence of the Coulombs people confess edly foresworn and in the pay ot others inimical to Madame. Thrcatened'with dis missal for gross misconduct, they sold themselves to the highest bidder, engiging in a conspiracy to rum Madame Blavatsky by charges of fraud. For a full account of the whole matter, however, the reader is referred to the official statements of the so ciety and the "Kcply" to Mr. Hodgson's report by Major General H. B. Morgan, as well as to Mrs. Annie Besant's clever and sarcastic article in the Loudon Time lor March of the present year, on the "Great Mare's Nest of the Psychical Research So ciety." Charged With Uelng a Russian Spy. But the funniest thing, perhaps, in the whole of this most remarkable misreport was the sage conclusion that all this and that was simply and solely a cloak Tor Madame's action as a Russian spy I For after taking into due consideration all the rubbishy statements scraped together from such sources as the Coulombs and those in Imically interested, Mr. Hodgson is forced to conclude that she is "neither a religions monomaniac, cor a mercenary person bent on gain, nor yet one with a morbid yearn ing for notoriety." Puzzled to account for a motive for all her to him fraudulent and mysterious doings, he finally de cides in favor of the theory that she Is an agent of the Czar spying outRnglish political affairs. And the proof he has to oner is principally a "torn scrap picked out of Madame'a waste basket by Mme. Coulomb, which torn scrap wag nothing more norles than a -discarded page of a Russian translation, published in the Pioneer and ordered and paid tor by its editor! Another torn scrap about completes his "evidence," and this time it is a frag ment of "Zinzar," which Mr. Hodgson took for a political cypher! Meantime the "Rus sian spy" resides in honored security in the midst of a people whose political Interests she was supposed to have betrayed. -The whole thing was a most gigantic sell, only in this case it was not the intended victim Madame .Blavatsky who was sold by the Piychial Research Society through, ils Tonthful and, alas, too confiding agent, E, JQodgsou, F. P. R. S. Helena Petrovna Blavatsky was. born in EtaterinoIow, in the South of Russia, July 30, 1830, and is consequently powin ier61tt Tear. On her lather' side sheis tfc , daughter of Colonel Peter. Hahn, dj the granddaughter of General Alexis- Hahn von Kottenstem uann, a noble Jlecklinburg family, -which settled in Russia. On her mother's side she is, the daughter, of Helene Fadeef, and gracd-i daughter of Privy Councilor Andrew Fadeef, and as such is connected with one of The Noblest Families In the Empire She herself isthe widow of Councilor of State, Nicephore BlTfttsky, lste Vice Governor of the Province of Erivan. Con siderable literary talent also runs in both sides of her family her own mother, young as she was when she died (she was then only 23), was the first novelist that had ever ap peared in Russia, leaving Some doxen novels that have Bince been translated into Ger man. I give this much space to her lineage the more willingly that there be some among her detractors who, lgnorantly or otherwise, seek to confound her with an other or others of a like surname, and whose adventures they profess to follow among the leading cities of Europe. According to accounts given by relatives, Madame's childhood was a most .remarka ble one. Strange things are reported even of her babyhood. Psychic phenomena of certain kinds seem to have occurred around her and in connection with her from her cradle up. Such phenomena less under stood then was usually set down to the credit of the devil; the little Mile. Hahn was accordingiy.drenched.in her youth"with enough holy water to have floated a ship," and exorcised by the priest times without cumber. As she grew older she developed an individuality as extraordinarily strong as it was rich end unique. TJunderstood by few, if by any.she yet interested and not un frequently astonished nil by her strange powers of mind and intellectual originality. Written Message From the Dead. Spiritualism was then beginning to at tract the attention of many in all parts of the civilized world notably the United States and Europe and, as it happened. Mile. Hahn, then only in her 9th or 10th year, supplied many of its most prominent phenomena, even to delivering written messages from the "dead." There are some, indeed, who assert that Madame Blavatsky was then and has ever been simply and sole ly a natural-horn medium a charge that Madame herself denies with emphasis. She explains all such phenomena from the standpoint of occult science based on natural law, repudiatiug the idea that the spirits of the departed can or do communicate with the living; denouncing in toto the spiritual istic belief as a most misleading and danger ous delusion. In her 16th year Mile. Hahn was forced into a most unwilling marriage with Gen eral Blavatsky, a man old enough to be her grandfather, and who was, however suitable in other respects, certainly cot the right man for the place. The circumstances leading up to this marriage would be coniio were it cot lor the touch of tragedy in its effects upon the young lady herself. Iike 4 wild young creature, caught and caged, the youthful bride utterly refused to take upon herself thedutiesot a wife, and alter three months' continued rebellion she ran home to her family. Afraid, however, that the paternal authoritv micht insist upon a re turn to the Blavatsky roof, she started out privately for an Eastern tour of her own, and, falling in with friends, made the trip to Egypt Greece, etc, without let or hin drance. Thenceforth Mme. Blavatsky be came a veritable Wanderer on the Face of the Earth. Communicating secretly meanwhile with her father, who supplied her with funds, aiding her when possible in her various jouroeys from place to place. The amount of ground she covered in those days of slow travel is surprising The year 1851 fonnd her at Quebec, Kew Orleans and Mexico. In 1852 sue started for India, returning to England in 1853. During 1854 she again visited the "States, "crossed the plains in an emigrant wagon to San Francisco, reaching Calcutta in 1855. Tbreo years later finds her again in Europe nod once more at home. Her immediate object during nil these wanderings was the acquirement of occu't knowledge aud training. The latter she is supposedto have especially acquired during her stay in India, among the trans-Himalayan initiates. For the next few years we, find ber quietly at home among her relatives in Russia. Her sister, Mme. Jelihowsky, has written several articles for a Russian periodical, describing Madame B.'s cow wonderfully increased powers. The Aient of Higher Fower. Some time between 1867-70 Madame made another trip to Thibet, from which time on she has devoted strength, time, title aud fortune to the furtherance ot the theosophi cal cause, claiming only to be the chosen agent of higher powers, and giving to the unprejudiced proofs supporting that claim, she eives out freely to the world that which she has received in the way of esoteric truth, her latest work, "The Secret Doctrine," be ing in itself a stupeudous witness to her in tellectual strength and acumen, of the oc cult powers which have ever been the chief attraction among the simply curious, Madame has spoken lightly as so many "psychological trices" unworthy the furore of comment thev excited. Kever iu entirely perfect health, her con stitution has of late years completely broken down irom overwork aud worry. Incurable disease now renders any hope of ultimate re covery impossible. Xaturallysomewhatec ceutric, as all people of strong individuality usually are, constant illness, by reacting upon an exceedingly sensitive and high strung temperament, has ever served to aug ment the tendency thereto, but were her ec centricities increased an hundredfold those who have learned to know and honor the real woman beneath could but still continue to love and revere. Meantime, with a cour age that is dauutless, a heart that is ever open and warm toward suffering humanity, a mind that is utterly regardless of personal comfort and gain, the dying exponent of theosophical truth works on with unabated intellectual vigor, surrounded, 1 am glad to say, inthis, her old age and poverty, by an ever widening circle of reverential and de voted friends and followers. . Fr T. S. A FOX THAT COULD EEABOK. Reynard or Norway's Experimental Jumps and What They Meant. Icw Orleans Picayune.! A huntsman in Norway one day observed a fox cautiously approaching the stump of an old tree. When near enough the fox jumped up on to the top of it and alter look ing around awhile, hopped down to the ground again. After Reynard had repeated this feat several times he went his way. In a short time he returned to the spot, carrying in his mouth a pretty large and. heavy piece of wood. As if to test his vaulting powers, he renewed his leap ou the stump, keeping the stick in his mouths Finding that even with this weight he could jump up quite easily, he dropped the piece of wood, and coiling himself up ou top of the stump, remained motionless, as if dead. Some time after an old sow, with a num ber of young ones, came out of the wood and passed the spot where the fox lay. Two of the little pigs, having fallen behind the others, the lox ponnced down on one of them, seized it in his mouth, and .sprang up again to the tree stump. On hearing he; little one cry the old sow came rushing back to its assistance, and spent the greater part of the night in vain attempts to reach Rey nard. He, however, took the matter very coolly, devouring his prey under the very cose ot its icother, which Was .at length obliged to move off without being able to avenge herself. - A Peculiar Terse. An old English drinking mug of china, brought to a famous New York jeweler's U be ornamented, bad this quaint inscription I Lot the wealthy rejoice, Boll in splendor aud state, I envy inem not, 1 declare It; I eat my own lamb. My chickens and ham, 1 shear my own fleece and 1 wear.lt I have lawns,! have bowers, " .. 1 have fruit 1 hare flowers,' . . " TheHrK is my morning Svlarmen ? Bo Jolly boys, now, , ', l Here's God-speed to the ptew. K? tWgHWWSWHIIIWlMlinilll) WILLING TO MARRY. Howard Fielding Conducts an In vestigation of Matrimony. KTERYIEWS TWELTE SPINSTERS. The Keanlt Is Breach of Promise Salts for a Total of $300,000 AND A BKEACH.OP PKACE AT H0M13 twsmxx roa thx dispatch-i Maude was sitting at my desk when I en tered the room, and the big tears were fall ing f jp m her eyes upon a manuscript which I had recently prepared. "My dear," said I in, a somewhat acid voice, "you needn't complicate the obscuri ties of my chirography by crying over that It was Intended to be funny." "Oh, Howdy, how can you," she sobbed, "how can you write on the marriage ques tion when you know that every horrid thing you say will be traced right straight to roe. You know that after Mrs. Matthews' article was printed some of Mr. Matthews' friends wouldn't speak to him on the street, and he a model husband, as kind as a kitten. Why, she got barrels of letters of condoleace, in- It Wat Intended to St Funny. eluding circulars from nearly all the divorce lawyers in the country, who said she bad a clear case in any Court One of them wrote from way out in Montana to say that he'd get her "a divorce for nothing and then marry her himself. And women wrote to Mr. Matthews, rebuking him for his in human cruelty, and quoting Scripture at him by the yard, till they drove hlra nearly crazy. Oh, Howdy, will you destroy our happy, happy home for half a cent a word?" Heard While Eavesdropping;. "Nonsense," said I, "the facts in that article of mine came from the unmarried women who called on you after your friend Millie Smith's engagement to Tom Harris was announced. I overheard their merry prattle. They all regarded Millie as a de signing, person whose conduct was alto gether reprehensible. They all thought that Tom was a fool. Every one of them had refused at least half a dozen offers from men much more desirable than Tom, though he's young, rich and handsome. Many of them had refused Tom himself, and they were allaingle from preference and from no other reason whatever. With such evidence as that before mel was able to answer the question 'Is Marriage Becom ing Unpopular?' decidedly in the affirma tive. Maude was laughing now. "You dear old goose," she said, "I hadn't read anything but the title of your article. If it contains what you say it does, I should advise you not to print it at all." I couldn't quite make her out She seemed to believe that the women I had quoted were not wholly sincere, although tney were among her post intimate as sociates. She made so much fun of them that I resolved to supplement their testi mony by further investigations. Determines on Some Interviews. I made up a list of the names of 12 un married women living iu suburban towns. Most ot them wrote a little but appeared to be otherwise of sound mind. Ihadco real acquaintance with any of them, bnt we held some trifling correspondence on matters per taining to the mushy undercrust of letters, and had met occasionally in ill-ventilated ante-rooms, where we were waiting till our turn came to offer some of this literary dough to various editors. Nevertheless, we did cot despise each other. I intended to interview these ladies on the subject of marriage, without letting them know that their views were intended for publication. Of course, in placing these innocent victims before the public, I shall be obliged to provide them with fictitious names. I first called npnn Miss Lucy Gray Lee, of Hoboken. She writes fashion letters and is the worst-dressed woman in New Jersev. This is not due to poverty, because she isn't poor; it is the result of inherent bad taste and the persistent following of herowu Interview With Lottie Linden. printed advice. Miss Lee remembered me, and she blushed to confess that is she said she blushed, but I bad her in a bad light nod couldn't honestly say that I noticed it she blushed to confess that she had thought ot me often, too often perhaps. Noticed That She Was Eccentric I introduced the subject of marriage. She hadn't given it much consideration. She would lake a day off and think of it It was a very .serious matter. She remarked that she made all her own clothes and was quite in love with housework. I couldn't see what that had to do with the case, but I was too polite to say so. However, as to her clothes, it was honest of her cot to let suspicion rest upon anybody else. She would write me soon, aud meanwhile I need not despair. This is the summary of a conversation which led me to believe that Miss Lee was somewhat eccentric, and perhaps a trifle sentimental for one of ber age, which must have been about 35. My next call was at the house of Miss Helen Elizabeth Graves in Weehawken. I don't know what she was talking about; I really don't The subject of marriage ap peared to excite her. I j udged that she held very violent opinions, but what they were, I could cot fully understand, She, too, 'promised to write to me. I skipped over to Morrisania to see Miss Lottie Linden who prepares the Sunday dinner column for a Saturday afternoon paper. She is a hearty, robust woman of 40, who does not look as if she ever meddled with Jier own prescriptions. I introduced the subject of marriage and begged her to tell me calmly what she thought of it, but she Immediately branched off to something quite different. It appeared .to be her de sire to give, me her small savings amounting tV $5,000, lor the purpose of starting a New York daily newspaper of wiych I was to be editor. r Love Better Than Cold Castas I told her 'that, as the suaa shs named vhmtu tM fp;Sr:Mly,birl5 mm "idelc8 utes, I was afraid that-my glory would be too brief to afford either of us any satisfac tion. Then she burst into tears, and nsked me if 1 did not think that a deep, strong love was better than money, I was forced to reply that I didn't, if ft was a question of running a newspaper with one or the other of them. She said that I was sordid and mercenary and a number of other unpleasant things; in fact, I obtained much valuable information regarding .mj1 own character, butyeryllttle concerning thequestlon which I was trying to get points on. I began to fear that I had lost my old knack as an interviewer. My questions seemed to be un necessarily excitlne. Even my own nerves bad suffered in my talk with Miss Linden. I endeavored to quiet them by a dinner In the Annexed District; and when I called on Miss Dora Sykes Brown, in theedcreofthe evening. I believed that I could make her talkintelligibiy. irom the nuggets of her poetry, which have cropped out in certain magazines, I knew her to be of a somewhat emotional nature, but I bad prepared a formula of questions, which ought to be more soothiag tlian chloroform. First, what was her general opinion of mar riage. I never got further than that. There was an extraordinary scene, and nothing but the presence of mind of her father, who dropped me out of the parlor window, saved me from strangulation. A Storm In Every Letter. I conducted the eight remaining inter views by correspondence. Poor little Maudel She received all the replies. They came by return mail Maude doesn't us ually open my letters, but the handwriting on one of these resembled that of Aunt Jennie, and she ventured to peep inside. She found a modest but firm acceptance of my offer of marriage, accompanied by an invitation to call, and a railroad time table with the express trains underlined in peucil. Her curiosity couldn't stand the strain, and she opened the others. They were sub stantially the same. Some contained, be sides the time table, unused portions of commuters' tickets, or photograph's indorsed with the allegation that they did not do the subjects justice. Ob, why didnt I have the presence of mind to tell these women that I was married, or to give them my office ad dress, or to warn Maude of what might happen? I bad an awful time explaining the case to her. Our flat had never witnessed so tearful' a scene. Our treaty of peace in cluded the stipulation that Maude should dictate my reply to the letters. If the re cipients do cot care.for it as a literary pro dnctiouj they-can use it to freeze tee cream. But it didn't do much good. That was over a month aco. Yesterday I was idly . ?.-. ..; -. - turning over my manuscripts in search of something which would pay the gas bill. Damages to Fractured Hearts. "Maude," said I,"where is the copy of that article which proves that 'Marriage Is Becoming Unpopular?"' "It may be uuder those papers on your desk," she replied. I picked up the papers to which she re ferred. They were notifications of 12 suits for breach of' promise, with broken hearts ranging in value from. 1 10. 000 to 150,000. Her Hither Saved Me. The total is a little over (300,000. I am sorry for these ladies, but this ismore money than I can spare. If they -win their cases they will have to attach my salary, which wili suffice to settle their claims within 2,000 or 3,000 years. I turned from these dreary legal docu ments to my own brilliant discussion of the unpopularity of marriage. It is much more interesting than the laborious compositions of the lawyers, and yet ' theirs seem to be stronger argumentatively. "I shall not- publish this article," said I to Maude; "my conclusions appear to have been hasty." . Hcwabd Fieldino. PUT THEIR HEADS TOGETHER, Clever Scheme of two Stranded Students to Itntse the Wind. Philadelphia Tiaies. " Last summer, during the vacation season of their college, two Heidelberg students, Benzel and Stengel, were making a lively, picturesque and carmine-punctuated tour of the various fashionable .watering places. The tone of their journey bad been so con tinuously kept np to the highest pitch that it had an effect like that of 'a sunstroke, when Benzel, one morning, .said his total available funds were 51. "And my exchequer is measured by ex actly the same sum." Here was a dilemma. The next day at a miscellaneous bathing resort a young gentleman was the life of a merry party of ladies nnd gentlemen. He bad just arrived from Berlin, he remarked, and by tho strength ot an assurance which had olten puzzled learned professors who knew mostot the mysteries oi existence, had at once mad himself the leader of those who flocked by themselves as the represen tatives of the moneyed class. His banter, his jokes, his ever-ready wit kept them in continual merriment "A note for Mr. Frederick Benzel." So spoke a waiter, handing him an en closure. Openine it a shade of halfdlsap peintment crossed his handsome face, and, excusing himself, he hurriedly left the room. In a little while he. returned, the sad ex pression on his countenance, if anything, in tensified. ... "Mv friends,.'' he began, "there are ups and downs for all of us in this world, but anything sadder than this I know cot An old collegeciate, who has met with unde served misfortune, noting- my presence, sent in a message he would like to see me. I saw him an object of the deepest compas sion. He lives In the neighborhood, the husband of a widow with "13 children. Could anvthing be more unlucky? Willi be seconded if I propose a little collection for the poor fellow? I myself will give 52." "Good! Good! Certainly," was the unanimous cry. That evening,'at dusk Benzel and Stengel began their return Jouraeywith a profusion Of ruddy exhilaration that made the red of their oncoming voyage pales, than a prim rose's heart Poorly.Paid Vocalists. A prominent musiq teacher is authority for these lacts: There are no less than 2,000 singers employed'in the choirs of wealthy churches of New York who receive but $1 a week for their services, About 1,000 are paid (2, and less tljan 200 receive $1 a Sun day. This mesusk attendance at morning and evening prayer?, at Iesst one rehearsal a week aud work at the occasional sociable and reunionrforwhich Ibechorister receives u plate ol salad and a biscuit or a saucer of ice cream and a.Jady Jiogttv There is a great deal'Oti moneyju religion,but it does not appear ilroct ftijOi aboya facts that the choir has a very jarge jhr of it illlr.. de Vere, the PaltUf church-choirs, gets $100 a Sunday, whtch-iSi unprecedented -la t& rttimtaliJtrAFlel nf Bidilff'J..., v &, . A VALE-OF PARADISE That Is Just How Suffering Prom the Horrors of a Civil War. BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OP VALPARAISO. The fire Departments of Chilean Cities Are Quite Peculiar. TE0UBLE FOE A PHILADELPHIA BRIDE I COBnXSFOXBXKCZ OT TBS DISPATCH. Valparaiso, Chile, April 8. I be lieve it.-wns iu the year 1536 that Don Juan Saareda a Spaniard, famous 'for nothing else Hcaptufed this locality from the aborigines. He laid it out in three separate towns, and named them respectively "El Puerto" (the Port), "El Almendral" and "St John of God;" but had them ohristened in the lump, so to speak, under the general title of Val-Paraiso "Vale of Paradise." That portion anciently called Bl Puerto is the only level part of the cjty and comprises all the business quarter, which until re cently consisted of only one long, straggling street, close to the beach. The cuestas, or hills, dedicated to St John of God, which now comprise most of the res idence portion, vary in height from 1,000 to 1,400 feet Nothing can be more exhilarat ing than an early morning or sunset canter over those breezy heights, along the new road that has been cut out of solid rock, away up on the steep precipices that face the bay. One day we went on foot to the top of the tallest cuesta, where in time of peace a sicnal staff gives notice of the approach of shipping. TJp and up we climbed, by a J A STERET SCEJTE winding pathway part wooden stairs, part stone pavement at a sharp ineline and slip pery as glass; turning now to the right, cow to the itit, according to the zigzag trail, clinging to the iron railing that partially protects the path as it rounds the cape of some man's garden; while a brisk breeze tnrned onr sunshades wrong side out and threatened to serve our garments iu the same manner. Pretty as a Rosebud. v At length we were compelled to sit down on the stairs, ostensibly because so charmed with the scene below, nut in reality from j lack of breath to carry us another step. Just then a handsome Chifena tripped past, trail ing a black velvet gown weighted with pounds' of jet beads, yet looking unwearied and fresh as a rosebud in June. But she lives up here nnd is. used to it, and that makes all the difference in the world, you know I A boy with a hundred-foot ladder might climb from the "Puerto" straight up into her back yard in three minutes' time, while to reach the front door she must wind around the hills a mile or more. Almost any resident of this part of the town could easily surprise his nearest neighbor by slip ping off his own porch and landing on the lalter's roof; and if a child should happen to fall from the window of many a house, he would "bring up" on the stone-paved street, 500 feet below. But the glorious view is worth climbing for. There are beautiful hills, rising one above another, dancing cataracts and mi jestio mountains; there is the crescent-shaped bay without a ripple upon its burning sur face, its ships motionless as sheeted ghosts and its rolling tides washing the gray rocks at our feet all combining to produce an effect of profound peacefulness. War Mars the Picture. It is difficult to believe, amid birds and butterflies and golden sunshine, that war in its. most horrible form, that of brother against brother, is deluging this fair coun try with blood impossible to realize that famine is abroad in the land, and that even now starvation threatens the citizens of this "Vale of Paradise," as well as those ot Chile's capital, since no crops can be bar Tested or fresh supplies brought in from any sonrce so long as the present deplorable state of affairs continues. Already the little food to be had commands prices far beyond the reach of the poor, and there is much suf fering, especially among the families of conscripted soldiers. And what will it be weeks later or may be only days hence wheu the advancing horde- comes marching in? In spite of Herculean efforts to. crush the rebellion, President Baluiuceua is rap i dly losing ground; and as the insurgents gain boldness with each victory, their nat ural cruelty increases and revolting atroci ties become matters of every day. Viewed from this altitude, the streets in the level portion of the town look insignifi cant, but their vast array of red-tiled roofs makes a pleasing picture. The houses are mostly three-storied, with thick walls plas tered to represent stone. Mr. Spangler, a recent missionary teacher from Kansas, de clares that their stilt, straight-up-and-down lines are so out of harmony with the gra cious landscape that tbef suggest to, him cold, damp and cramp colic, and such in congruous thinzs as an undertaker at a cic- 'aic, aud a corpse at a wedding. The Houses Will Hardly Burn. But Spanish American . architecture,, though different from anything .found at.tha North, has its beauties and advantages Ainong the latter may be mentioned the im portant iact that the houses are hard to burn. The roofs oi earthen tiles, embedded in dried mud, are extremely picturesque, especially in these moist sections, where their dull-red surface soon takes on a coating of moss and lichens. Should a fire originate- iu the rafters, or in the boards and sheeting be heath, it would go out of its own accord after they were burned away, 'because the heavy mud covering, falling in, would effectually smother the conflagration. By the way, one of the institutions of Chile most conspicuous for its oddity is the fire department Ail natives are compelled by law to serve ss.boinberos (firemen), or in the militia; and as most of the swell young men prefer the former, the fire companies re semble clabs, or similar social organizations, and are cliqueu according to the strictest rules of caste. It is intensely funny to sre the bomberos out on a drill, which is made the occasion for a stunnjug display of their smart uniforms of white linen sad clitter ing nickel-plated helmets; and funnier still to see them at a fire except tor those whose Eroperty is being destroyed. Tne gorgeous. ntnberos were never known to pat out a fire, but their efJrMhwhen they condescend to make any, are mmly directed toclicck., ing its spread by deluciiie adiucent houses. thertby generally accomplishing quite as. mnch umin bv. wstenas is! done, hv fire. I . - , . ., , --., -.. . ;. ,UH i tuueasaoA tortea mttfrmir; l i ii Jil HI IKPllffl If chant, whose stock in trade would be hope lessly ruined if the firemen were allowedt their own reckless way, to pay sums of money to the chiefs of the.companies to in-, duce them to turn the hose in another di rection; or, failing in that, to lock doors and .windows and stand in front with drawn re-' volvcrs, to keep the destructive bomberos at1 bay. A Fire the Signal for n Holiday. The alarm system Is so arranged, by the ringing of bells, that those who understand it can instantly locate the scene of disaster. Occasionally the' bomberos succeed in get lng there, engine and all, before a building is quite consumed. They mostly ride up in carriages, and repair to the balconies of neighboring houses, where they watch the burning as if it were a spectacular show gotten up for their benefit It is the court eous custom of the neighbors aforesaid to set out luncheon lor these distinguished guests, including wines and beer. When not ar rived too late to do anything but partake of the luncheon, the highly excitable amateurs sometimes perform wonderful feats, in the line of slinging babies and mirrors out of upper windows and carefully carrying down feather pillows. I once saw a piano hoisted off a balcony and fall crashing into the crowded street below, to the injury of a few heads and the utter demolition of the instru ment, which might as well have been left to burn. An acquaintance writing from Concepcion .the third 'city of Chile, situated some distance south of Santiago says: "The houses hereabout are built of heavy brick and adobe, covered with earthen tiling, so that it would be almost impossible to burn them. Within the memory of the oldest in habitant there had never been a fire in Con cepcion; but as all well-regulated cities in civilized lauds have fire companies, this ambitious town must have one also. After a vast afnonnt of spread-eagle talk, in print and in public speeches, the city organized a company of bomberos, composed mainly of the 'gilded youth,' and purchased a monster fire engine, at unheard of expense in trans portation. Bnt they found no use for either, VS VAXPAEAISO. except in showy parades, followed by nights of convivial rejoicingand the usual resultant 'big beads.'! Wheu that kind of thing be came an old story, some of the good people determined to redeem their city from the imputation of being behind the times at an cost . The Insurance Men Paid the Fiddler. An insurance agent was encouraged to visit Concepcion, and he succeeded in issu ing a number of policies for about double the value of the propertylnsured. A night or two afterward there was a rousing blaze not any trifling, second-class affair, but a genuine conflagration, in which coal oil and other combustibles caused the flames to leap and dance right merrily. The citizens were in ecstasies. Everybody turned out to see the fun. Church bells rang jubilantly. The new engine was dragged through the streets in triumph, and even the bomberos managed to arrive in time, to be 'in at the death. One by one they came sauntering up, some on foot, others in car riages, all having tarried to dress np for the occasion iu their brand new uniforms. In short, it was an eminently satisfactory per formance for everybody but the insurance company. The owners of the burned build ings came out some thousands of dollars ahead, for the alleged damages had to .be paid, because the insurance business was yet in its infancy in Chile, and the com pany knew that refusal would be a death blow to their hopes of future prosperity." It used to be the fashion in Valparaiso to set fire to one's own proporty iu order to ob tain the insurance on it; but the authorities were compelled to put a stop to proceedings so'dangerous to the entire community in a closely built city. They did it in the sum mary manner peculiar to Chile by throw ing into prison any unfortunate man whose house took fire, and sometimes his nearest neighbors were incarcerated to keep him company, all being retained in durance vile until it was proved to the satisfaction of everybody just how the fire originated. Mantas for Penitent Women. Another novelty, seen nowhere but in Chile, is the wearing of white manias and white dresses by penitent-, or women who have committed some sin, for which they desire to atone by thus advertising the fact The black cianta, or shawl, with which the women of Peru and Bolivia universally cover the head and shoulders, is also used here, though most ladies of the aristocracy have discarded it except for church-going, on other occasions sporting the finest French millinery. But if going to Mass, a manta you must wear, for no other style of head gear is permitted inside a Chilean .sanctu ary. In this connection I am reminded of the recent experience of a Philadelphia couple, who are making a wedding journey around the world and took in South America on the way. The bride, who is one of the sweetest and daintiest little women I ever met, told me, with a blush ot mortification, now iney were aciuaiiy turnea out of a Santiago church. There was a grand Mas3 for some religious fiesta; and, being in utter ignorance of local customs, the lady wore her traveling bonnet a modest toque of blaok chip. She says that the moment they entered the dour, a woman came hurriedly forward and whispered something iu an angrv tone in Spanish, of which language our friends do not understand a word. As they passed along the aisle, another woman Stepped up to stay their prozresst then another and another, 'each gesticulating more vehemently than her predecessors, but whispering the same words. Considerably astonisbea, but kuowin? no cause lor dis may and feeling sustained by conscious rectitude, the young Pbiladelphians bowed serenely to those who accosted them, and haviug chosen a retired spot behind a pillar, prepared with due reverence to enjoy the ceremonies. But a black-gowned priest strode down from the altar, took my ladv by the arm aud politely walked her out," lol Iowed. of course, by the now wrathful hus bjnd; and not until they met an English speaking acquaintance did they learn the cmseot their ejection all ou account of that modest little toque! FAXifiE B. Ward. i i Two Remarkable Memories. Chicago Tribune. J. M. Hill, of New York,' and Joe Pjrks were talking in the Tremont House about their memories. Parks said he ..could, re member some things, while others got away from him completely; "I can- recite," he ild, "from "memory every line of" 'Tom O'Sliauter' without mis.iug a word, but I can't rrmemi-er the uumbt:of.my brother's house..' r "Same here." said Hill. "I recited one night lu New York from uiemory'Macbeih ( irom start to maun, a wrote ont a check. for, a man sad faraot ---:- . -- to usa', ay ymi ." s..t.y . K r fv -- TAMING OF LEATHER' Crude Helliods Employed Success fully in Various Lands. MAKING WIRE FINER THAN HAIR. An Instrnment for Kemovinz the dermis in bfcin Grafting. fipi- PAPAW LEAVES MAKE HEAT TENDEE IPBXFABXD rOS TBI sisri,Tcs.t A leather manufacturer, who has been on his travels, has sent a trade journal some in teresting notes on the methods of tanning adopted in various countries. While walk ing out one day in Antigua, he came upon a hut about 11 feet square, thatched with sugar cane, and on entering he found him self in a very unique and primitive tannery. A big, brawny colored woman was hard at work taking the hair off skins. Hermethod was of the .simplest The skins bad been put in lime for about a week, and were be ing unhaired by means of a board, after which they were steeped' in various tau liquors in a series of tubs, and the product was ready for market The leather was crude but serviceable, and sold readily in the itlacdj John Chinaman was found to have a rnde and primitive process. After steeping in a solution of lime the hides are cleansed and beaten, then tanned with extract of gall. The hides are afterward passed backward and forward through the smoke of straw, which issues from a circular furnace built underground, and gives the latter a yellow brown color. The process is then complete. Sometimes the leather is blackened with a solution of galls and copperas, or simply with lampblack. India has 48 large tan neries. Hides are tanned there by softening in water for a few days, after which the hair is. scraped off. The hide is then treated with quicklime, and after remaining in this condition for two or four days is placed iu the tan, which is made from' the bark of the babul (Acacia Arabica), or any other tree yielding a' good tanning solution; There it remains for a fortnight or three weeks, after which it is removed, and when soaked in clean water for a short time and dried is ready for use. When intended for the manufacture of shoes the leather is usually steeped in a solution of red dye for a day or two before being worked. Prom the undyed leather buckets for wells and water bags for the water carriers are made. Some leather water-skins of a superior description, called chagals, are also made, which are used by travellers to carry drlnKmg water. Besides the manufacture of different and character istic forms of shoes used in various prov inces, european hootmatcing has also been learned in the bazars of the larger towns. In some of these hides of animals are beau tifully tanned with the hair Intact, and a fine soft skin of greenish buff color is made into trousers, coats, leggins and gloves, the skin used being that of the deer. Advice to Amateur Photographers. A. Bogardus, in a recent article, gives tome excellent advice to amateur photo graphers. He says: "If you would succeed in your experiments let everything you use be the best of its kind. A poor camera box and a weak lens will not give good results. Have the darkroom and everything in it in perfect order. TJse great care In every part of the process. Carelessness never succeeds. Do not be satisfied with any kind of an im pression because some ignorant person has told you you are doing splendidly. If you are anxious to-excel ju photography, le'arn to develop the negative aud to print from it. Do not carry your plates to a professional to develop and print them for you. If yon do, how much of the picture is your own execution? . Anybody can put a plate in a camera and expose it Do not attempt portraits of friends; they will find fault with them and iaugh at you. Your sitter will not like his or her expression, and will say it is your fault TJse your plates to make landscapes or view?. Do everything de liberately.' Do not neglect to dust the plate before inserting it in the slide, or the picture will be spoiled by dust spots. Learn to use a reliable plate, and do not change. Use one formula for a developer, and keep on doing so until you arc master of it" The amateur photographer is finally ex horted to master whatever difficulties present themselves and not to get discouraged. How to Treat Chamois Skins. Considering what a useful thing a chamois skin is, it is astonishiug that there is so much ignorance as to the proper way of keeping it In order and lengthening its term of service. Chamois skins should never be left in water after being used, bnt should be wrung out and hung ud to dry, being spread out carefully, so as to leave no wrinkles. They should not be used to wipe off colors, as paint stains form hard spots and make the skin wear out sooner. Chamois wa3 never intended to wipe the face and hands with, which makes the skin become greasy. Never put a chamois skin info warm water; anything above lukewarm water will curl it up, making it become thick, tough and useless. To bring back chamois that has been ruined by grease or paint, or 'used as a towel until it resembles a dirty old rag, the fol lowing is recommended: Take a bucket of clean water which has been made fairly but not too strong with ammonia; soak the skin in it over eight and next morning rinse It out in pure water, after which use pure white castile soap and water freely. The whole operation, aside from the soaking. need take no longer than a quarter of an hour, and it makes the skin in reality better than it was be ore, having freed it from lint and other impurities. New Die for the Papaw. In the West Indies one of the character istics of an intelligent cook is the care with which he or she will see to it that a papaw tree is growing within a short distance of the kitchen door. The fruit of the papaw, if large and well grown, is not to be de spised as a breakfast disb, and its rioh' golden flesh is to many much more palatable than that of the popular melon. But the attractiveness of the papaw for the cook consists in its leaves, which possess the re markable property of rendering meat ten der: The toughest beefsteak or the most hopeless old rooster can be made soft and comparatively juicy by being wrapped for un hour or two iu the large, dark green papaw leaves. Dr. Mortimer Granville, who has been for some time studying the properties oi the juice which works such 'wonders, states that be has discovered iu it a remedy for cancer, when used -with some other preparations. The organized ferment of the papaw is be lieved to be a bacillus; but Dr. Granville says he has satisfied himself of the thera peutic value of the juice, or certain of its elements, as a solvent of the morblfically indurated tissues in cancer, wheu admin istered in cohibinaiion'wlth Certain specified adjuncts. Instrument for Removing the Epidermis. The process of skin grafting, of which modern surgeons are largely availing them selves, has led to the invention of a wonder iuI little instrument Bv this invention large portions of the epidermis can be sep arated from the subeutuieous tissue with the greatest ease atd simplicity. The thick ness oi these delicate hum-in plasters is or dmaril)r about one-sixteenth olan Inch, and the resulting hemorrhage is nnt more than is caused by a slight kbraslon of the skin, far a very close shave. -The advantages ot the new.over tueoldimethod of epidertnio de teehraeut are obvious. If I eXDeditioas. the - ".! -; -Li: j r.iii ':... cr, -z ejaaaa'a ssssktUVitssI ssUsbaIsh fsW mTO fSTrVrii and of a more uniform thickness than cats be obtained by the most dexterous manipu lator; and the chances of successful grafting1 are increased by the fact that the skin 1 transplanted, while the cellular elements are in their full vital activity. Manufacture ol Watch Glasses. In the manufacture of watch glasses th workman gathers With the blowing tube sev eral kilograms of glass. Softening this by holding it to the door of the furnace, he puts the end of the tube into communication with a reservoir of compressed air, and a big sphere is blown. It is, of course, necessary to get the exact proportion of material at the commencement of the operation, accompanied by a peculiar twist of the hand and an amazing skilfnlness. The sphere onght to be prodnced witbont rents, and in such di mensions that it is of the requisite thickness. Out of these balls the workman cuts convex discs of the required size. This is a delicate) operation. A "tournette," a kind of com pass furnished with a diamond in one of iu branches, is used. The diamond having traced the circle the glass is struck on the interior and exterior sides with a stick and, the piece is detached. The discs, which ara afterwards traced, are obtained very easily. They are seized by the thumb, passed through the aperture already made and de tached bv the pressure of two fintrers. An I able workman will cut 6,000 glasses a day. Wire Floor Than Hair. The wire used in making the receiving in struments of ocean cables, the galvanome ters used in testing cables and measuring ths insnlation of covered wires and other deli cate instruments is possessed of remarkable fineness. Some of this wire is 1-C00th of an inch in diameter, finer than the hair of ths human head. Ordinarily fine wire, which is drawn through steel plates, would be use less In this work, because if the hole wore away ever so little the wire would become; larger and therefore unserviceable. Instead of undergoing this process the wire is draws through what is practically a hole in a dia mond, to which there is no appreciable;, wear. These diamond plates are made by a' woman in New York, who has a monopoly of the art in this country. The wire is then run through machinery which winds it spirally with a layer of silk thread that ia C015 of an inch in thickness, even finer than. he wire. Ballway Passenger Communication. An apparently perfect system of railway passenger communication has been inau gurated in England. By means of a new apparatus, when the passenger has turned a little handle, convenient of accesi, he act ually stops the train by setting the vacuum brake in action. As a remedy acainst friv olous or risky stoppages, the engine-driver is enabled, when he ieels the brake on, to put it off so that he may Select a suitable or safe place to stop. His power of stopping, however, is lessened in proportion to the number of people who use the apparatus. When four persons have applied themselves to the communication in four different com partments the train is stopped absolutely, and is beyond the power of the driver. New Liquid Fuel Burner. A new liquid fuel burner is said to possess points of superiority over any burner hitherto used. Among these are simplicity of construction and manipulation, perfect safety, which is insured by the placing of the oil trap a few inches below the level of the burner, and ease .of regulation and cleaning. A specially designed oil cup for use with thick oil can be furnished, which makes it possible to use oil of considerable density. Hitherto there has been a difficulty in atomizing oil ot a certain density, but, with this improvement, as fine a spray as ia desired can be thrown in. Detecting Sulphured Hops. A German brewer, wise in his generation, has discovered a certain mode of detecting sulphured hops. He fits up a knitting needia with a silver-plated knob, and drives it into the bale of bops so as to leave only the knob visible. If after two or three hours the silvered knob is blackened, the sulphuring of the hops is considered to be pruved.- A PEELING OP SOMETHING G0NEL What a Popular Actress Has to Say of Tights on. the Stae. 1.111a Vane In "All the Comforts of.Honie." What do I think of tights? As a mere garment not at all uncomfortable, but as an object of unnecessary and uncalled-for at tention, exceedingly annoying. Tbeyi cer tainly allow a delightful freedom of action and movement utterly unobtainable in ths ordinary close nnd tightly-fitting garb of my sex. But I fear the length of my expe rience In this style of stage attire scarcely warrants a discussion of its peculiar fea tures. I must confess, however, that I found tights very awkward at first, just as any woman would who donned an abbreviated attire lor the first time. There was some thing gone, I didn't seem to realise just what; but any woman can appreciate it who wants to lift the train of her dress in cross ing a street and finds it missing. 10 There is no Substitute for Experience. ' WE HAVE IT. HE-NO Tea is Ths Result of That Experience. FOR SALE BY ALL GROCERS. - MARTIN QliLET ft CO., Importers of Teas, established i The Year 1811. AT BALTIMORE, MP. POWDER Is an absolute necessity of a refined toilet in this climate .B ft MEDICATED Combines every element of beauty and purity. "pOZZONi'S COMPLEXION POWDER. SOLD BY os.txeiiino t sojt; COmPLEXION WLBLsS2Se SBBB'SBlflBHBlBllHelseB . if A I III HI IH is II, .i! ils li IV - Zr4T- i d. -.-iMLJfL r-jicrtiswr jazMcit.-riamm?' ,.-. -.rr, - ,i. m a,6.lMwisiA . Ki- JVC fcij -. i A Ss&i'T. 25sfislfiKaSiS&S2ifcSi -I'-as y -
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers