- lmTptygp "jspr-"-? ' jft ""SSBffl1" f t 10 "bunkers, which would enable her to run long distances without re-coaling. Rigged like a three-masted brig and carrying a larga spread of canvas, her 1,200 horse power en gines would easily enable her to attain a speed of 15 knots an hour. Under these Conditions of speed and tonnage the Holly's Hope, which was a good sailer and easily handled, answered all the requirements of a passage through confined seas, tilled with island?, islets and reefs. It need hardlv be said that Mrs. Allaire id not remain inactive while these prepar ations were making. She co-operated with Captain Willis in working out every detail, using her fortune with a tree hand, not be ing willing to neglect the smallest matter n hich might contribute to the success of the expedition. By July 27 the Molly's Hope was ready to put to sea. .Mrs. Allaire went on board in the morning in order to exact a last prom ise from Captain "Willis to do everything in his power to discover traces of the lost ship. She had no doubt in her own mind that he would succeed. They would bring John, they would bring his crew hack with them, in a tone ot sucti prolouna convic tion did she repeat these words that the crew broke out in applause. Every man on board was infected with her deep faith, as were the friends and relatives who had come to see the Molly's Hope sail. Turning to Mrs. Allaire and Andrew Hol lister, who stood by her side, Captain "Willis cried out: "In your presenca, madame.and in yours, Mr. Hollister, in the name of my officers and my crew I make solemn ORth not to be discouraged by any danger or any fatigue in xnv search for Captain John and the men of the Dreadnaught. This vessel which you, Madam, have fitted out bears the name ol the Molly's Hone. I shall take care that she deserves it. ' "With the aid of God and of the devotion of those who put their faith in Him!" ex claimed Mrs. Allaire. "Hurrahl hurrah! for John and Mollie Allaire:" These cheers were taken up and repeated by the vast assemblage gathered on the wharf. The lines were now cast off and the Molly's Hope, under the pressure of the first revoltions of her screw, moved off away from her moorings and headed for the nar rows. She soon left the cape on the south west, and steaming boidly out to sea disap peared from the gaze of the thousands who Lad collected to wish her Godspeed. CHAPTER XL 3TIRST ATTEMPT TO FIND CAPTAUT IOTXX. After a run of 2,200 miles the Molly's Hope came in sight of Mount Kea tower ing 1,500 feet above the island of Hawaii, which is the most southerly of the Sand wich Islands. In addition to five large Islands in three small ones, this group con tains a number of islets upon wliich there vas no need of searching for traces of the Dreadnaught. It is quite evident that this hipwreck would have been known long ago if it had taken place on any one of the nu merous reefs of this archipelago, not even excepting those of Medo-Manon which are only inhabited by countless numbers of sea fowls. The Sandwich Islands are in reality quite densely populated, Hawaii alone hav ing 100,000 inhabitants, and had the Dread naught been recked on these coasts the sews of the disaster would most surely Jrave been sent to "Washington by the Amer ican commercial agents resident on the Islands. Anyway, four years before this, when Captain Willis tpoke the Dreadnaught the tro ships met to the westward of the Sand wich group. Mollv's Hope now continued &n her coarse to the southwest across thN wonderful ocean which well merits its time during the several months of the Warm season. Sn days later the fast steamer had crossed that imaginary line running north acd aouth by which geographers separate Poly nesia irom Microner.ii Captain "Willis had to reason to search this western portion of the Polyncf ian waters, but beyond them the Jiicronesiaa seas swarmed with islands, iclets and reels which it now became the perilous duty of the Molly's Hope to search lor traces of a wreck. On August 22 they touched at Odia, the largest of the Marshall group, visited by Kotiebue and the Itussians in 181". This f roup is spread out over a space of 30 miles east and i est by 13 miles noith and south, and doesn't contain few er than 65 islets or attolons. Although the Molly's Hope might have taken on a supply of fresh water in a few hours from this island, yet ihe prolonged her stay for five days. Lowering his steanf launch Captain "Willis was able to convince himself that no ship had been lost on these reefs during the four years just past. They noticed some drift wood ulosg the shore of the Mulgrave Islands, but it was only the trunks of fir tiees, palms and bamboos used bv thenatives in building their piregues, and had no doubt been caught in the ocean currents. "Willis learned trom the chief of Odia island that since 1S72 there had only been a report of one wreck on the eastern attolons and that was an Eughsh brig, the crew of which had iatT been taken off. Once outside of the Marshall arch ipelago, the Molly's hope turned her head toward the Caroline Islands. On his way, by means of his steam launch, "Willis made the circuit of TJalan Island.but without any results. On September 3 he entered that vat archipelago known aB the Caroline Islands, taking for the headquart ers of his operations island of Yap, which is one of the 500 islands making up the Caro line group. From this point the captain pushed his in esligations in all directions. The devotion of his men was beyond praise. Not a murmur was heard on ac count of the dangers and fatigues connected with the task of exploring these countless reefs and passing through these narrow channels, the bottoms of which bristled with corallaceous growths. Besides, the pleasant season was now over, and there were already reminders of those terrible gales which send so many ships to tne bottom. Every day the ship's boats searched for creeks and coves into which the currents might have cast some bit of the wreck. In all these excursions the men were well armed, for it was far differ ent work from the search tor Sir John IVsnkhn, which took place on the uninhab ited shores ot the Arctic regions. Most of these islands were inhabited, and Captain "Willis invariably made strenuous efforts to establish friendly relations with thenatives, tut, in spite of his overtures, he often met with hostile demonstrations, in which sev eral ol his men were wounded. It was from this point that Captain "Willis made his first report to Mrs. Allaire, but as all his labors had produced no results, it was resolved to continue the search further west. On the second day of December the Molly's Hope reached the Philippines, 700 miles to the westward ot theCarolinegroup. These islande were discovered by Magellan in 1521, and are the most important of the Malaysian Archipelago. Captain "Willis did no; touch at any point on the coast of Luzon Island. How could it be possible that the Dreadnaught ever got so far JTorth in the China Sea when he was sailing for Singa pore? 1'or this reason "Willis preferred to make the island of Mindanao the center of his operations, which island, lying in the Southern part of the archipelago, must necessarily have been passed by Captain John in order to reach tne Java Sea. Mollv's steamer was now anchored in the port ofZamboanga, the residence of the Governor, to whom and to whose subordi nates Captain AVillis first applied for in formation ot any vesael wrecked on the coait of Mindanao, but so far as the Span ish authorities Mere concerned they re ported that no such disaster had taken place within five years. But thes,e reports did not cover the inde pendent portions of'the island inhabited by savages against whom the charge of canni balism had been substantiated, and who would naturally make every effort to con ceal the facts of any such disaster on their coast. Many of these Malays follow the Evocation of corsairs and are ready to pur sue any luckless iiiercuauuncn driven into their waters to escape the gales. "Whom they capture they destroy, and whether such had been the terrible fate of Captain John pad his companions was something which would never come to the ear of the Gov ernor. Captain "Willis didn't hesitate to penetrate into these wonderful forests of tamarind, bamboo, mangrove, ebony, ma hogany and ironwood in order to reach the interior villages, in the hope of finding some bit or shred of proof that the Dreadnaught had gone to pieces on these reefs or that one or more of her crew had fallen into the hands of these islanders. The exploration of the Philippine Archi pelago lasted two months and a half, after which "Willis made a search through the Bassilan group to the south ot zamboanga, and then sailed for the Sooloo Archipelago, which he reached February 25, 1880. This is a veritable nest of pirates and the jungles of the many islands lying between Mindanao and Borneo are alive with sav ages. But one port is ever frequented by vessels crossing the China Sea and Malaysian basins, and that is the port of Bevoan. Here the Molly's Hope cast anchor. "Willis scattered presents with a lavish hand amoug the inhabitants of these islands, but noth ing that was brought to light served in the slightest to clear up the mystery of the Dreadnaught Although the steamer had coaled at Mindanao, yet at the end of this cruise her bunkers were pretty well emptied. However, there was apparently enough left to enable her to cross the Celebes Sea and make the port of Bandjermasin in the Southern part of Borneo. In spite of the fact that the Celebes Sea it shut in like a lake, it is visited bv ter rible wind storms, and in the night of February 28 to 29 a gale of great impetu osity overtook the steamer, rolling up a violent sea and emptying hundreds of tons of water upon her deck and flooding her hold, but her compartments resisted the strain and kept the water from reaching her engine rooms, a piece of great good fortune, for her files once extinguished and screw rendered uscles, she would have been powerless to make head against the gale. Neither captain nor crew lost their-self-possession for a moment during the long hours of this terrible night. On the morn ing of March 2 the staunch steamer Molly's Hope sighted the Maratoubas Islands, off the coast of Borneo. A fortnight was devoted to ransacking these waters for some proof that the Dread naught had perished in just such a gale as had overtaken the steamer, but although rich presents were distributed among the chiefs , nothing was forthcoming. "It is very possible," said Captain "Willis to his mate one day, "that the destruction of the Dreadnaught was due to a sudden at tack of a number of piratical crafts, andthiB would account for our not having been able to discover any trace of her. These pirates make no boast of their exploits and when a vessel disappears they have but to lay it to the fury of the gale." "You are right, Captain," replied the mate. "These waters swarm with pirates and we must redouble our vigilance in pass ing through Macassar Strait" "Very true," answered "Willis, "but there's no chance of their being able to overtake us. Not so a sailing vessel, "With irregular and shifting winds a sailing vessel is more or less at their mercy. But so long as our engines are in working order we have nothing to fear. Still, we can't be too care ful." For two months, from March 13 to May 15, Captain "Willis busied himself making a close search of the eastern coast of Celebes Island. The fantastic outlines of this island has led some geographers to compare it to a huge tarantula, but the very fact of this bent and twisted coast line makes it a favor able refuge for pirates. "Whenever the ship's boats were occupied in searching the coves and inlets, Captain "Willis lay to, as near the coast as possible, with steam up, ready at a moment's notice to cover their retreat Having once trav ersed the strait, all danger was at an end, for the southern part of the Celebes is un der Dutch rule, Macassar being the capital city, and here under the guns of Fort Rot terdam the Molly's Hope came to anchor on May 17. If Captain "Willis had thus far discovered no trace of John Allaire and his crew of the Dreadnaught, he was now destined to get at last some positive information on the sub ject of the route which the Dreadnaught had followed. It was this: On May 3, 1875, that clipper ship had been signaled ten miles out from Macassar, heading toward the Java Sea. One thing was now certain: she had not perished in the terrible waters of Malaysia. It was beyond Celebes and Borneo, that is in the Java Sea, that Cap tain "Willis was called upon to continue his search, not relaxing his efforts until Singa pore had been reached. In a report sent to Mrs. Allaire from this extreme point of Celebes Island, "Willis communicated to her this important piece of information, at the same time promising to keep her posted as to the results of the search which would now be confined to the Java Sea and the Sunda Islands. AVillis had fixed the meridian of Singa pore as the western limit of the expedition, and on his way home intended to explore tne western shores of Java Sea, and make search among the chaplet of islands which shut it in on that side, and then after pass ing in among the Malaccas regain the Pa cific and return to America. The Molly's Hope left Macassar on May 2?, and crossing the strait at its lower end, made the port of Bandjermasin. This is the official rcbidence of the Governor of Borneo. Most scrupulous examination was made of the shipping records, but no mention of the Dreadnaught could be found. There was one explanation. Captain John had kept out to sea in crossing this body of water. Ten days later Captain "Willis cast anchor in the port of Batavia at the westerly end of the island of Java. This is the capital of the Dutch possessions in Oceanica. The Governor General was not able to give Captain "Willis a glimmer of light on the possible fate of the Dreadnaught. In the opinion of the marine authorities at Batavia the American three-master had been overtaken bv a tor nado, which had caught her with all her sails set and sent her to the bottom with every soul on board. In support of this opinion, they cited a number of like cases, in which no tidings had come from the doomed vessels and no bit of the wreck had ever been cast ashore. In leaving Batavia, the Molly's Hope put the Strait of Sunda on her port side and soon sighted the islands of Eilliton and Banka. Formerly the approaches to these islands were infested with pirates who fre quently attacked vessels touching here for cargoes of iron and tin, but the marine police have succeeded in destroying this pest so that there was no reason to con clude that the Dreadnaught and her crew had fallen victims to sea robbers at this point Continuing her course toward the north west, the steamer kept up her search among the islands along the coast of Sumatra. On June 20 the southerly end of th Malay peninsula was sighted and the Molly's Hope shortly afterwards put in at the port of Singapore. As the engines called for repairs, Cap tain "Willis was obliged to make a stay of two weeks in this port, which is situated on the southerly side of the small island of the same name. This little island, however, since the English first selected it as a naval and commercial station in 1818, has steadily increased in importance, a fact due to its admirable situation on the lino of trade be tween America and the Indies. It will be remembered that it was at this port that the Dreadnaught was to land a portion of her cargo before proceeding to Calcutta. It will also be remembered that the American clipper ship never entered this port However, Captain AVillis pro fited by his forced sojourn here to investi fate the circumstances of every wreck that ad been reported within late years. From the very fact that the Dreadnaught had been signaled off the port of Macassar and that she had never reached Singapore it became necessary to assume that sbe had been wrecked somewhere between these two points. True, there was another position to take and it was that Captain John had left the Java Sea and run out into the Indian Ocean through the Strait of Lombock or Strait of Sunda. And yet why should he have done this, inasmuch as he was bound for Singapore? Such a supposition had nothing to support it By August 25 the steamer was ready for sea. and Captain Willis by coasting along ,the Simoa Islands left no point unvisited. One after the other he made thorough search on Madura, Ballv, Lonbock and Sunbawa Islands. The Molly's Hope had great diffi culty at times to keep herself from being caught in the violent currents flowing through the different straits opening into the Indian Ocean, currents so strong that a ship is carried along even in the teeth of the monsoon. It will be readily under stood that a sailing vessel would find it al most impossible to escape from one of these impetuous swirls to the southward After leaving Flores Island Captain AVil lis continued to skirt alone; the chain of is lands shutting in the Flores and BandaSeas on the south, but no tidings of Captain John and his companions, no trace of the beautiful clipper ship rewarded their efforts. Naturally the crew of the Molly's Hope felt the depressing effect of this long and fruitless cruise. But, however, it was too soon to give up all hope, as the search was really not yet completed. It was possible that Captain John instead of entering Ma cassar Strait after leaving Mindanao had chosen the Molucca Passage and had en tered the Java Sea through the Banda and Flores Seas. But the time was running down and the logbook of the Molly's Hope continued to make no mention of any trace or tidings of the lost vessel, Neither at Timor nor among the three croups which make up the Molucca Archipelago did Captain AVillis come upon any bit or shred of information which might point to the fact that the ill fated clipper had been lost in these waters. "When the search steamer had reached the island of Gillolo the circle was complete. Captain AVillis had made the rounds of tho Eastern Archipelago, he had ended the task which had been assigned him. Having taken on the necessary supplies of provision and coal, the Molly s Hope on January 9 was headed for home. Thus ended the year 1881, the sixth since the Dreadnaught had last been heard from. It was not until January 23 that the steamer was sighted at the signal station of San Diego. The Malaysian campaign had lasted 19 months, and in spite of the prodigious efforts of Captain wil is, seconded by the admirable devotion of his officers and crew, the mvstery of the Dreadnaught remained as dark and deep as ever. To Be Continued Next Sunday. GEMS OF THE FORESTS. Treasures the Birds Hide In Their Fragile Homes in the Tree Tops Curious Facts About the Size and Marldngi or Eggs A Popular Error. WRITTEN FOB THIS DISrATCH.1 There is nothing more interesting to study than a fine collection of bird eggs, neatly arranged and labeled. Time thus spent is not only pleasant but profitable. To know the name of a bird egg when placed before you is something that can be acquired only by long observation and ex perience. But even then it is easy to be misled, for the eggs of the same bird often vary perceptibly, both in shape and mark ings, and especially in certain species. Probably among our common birds the eggs of the English sparrow vary more, both in shape and color, than any other. This is perhaps due to the adaptation of this bird to any climate or kind of food. It builds in holes and out, and as the location of the nests of all birds have something to do with the color of the eggs, this may be thus explained. Eggs of blaokbirds always vary m markings, which are sometimes very curious. Next ranks the brown thrush, called by some the "yellow mocker." The eggs of this bird vary more in color than in shape, but the same individual bird always lays the same shaped and colored eggs. Not so with the sparrow. The same female may have in her nest eggs large and small, dark and light The bluebird's egg has a standard size, but is often different in color. The robins probably lay eggs more uniform both in shape and color than most birds. Likewise the phocbebird, wren and chim ney swift But there are exceptions to all these, for even in a robin's nest I have found eggs laid by the same bird differ in shape, some being long, while ethers were round like marbles. "Why Eggs Vary In Size. This variation in shape maybe due partly to the sex of the prospective young bird. In birds that lay only two eggs, as the doves and pigeons, one is always notably larger than the other. The large one contains the male, while the least one gen erally hatches out his wife. I have often noticed that birds laying only two eggs hardly ever show fight in protecting their homes. The size of the bird does not always regu late the size of the egg, for the plover, a comparatively small bird, lays an egg simi lar in every respect to that of the crow. Neither has the color of the bird anything to do with the color of its eggs. It is true that the blue bird's egg is blue, but so is the robin's and catbird's, neither of which has a tinge of blue in its plumage. The popular impression that if a bird is speckled its egg is also speckled is incor rect The brown thrush is speckled and so is its egg, but the yellowhammer, downy and hairy, woodpeckers and others have speckled plumage, but lay clear, white eggs. The eggs of the cowbird, kingbird, redbird and blackbird are all marked with dots, while the plumage of these birds is of uni form color, o The color or markings of eggs are very apt to be in mimicry of the surroundirigs of the nest. It has been said that birds that have concealed nests usually have white eggs. This rule has too many excep tions to be considered a rule at all. A few exceptions are the wren, bluebird, nut hatch and English sparrow. The Markings of Eggs. On speckled eggs the markings usually lieoward the larger end, but in one in stance, that of the orchard oriole, I saw it just the reverse. Eggs laid early in the season are apt to be larger and more deeply colored than later ones. The best example of this is found in the pigeon hawks. Some eggs change their color slightly when blown. The business of an egg collector is looked upon by most persons as one of robbery. It is not necessarily so. There is hardly any bird that will not return and hatch the re maining eggs if you take only one, not dis turbing the nest, and at times I have known them to replace the removed egg. The tr 's of the oologist are many. He will find the best eggs in thorny trees. Hare eggs are very frequently thin shelled or partly incubated. Often, after climbing 50 or 60 feet heavenward, he is chagrined to find a la3t year's nest, or more likely one filled with little writhing creatures that seem to be all skin and mouth. Tho com mon mode of blowing eggs is very danger ous, as the writer experienced during the last season while blowing decayed eggs of the Eocky Mountain grouse. This is all very discouraging to a beginner, but he feels amply repaid when he sees with what interest his friends examine his collection. Cecil M. Baskett. ALWAYS AV0BE WOMEN'S CLOTHES. Kemarkable Caso of a French Cook Who Is Now Quite an Old Man. A man named Signol, 72 years old, em ployed as a cook, was taken to the Hospital of Saint Antoine, Paris, suffering from gas tritis. Mistaken, on account of his dress, for a woman, he was taken to the ward re served for members of the weaker sex. AVhen they found out the mistake he was put into another ward. The strangest thing about the whole case is that Signol says that he never wore male attire excepting on the day he was exam ined by the conseil de revision iu iorder to determine whether he was fit for military service. AVhen he was 17 years old he went as servant girl to a farm inLin-sur-Mer. He remained there 11 years. He learned to cook at Caen and went to Paris, where he was employed as cook for 49 years either in private families or in boys' schools. THE PTTTSBTmO- DISPATOH, SUNDAY, JULY 19, EXPLAINING HISTOEY. BiH Kye Enlightens an Indian Maid Upon the Etruscans. SHE 18 SOMEWHAT DEPRESSED Bj Her" Forefathers Having Given Away Whole Counties for Rum. SOOTHUKJ WORDS FOR A SAD SPIRIT coruksfoxdenci of the eisfatch.1 Skyland, Buncombe County, ) NOKin CAKOLE A, July 17. Miss AVanda Poppleton, of Paw Paw, L T., writes: "Could you give our lyceum here any information regarding Etruria? AVe have the subject for discussion now in a few weeks, and I for one know almost noth ing regarding it. I am an Indian girl with some white blood in my veins, though it does not show much. I like to fool with history, and often ask my parents about our lineage to know if possible how high it was, but they always look out the window and gradually turn the conversation toward the late war. "I am quite sure that some of my parents were from Cape Cod, for I cannot help feel ing an interest in trade and bewailing most bitterly the numberless instances in which my people was done np from a business standpoint, swapping, as they did on several occasions, a Con gressional district for a bottle of spirits and a red martingale ring. Oh, it is indeed tough to think of now when one, for in stance, goes out as far as Pullman and Cal umet to find lots selling for far more than we got for the whole State of Illinois. I read your get offs, or gets off, rather, that is printed in the papers, and though I am rather depressed most of the time owing to the wrongs of my people, ,1 find that I can add to that feeling very much by reading after you. Please tell me all you can in re gards to Etruria, or anything else that seems to be festering on your mind, and oblige. How do you like my writing?" He Ventilate j His Erudition. Etruria or Tuscia was an ancient country of Italy, extending from the Tiber and the Appenines to the Mediterranean Sea. The people who lived there were called Etruscans. An Etruscan Sarcophagus. The government of the Etruscans was simple, being a confederacy. It is now no more. Bui why rake up old personalities or stir up race nrejudice now that all is friendly again. Etruria was ruled by a sort of board of supervisors chosen by 12 cantons, which comprised the Etruscan confederacy. Each had the divine right to secede from the others by paying its dues and the bill at the restaurant The Church and State were almost identi cal in Etruria and almost everything was opened with prayer. The Etruscans, how ever, worshiped Tinia or Tina, hence the expression making of one "a little Tin god." Tina or Tinia was undoubtedly Jubiter, and here originated another expression which may be traced at once to the Etruscans. To call down the wrath of Jubiter or Tinia grew at last till it became simply, instead of "I will call down or 'sio' Jupiter on you." "If you do not do so and go, I will put a Tinia on you," Thus the thinking mind is ever at work tracing out the origin of things until at last we reach the point where we know so much that brain colio is a very common occurrence among us. They Advertised In Those Days. The Etruscans also worshiped Juno. I give above a drawing of an esop"hagus in which the Etruscans buried their deceased "quality." I found the tomb two yean ago while on the continent, and concealing it in a shawl strap brought it home, where I now have it in my study. I felt much interest in the relic, not only because of the tableau on the top representing one of the Etruscan Kings engaged in laying the cause of the people before Juno, but also on ac count of the thre sheet poster pasted on the end of the tomb, as it shows how alert the Etruscans were in advertising, and also the degree of perfection to which show print ing had attained even at that early time. In the Firelight. In Erturia, also, it was customary to worship 12 other divinities, aside from those named above, and so it is said that at last the Etruscans were taking up a collection or trying some one for heresy all the time. Trade became congested, commerce curled up its tail and died. Poverty succeeded to thrist and contentment, hunger sat at the gateway and appealed to eyes that answered only by their own tearless hunger. Over and above the gods I have described, there was a mysterious power which had the call on all the others and was assort of James G. Blaine in the Etruscan cabinet, who drew a moderate salary, but really allowed no ap pointments to be made unless he counter signed tho application. This power was similar to the Fates of the Greek and Boman Mythology, and, it is said, used to write Jupiter's messages for him. How Bill Nye Became a Learned Man. There is a great deal of mystery surround ing the early history of Etrnria, and you will find very few people, AVanda, who have the moral courage to come out and say au thentically as much about this country and Ecople as I do; but I have been lot with a good memory and am also an omniverous reader, often read ing away along into the afternoon while my wife is gathering iagots in the forest, so that at eventide I may lay prone upon my stomach by the flicker of the fireside, eat ing the cool and fragTant Rhode Island greening, while I monkey with some old tome of long since forgotten lore. The government of Etruria was in the hands of a few, but most everyone was glad that there were no more. The system of road repairing was similar to that adopted by this county, and manv people annually broke their necks on their way to church. Herodotus says in an autograph album which I still retain, and I think very truly, too. that if the Etruscans had kept their I R'ft l-"' I' J 71 i Ik IT & JfflliF' roads in better repair, gone into diversified fanning, bathed more regularly, and consol idated or sort of boiled down their gods, they would have been on deck to-day. As it is, AVanda, where are they? A Very Proud People. And yet they were an old people, an old, old family, and well brought up. Seven hundred and fifty-two years before Christ we find them bragging over their ancestry, and even later on, standing around in the courtroom chewing straws and looking on while Pilate was on the bench, and, though saying little, yet seeking to throw con- JVje as an Etruscan.', tumely on people who had moved foto Jerusalem recently. They were a haughty people, who worshiped a whole city di rectory of gods, refused to work and were often found on the petit jury list. Historians do not agree as to the origin of the Etruscans, some claiming that they were of Iiydian origin, while others hold that they came from away down East. Herodotus claims that they were of Lydian stock and that he had it from the Lydians themselves, but those who know Herodotus will remember that he was a space writer whose best interviews were all written at the office while in a state of remorse. They were bold in war and enterprising in busi ness. Their standing army rarely sat down and their navies were seldom seasick. All this was the case up to about 58G B. C. to the best of my recollection. After that they had the air of being checked up too high. Their pride prevented them from sweating and they perspired very little, too. Troubled With Brain Tag Very Early. Finally their letters were all "diotated" to a stenographer by a private secretary, and a century or so later we find the Etrus cans suffering from brain fag before their whiskers broke out They sat for hours trying to remember back to when they wero young people, but finally gave it up. They did not marry outside of their set at all, and so managed to confine all the broad heritage of antique and ancient diseases, which many generations of indolence, inso lence and rich victuals had engendered, to tneirown proud but bilious race. And so at last, AVanda, they petered out, to use the glowing words of Livy, and the places that knew them once now knows them no more forever. Think of it Seven hundred and fifty years before the boom struck Home the Etruscans were a powerful nation, with a glorious history, a heritage of liberty for the purpose of forking over to posterity and a war debt Later on trouble broKe out witn tne Komans tnemselvos, many Etrusoans having been skinned, it would seem, by unscrupulous real estate dealers, who sold the Etruscans lots in Un cle Remus' addition to Borne which after ward turned out to be in another county. This precipitated upon the Etruscans a war which was most disastrous, many of the choicest and best dressed Etruscan officers of the regular army having been killed or overhet in their fight, so that they were no good after that, or their uniforms were so mussed up that they were ashamed almost to go to a large place like Borne, where the next battle was advertised for. Often Scrapped With Their Conqueror. Eighty-nine years before Christ the Etrus cans were admitted to the Boman franchise, but still even as a subordinate power they constantly threw it up to their conquerors that they were a very old people, and it was indeed a raw, disagreeable day when some Etruscan did not go home with a beau tiful Swiss sunset under each eye and tell his wife that he got it while roaching the tail of a casual mule. The Etruscan writers were not of a high order generally, but they excelled in all the arts. As a people they allowed nobody to outdo them in art Sculpture, painting, etc, eta, had a great hold on the people, and home decoration was run into the ground. Everlasting flowers and dried grasses with powdered alum on them were in their full meridian when the Etruscans curled up and died as a people, leaving their glittering bones to ornament the shores of time. The so-called Tuscan architecture is a modification of the Doric, and looks well on an unencumbered piece of property. The tombs of the Etrusoans are their chief charm. They are beautifully decorated and though poorly ventilated, as o many tombs are apt to be, are on the inside covered with paintings and carvings. They are also furnished with various articles, on many of wliich may be found the remains of very unique and once beautiful tidies, which, it is presumed, were a weakness of the Etrus cans, though it must bo admitted that they showed much mental acumen, it seemed to me, iu putting them where they could not be worn off down town on the shoulder of an inoffensive guest. Brxx, Nye. EATING EGOS 07 INSECTS. Tho Siamese Plunder the Ants for One of Their Choicest Luxuries. Fashion iu Siam prescribes a ourry of ants' eggs as necessary to every well ordered banauet They are not larger, the eggs, than grains of pepper, and to an un accustomed palate have no particular flavor. Besides being curried, they are brought to table rolled in green leaves mingled with shreds of very fine slices of pork. The Mexicans make a species of bread of tho eggs of insects which frequent the fresh water of the lasoons. The natives culti vate in the lagoon of Ohalco a sort of carex called tonte on which the insects deposit their eggs very freely. This carex is made into bundles and is soon covered. The egg are disengaged, beaten, dried and pounded into flour. Acute Nervous Prostration. One of the most dangerous and common forms of acute nervous prostration is known as sunstroke. The prostration caused by overheating the body docs not always result in sunstroke, but more commonly in milder forms of depression, such as nervous head ache, dizzinefs, faintness, sleeplessness, pal pitation, mental confusion, abundant, clear urine, creeping rigors, flashes of heat and shortness of breath at the least exertion. All of the above-named symptoms of acute prostration are more prevalent during the months of June and J uly than at any other season of the year. Even people who have the most vigorous health are liable to at tacks of prostration during the hot waves of early summer. The only safe course to take is to keep the blood pure, digestion good, and sleep regular. Iso remedy equals in all respects Pe-ru-na for these purposes. A dose of Pe-ru-na before each meal during the hot season is a safeguard of priceless value. Especially those who are in the least sub ject to nervous prostration should not neg lect to provide themselves with Pe-ru-na, the greatest of all nerve and brain restora tives known to the medical world. Com plete directions for use on each bottle. For treatise on nervous prostration and diseases of the nervous system send for copy of The Family Physician No. 1. Sent free by The Peruna Medicine Company, Columbus, Ohio. 1891. AN OLD-TIME EDITOR Visits Pittsburg to Attend the Meth odist General Conference. HIS IMPRESSIONS OF THE TOWN Written Oyer Forty Tears Ago and Printed in an Old Magazine. SIDE LIGHTS ON THE TOTOG CTTI WBITTZN FOll THE DISPATCH. Over 40 years ago the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church met in Pittsburg. Who remembers it? The meet ings must have been held in old Brimstone Corner or the Liberty Street Church, as those were the prominent Methodist meet ing houses at that time. In an old volume ot the Ladies' depository, a Methodist maga zine, I find an account of a visit to Pitts burg to attend this conference, written by the editor, which is both interesting and amusing. Travel in those days must have been un usual for a religious editor, since in the opening chapter of his account he sets forth good reasons why he should take the con templated trip from Cincinnati to Pittsburg, which he designates as "the smokiest and darkest and dirtiest of towns." His main argument is that the editor, like other mon arch!, is apt to get narrow in his notions unless he enlarges himself once in a while by travel. Then he cites precedents in favor of his taking the trip. Ulysses, tho Greek King of Ithaca, had no scruples about leaving his dominions and sailing the wild seas over. Several of the ancient Boman Kings used to make journeys, and their illustrious successors, the Emperors, spent much time in the same business. Charlemagne and Charles V. were, great travelers. Napoleon and Louis Phillippe were greatly experienced in going about on land and water. Victoria has also visited Scot land, Germany and France. He might have added that presidents were given to swinging around circles, but he was satisfied to con fine himself to the example of monarchs. Preparations for a Formidable Trip. Having made his argument, and backed it up by royal precedents, he relates how he prepared for this extensive journey, "red ding up" his sanctum and selecting books to take with him to secure him Irom intel lectual starvation. AVith a proper amount of clothing, with a quantity of books in German, French and English stowed away in his bunk, and a bundle of dailies, month lies and quarterlies, tied up, and a goodly supply ot green pippins and oranges, his outfit for the journey was complete. A trip from Cincinnati to Pittsburg in 1848 must have been a vast undertaking as compared with the same trip to-day, when a man oftentimes starts oft merely with a satchel and an overcoat to cross the continent, and when a woman can go around the world with one dress and a shawl strap. However, after all his preparations, the reverend brother embarks on a steamboat advertised to start at precisely 9 A. M., but which did not steam out until sunset, or as he practically puts it, "the great god of day had just completed his journey and worn and wearied was just unbuckling his horses at the edge ot the big, wild AVestern for est" The steamer was "the Cam bria." Who con remember it? On board this boat going to attend this general conference he tells us there were 30 Christian ministers, "soma with gray looks curling over a world of learning, others of great heart and soul from the big woods where the sun untied his chariot, many with less years and with less honors won in the great war of righteousness against irreligion, but all as true and genu ine a troop as ever drew tha sharp sword of old St Peter." An Xarly Pittsburg Editor. Among the passengers was Dr. Elliott. who was one of the early editors of the Pittsburg Christian Advocate, but who went to Cincinnati to become the editor of the Western Advocate. He is described as having "a huge, massive head that towers up like the summit of Cotopoxi, and is as well ribbed with granite. His learning in Greek and Latin and Hebrew is proverbial, and his heart is as big and warm and active as a rolling mill full of forges. The ideas of his mind, like the words of his mouth, come out of him like great rough hot pigs of half melted iron, making everybody scamper from the fat lumps ot fire jumping out of them." The early Methodist thus described must have been a veritable combination of Daniel AVebster, Henry Clay and DeAVitt Talmage. Among the 30 preachers on their way to Pittsburg wa3 Peter Cartwright, the fa mous backwoods preacher ot Kentucky, whose zeal in the cause of Methodism and success in conversions fill large chapters in the history of the Methodists of the AVest. Ho is said to have preached as many as 15, 000 sermons that in effect kept the mourn er's bench continually crowded wherever he went During the journey he is de scribed as being the life of the party, and as the most sociable, amusing and interest ing companion that ever existed since the world was made. Another noted minister in the party was Father Mitchell, who, although past four score, was as cheery and jolly as anybody. He had been a rich slave holder, but be coming convinced that slavery was wrong, he had given freedom to every slave he owned, aud thus reduced himself to almost poverty. No one on board that boat, sys the writer, had better sight, better appe tite, a younger spirit or a gayer heart than this good old Brother Mitchell. Arrival of the Piigriins. This merry party of preachers had ample time to get acquainted and swap stories and experiences, for it took the Cambria more than two days and two nights to make the trip. AVhen they reached here they were distributed around in the hospitable homes of Pittsburg Methodists for entertaiment This occasions something in the line ot com plaint from the reverend brother. How it Was arranged he does not pretend to say, but the fact remained that the stout, active, healthy man who needed exercise had his quarters near the church; the lame brother, limping along on a cane, was assigned to Mt AVashington (and there were no inches in 1848); the old, feeble man was quartered in Allegheny (when there were no street cars), while the lank, tall man was quartered in a town up the river named Birmingham. However,afterall these misfits, the reverend brother reaches the conclu sion that the Committee on Entertainment did the best they could. At this time the Methodists in the vicinity were compara tively few not perhaps more than 2,000 and it must have been a difficult matter, even in those days of open hospitality, to find familes willing to receive the members of the general conference during a session of four weeks. The women then were not clamoring to be admitted to the conference, nor were they attendants at the meetings. They wera aiding the good work of advanc ing Christianity and promulgating the views of John AVesley by cooking chickens ana wames anuooa inmgs generally lor the preachers to enjoy. llelicion Leads to a Divorce. About this time there seems to have been bad blood between the Methodists aud Presbyterians. Jane G. Swisshelm and her mother-in-law were fighting the battle at home. The Swisshelms were devoted Methodists, but Jane G. was a blue Presby terian, preferring Calvinism to the doctrine ol free grace. Great efforts were made for her conversion by the brethren and the mother-in-law. But both women were so belligerent and "sot" in their views that a bitter family quarrel, followed by a divorce, was the result Another effect was that the contemplated new Methodist church at Swissvale was transferred to AVilkinsburg. Much of the opposition manifested toward the Methodists at this time was doubtless due to tho notorious "Black Gag Law" passed at Baltimore by a preceding General Conference and for which four of the Metho dist ministers of Pittsburg had voted. Mrs. Swisshelm was an intense abolitionist The first time her name appeared in print was as author of an article denouncing these ",BIack Gag" Methodist ministers by name, and for which she was threatened with a libel suit and imprisonment. She followed this up by such a scorching arraignment that the ministers were glad to go, and the suit was dropped. The minister, however, who writes his impressions of Pittsburg in those stirring times says nothing of these excite ments. The church was all torn up over the subject of slavery, but as editor of a magazine for ladies, he deemed it best prob ably not to introduce any exciting, or poli cal subjects to disturb their minds. The Editor's Opinion of Pittsburg. He said "Pittsburg was rightly named. It was a bnrg of pits coal pits, iron pits, furnace pits and all of them smoke pits." It was a sort of United States smoke house. If, he writes, the people of this city should erect posts and connect them with iron bars they might smoke all the green hams in the country at small expense and large profit. To still further emphasize the matter of smoke, he added, that the people who are constantly smoked from the cradle to the grave all look sallow and baconish. "I saw not one rosy-checked child or young lady, except very few, who, I was informed were born in the neighboring country." The children, indeed, were all so black and dirty that the mothers when they wanted to find their own had to wash a shoal of youngsters in order to recognize their them. Nevertheless, with this single draw back, he asserts that "Pittsburg is the greatest place in the whole nation. It im pressed most of the visitors in the same way during that meeting in 1848, so what would they think now? Although the city itself was thought by the writer to be a baa place to live in, yet the delightfulness of the sur rounding country took nis fancy amazingly. Tho most fastidious, he thought, could find oharming homes in the suburbs. He was delighted with Mt. Washington, and surprised that the "glorious bluffs" across the Monongahela nfL(l not. nPn ptincAn fnr 1rw linmaa A wthe time of his visit there was only one handsome residence upon the "grand old bluffs" in addition to the cottages of the col liers. To talk of the difficulty of getting there was to him ridiculous. The cool, calm sweet repose of a night up there would be worth a climb to Chimborazo, in his opinion. He Interviews the Miners. AVhile on "the bluffs" he visited a coal mine, and talked with the miners, both of the Methodist and Presbyterian persuasion. These expressed themselves as enjoying their lives in the mine, where they were far away from the noise of men and tie world's temptations. He describes the Bench of Bishops at this conference, and tells of the practical wis dom, piety and charity of Bishop Hedding; of the integrity, love of peace and loyalty of Bishop AVaugh; of the social, cheerful, good-nsttured Bishop Morris; of the brill iant, intellect, extraordinary preaching talent and unparalleled sweetness of man ners of Bishop Leonidas L. Hamline, and of the eminent business qualities of Bishop Jones, who made it a point not to talk, but to think. Then there were eminent church men from England, Canada, and all parts of the South. , It would be quite interesting to know something of the proceedings of this notable General Conference at a time when the whole country was boiling over the subject of slavery, and when the churches were all for peace and compromise at any price. But the reverend writer evidently thinks that these aTe not topics for women readers as he ignores them all, and treats only of his personal experiences. The smoke gave him tho horrors. Alle gheny was to him a haven of rest. Most of tha merchants and manufacturers, he re lates, who make all the smoke and dirt will not live in it, but, like men of sense, live over tho river. Brother Hunter, editor of the Pittsburg Christian Advocate at that time, lives in this blessed Allegheny he tells his readers. Disappointed in One Industry. He visited the rolling mills, the glass works, the noveltv works the nail works. and was duly impressed with their magni tude. In the novelty works he was vastly aisapjwimeu. .tie naa aeierrea Duying anything in the line of presents for his children and friends until he got there, and was vastly surprised to find only huge quantities of brass keys, door locks, collee mills and screws. Even when far away from Pittsburg he tells his readers that his mind was con tinually drawn to the vast volume of smoke which from one year's end to another is toweripg and rolling over the heads of the thousands who make it their business to breathe the blackest air upon the continent Such was tho effect of this air on his health and spirits, and such was his awful reminiscences concerning it, that he could not think of Pittsburg without a cough. He coughed for the first two weeks of the conference in Pittsburg to such extent that Providence took the matter in hand, and secured for him an invitation to spend the remaining two weeks with Major Beckham and family at the penitentiary in Alle gheny. AVith the pure air here furnished he passed two happy and delightful weeks. He took occasion to investigate the system Major Beckham pursued and pronounced it one of the best institutions in the world. He describes it as removed from all bustle of the town, located in a park, and looking more like the palace of a nobleman than a prison. In Love With a Burglar. AVithin its walls hs became acquainted with the "Napoleon of Burglars" who knows who he was? Most of the convicts, he relates, are men of feeble intellects, whose vices have brought them to the lowest scale of meanness. These when visited were all submission, all kindness, morality, and religion, but without sense enough to hide their hypocrisy. But this Iirince of house breakers was a magnificent ooking man, who disdained to assume the piety dodge. His head was like that of AVebster. His bearing was grand and lofty. There was nothing of the sycophant about him, but rather a kind of condescen sion that seemed to proclaim himself any man's equal. Ihe reverend brother naa many conversa tions with this high and noble burglar, who told him that all of the prisons he had been in were schools of iniquity, save this one in Allegheny, where the system tended to oentit the prisoner. For the first time in his life in this prison he had thoughts of reform. This Napoleon of crime revealed his whole history to the reverend brother, his real name, his whole list of villainies, and his hope that it was in the power of omnipo tence to save him. He toldhim how burglars manage their mischief, how houses were robbed and travelers waylaid, and, in short, laid bare the whole system of robbery. He even furnished, after some persuasion, a thieves' dictionary of slang. He said the best protection and burglar alarm for a house was a nasty, little, whiffet dog who barks like sixty at the smallest sound. A light in a room was no protection, said this Napoleon ot robbery, for that was just what a burglar wanted to see what he was about The burglars' dictionary was written out by this prince of robbers and given to the reverend brother, who published it in full in his paper. Contrast With the Present Many of the members of that conference and the whole Bench of Bishops have passed into the "great beyond." If another Gen eral Conference were held here, and they could return, what a vast, change they would find in Pittsburg, and what a differ ent story wonld be written by the religious editor of to-day 1 It has been said that the Methodist -ministers of to-day show but little of the pushing energy and shouting zeal of those of half a century or more ago, but the doings at the last General Confer ence, where the majority were as vigorous in their efforts to pass a woman's gag law as were the members of the conference who passed the "Black Gag Law" in Baltimore, which created such a storm before the war, hardly Drove the assertion. Slavery was the great bone of contention then; freedom for women is now the great question to be settled. Bessie Bramble. AVhy suffer wyh corns when you can per manently cure them with Daisy Corn Cure. THE BUCK EEPUBLIC. langston Found the People Enlight ened Beyond Expectations. POWER OP THE MASONIC OEDEE. A Casa Where Church Interference in Stat Hatters Was Eebuied. WHAT THE TBADB FEOSfECTS AES v Haiti bocomes every day a more'lmportant country to the United States, writes ex-Minister John 1L Langston in a recent contribu tion to tho press. It is tho greatest colored Republic In existence, and it increases in importance as the negro race grows in num bers, education and power. The lato polit ical troubles in the island have forced it to the front, and the importance which it sus tains to this country as forming the key to the Isthmus of Panama makes it one of tha most interesting spots on the Western Hem isphere. Whether we shall own a coaling station on tho Mole San Nicolas, our titie to the Island "Xavassa and a number of other Important diplomatic problems are wrapped up in it. I am surprised every day to find how llttla the people ot the United States know about this colored Republic Port au Prince la not the tumble-down village it has been de scribed. Even tho poorer buildings are, picturesque. Tho prevailing color is white with green blinds. The climate will stand brighter colors than ours, and the buildings are sometimes painted In hues which would be out of place in an American city, but which, under an equatorial Bun, are in per fect harmony. l"e w of the houses have glass In the windows, and shutters and lattice work take the place of glass. The climate Is so mild that fires are only needed for cooking, and the atmosphere is pure and clear. A Very Cultured People. I find that our people are usually sunri3ed at the culture and education of the elite of this colored Republic. Tho better classes of the people are well educated. Many of the leaders speak several languages, and the common language used among the educated classes i3 French. They have French news papers, and you may hear at ono of theae re ceptions as good French as you will hear in a Parisian drawing room. The lower classes speak Creole. The population of Haiti is estimated at from 500,000 to 800,000, and these people may be divided into three classes the military or tho political class, the merchant class and the farmers. Tlfe military class live on tho Government, and the tendency in Haiti, where the Government Is democratic, is to lead the young men to politics, and every young H-itiun is educated like every Ameri can boy with the idea that he may some day be President. Tho law is their stepping stone to politics, and there are more young lawyers than there is business. The mer chant class includes everybody who trades or dickers. The third class embraoes the farmers and the extreme poor engaged in cultivatine the soil and growing fruits. A market scene at the capital brings out this olass In all its glory, and the markets of Port au Prince are worthy of notice. Scenes in the 3Iarkets. I have seen 20,000 people engaged in selling in this market. You can buy all kinds of meats and large quantities of beef, mutton and fish are sold, Haiti is especially famous for its coffee, and this market is filled with coffee sellers. Hundreds of men and women, come to market with all their goods on a little donkey not bigger than a Newfound land dog. Nothing is too littlo for them to sell. One may bring three or four eggs ten miles to market, and if you asked his price he will tell yon they are worth 3 cents apiece. A woman will carry four heads of cabbage a number of miles to sell them, and beside those peddlers you may see men witb. four-ox wagons packed with fruit and vegetables. Haiti has its own coinage, its silver and its paper money. Both are at a discount, and American silver brings a premium. Haiti is capable of producing enough tropical fruits to supply the United States. It has the finest of oranges, bananas and pineapplos.and were it cultivated according to the principles of modern agriculture the yield of the land would be enormous. Even as it is It produces more than 70,000,000 pounds of coffee a year, and this is of the ilnost flavor. The coffee Industry of tha Island is Increasing. Most of the coffee goes to England. Cotton is produced in consid erable quantities, and the woods of Haiti are among the finest In tho world. You will nowhere find any better mahogany, and log wood is more or less exported. The Possibilities in Trade. TVe might have a large trade with Haiti if we wished. We already furnish all the flour used in the island, and not a pound of cured ham, cured meat or (fared fish goes there from any other country than ours. We send them soap and hardware, drugs and medicines and we have been lately shlp- Slng a large quantity of cheap cottons, any of the arms used in the late revolution were of American make, and they have even purchased some of their war vessels la this country. The government of the whole island shows an extraordinary union of Church and State. Catholicism prevails throughout San Do mingo as well, and on both sides of the island the men and women are very devout Catholics. The constitutions of both coun tries nro modeled on that of the United States,"but there is a Concordat established by the Church under which are the clergy and teachers of tho various parishes. The Government pays all the expenses con nected with this Concordat and the clergy ar white. The Bishop and Archbishop ore or dinarily invited to attend the National As sembly, and they aid in all the great gather ings of stato, but they take no part in tne administration of the affairs of the Govern ment. Power of the 3Iasonlc Order. In connection with this Is the curloua strength of tho Masonic order in Haiti. Tha men seem to be all Masons. If e. man of dis tinction Is buried, tho Masonic order renders the last eulogies at the tomb and Masonry runs throughout every branch of society. The Church has been sostrongattlmes that it has attempted to dictate to the Govern ment and this was the case when I first went to Haiti. Bairond-Canal was President of the Republic and he had nearly closed his term ot" four years, when through a revolu tionary movement Salomon came Into power. In the past it has been customary when a man was made President for tho Masonio order to wait upon him and to ad vise him that the order would be glad to In stall lilni as its Protector-General. It wan given out that President Salomon had boon waited on by such a committee and the Church Concordat, feeling that the Masons wero growing very strong with the Govern ment, sent the Archbishop to see Salomon, and to protest against his acceptance. The Archbishop said: Couldn't Frighten Salomon. "Mr. President, it is reported that a com mittee from the Masonic order has waited upon ycu and offered to make you Protector General of the order. I here deem it my duty to advise you that the Church may have to consider the matter in case you ac cept, and your excommunication may ba the result" There was nothing cowardly about Salo mon, and he replied in significant tones: "Mr. Archbishop, what would you think If the government should take up your case and excommunicato you?" No more was over baid about the matter. Salomon was one of the ablest men tbat ever presided over Haiti. He had remarkable executive ability and he was a man of great natural talents. When I came away ho put his arms around mv neck and kissed me on either cheek and said: "Well, Mr. ILnngston, you have been the most severe man in behaif of the Inter ests of your country that your government has ever sent to us, but your demands havo been just and we are sorry to have youleave us." THE OLD FEATHER BED. In These Latter Days It Is a X.oxury and leather Bare at That. , The day of the featherbed is almost gone. Some years ago the bed that was in most general demand was the feather bed. The well-to-do country people, and those that weren't so well to do, raised their own geese and plucked their feathers to make the bed. In those days nobody was any body to speak of unless he or she owned his or her Own feather bed. Since then the plain hard mattress has come into favor, and there are lots of people that can't or won't sleep in a feather bed. Nevertheless there are lots of people that cau't or won't sleep in any kind of bed but the old-fashioned feather. ,In these days a really good feather bed is tgennwe laxurj-, and everybody can't own one. CJiili xZl frw .ATLOuAa . . - .: . -i, .-....,. .--iA'5aiaML.. .. .i.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers