Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, January 4, 1880, Page 6

MORMONISH. An Interview with Justice Hunter, of the Utah Supreme Court. The? Mormon Ring---Tricks to Conceal Evidence of Polygamous Marriage. Utah Does Not Blossom Like the Rose--- Immorality Among the Latter- Day Saints. What Is Needed for the Extinction of the Practice of Polrgamy. Front Our Own Correspondent. Wasnincrox, D. C., Dec. 28—Judge Hunter, of the Supreme Court of Utah, has been here for some days, in the interest of his court. He ‘as been frequently consulted by the gentlemen in Congress who are actively moving in the cru- sade against Mormon polygamy; and he does not hesitate to express his great indignation at the continued defiance of the United States au- thority by the Mormon Church. In the course of a free talk between Judge Hunter and a rep- resentative of Taz TRIBUNE, the other evening, the following sketch of the present condition of Mormon affairs was gathered: =~ In Judge Hunter's opinion, polygamy and the Mormon creed are made the cloak, by a BING OF MOST UNSCRUPULOUS JOBSERS, who are coining millions orit of it, to conceal their real aims. A hundred men in Utah, he be- eves, virtually control that Territory and ail its | interests, both spiritual and temporal. Théy | have become immensely rich, while the people at large, who are most zealous devotees of the Church, are in humble circumstances. These People are imported from every country in Europe, and are invariably taken from the very lowest classes, having never known anything but the most abject poverty. They are densely ignorant and superstitious. They are brought here at the expense of the Church, fed and clothed, and soon established in homes, and con- sequently their loyalty to the Church becomes fanatical. As soon, however, as these people Degin to prosper they are required, to de-' posit one-tenth of thelr small gains in the ‘Church-treasury, without asking any questions. ‘The word of the Church is to them the will of God. Of course the profits to the Church aro enormous, and they are divided among the ‘Ring, whose members have in consequence be- come prodigiously wealthy. The clamor which these Elders of the Church have raised against what they are pleased to call the persecution of the Saints, is merely a protest against Gentile interference with s THEIR EXORMOUS MONOPOLIES. “Tf,” said Judge Hunter, “a tax of $100,000 is tobe levied, an assesment of three times that amount is made; and then the taxes of Mor- mons are remitted, and the burden falls entirely upon Gentiles.” This system, he says, has been in existence for several years, and amounts toa virtual proscription of all who do not profess the faith. No one but a Mormon is ever elected to the Territorial Legislature, and the members are elected over and over again,—so that they may be said to hold office by a life-tenure. In regard to the development of Utah, there is a popular misapprehension. The talk ubout the land of the Saints blossoming as the rose,is sheer nonsense. Utah was settled in 1$i7,—carlier than Kansas, Nebraska, or California. To-day the favored city bears no comparison with San Francisco, Omaha, or the principal towns of Kansas. The natural resources of Utah, how- ever, can scarcely be overestimated. Its mines are unsurpassed in richness by any in the world. In other hands, and under a free government, Utah would to-day be a great, populous, and rosperous State. But the curse of polygamy ‘angs over it like a pall; and, while Mormonism is allowed to reign there unchecked, setting Tnited States laws at defiance, and proscribing Gentiles, capital will néver seek an investment there. Mormonism is the CLOSEST OF CLOSE.CORPORATIONS. Not only_do- the Mormons pay tithes to the Mormon Church, but they . are compelled to sell their produce - to. Mor- mon factors, and to purchase ‘their ‘sup- plies from Mormon merchants. To patronize a Gentile establishment would be to commit the unpardonable sin; and these poor, deluded peo- . ple have not the intelligence to discover that they are playing into the hands of a monopoly whose highest motive is simply lust of gain. ‘As to the boast that polyramy and prostitution cannot occupy the same field, Judge Hunter is emphatic in declaring that the latter vice four- ishes in Utah as perhaps nowhere else. There are several reasons for this. The young mun soon discovers that what hisfather attempts to pe of peer the public as a religious doctrino nothing but lasciviousness, and the example is too often followed without complying with the forms of the Church., Young women, daughters of Mormons of large families, coming in contact-with Gentile girls, who are, as a rule, more intelligént,and who dress in better taste,are fired with emulbtign,, _In many cases the pater- nal purse is so drawh tipon by the ordinary fam- ily-needs that -fashionable toilets for these daughters are out of the question. The rest may be imagined, for vanity in dress leads to disastrous consequences in Utah as everywhere se. Judge Hunter was asked, “Is THERE ANYTHING NOW BEING DOXE by the United States authorities to prevent tho igcrease of polygamy, or to punish polygamists?” “The District Courts, with the agency of the Grand Jury,” he replied, “are endeavoring to have indicted all persons If ‘in polygamy, and whose cases are not. barred by statutes of limitation, At the last sessian of the term of the Third pita Coury ore: were ore, indies ments against persons found living in polygamy, and believed to belong to this class, tm one case the three years’ limit had expired only four days before, and hence this case was barred.” bs 't is the present condition of the Federal or Territorial laws on the question?” — - “There are no Territorial laws affecting polyg- amy. The only Federal law is the act of 1862." “Are these laws such as would cnable the Federal Government to break up polygamous practices if proper juries could be obtained?” -“ They are not, for the reason that it is impos- sible to obtain the proper kind. of evidence inst those who contract polygamous mar- All these are had in a Mormon church, —that is, in the Endowment House,—and. what- ever is done there is held a Church-secret. An- other trick is for Mormons to secretly marry ‘oung girls, say 14 years of age, and scnd them immediately to their parents, where -they re- main for three years,—the limit of the law,— after which they return to their husbands, who can suap their fingers in the face of the courts.” “Are there any : f DEFECTS IN THE JURY LAWS?” “The Territorial organic age provides that, at the beginning of cach year, names shall be drawn,—100 by the Clerk of the Probate Court, ‘and 10 by the Clerk of the District Court. Those drawn by the Probate Court—that court being ‘exclusively controlled by Mormons—are all Mor- mons; and those drawn by the Clerk of the Dis- trict Court are all Gentiles. Thesc 200 names are put into a box at the preceding term of the District Court, and the requisite mum- Der of names for jurors are drawn therefrom. hope that this Jury Jaw may be somewhat amended at the present session of Congress, so as to enable the United. States authorities to have upon a jury trying olygamous cases only those who are not living in polygamous relations, and who are non- believers in polygamy. The fact that many jurors necessarily are Mormons interferes muc! with impaneling of a jury that will not be con- trolled by their belicfs and religious instructions. Under our system, when such a juror is chal- lenged, if either party desires he is sent before “triers,” who are pppoe, by the Court, and nerally from members of the Bar, whose duty t is to examine the juror as to his qualifications; and, if they report him as being disqualified by reason of prejudice or belief, or on any other ground that may satisfy them that he is not qualified to sit in polygamous cases, he is dis- eh: from serving upon such jury.” “Ig it necessary under the law that a per- cent of jurors shall be Mormons?. “Itisnot necessary that any percentage of the jurors shall be Mormons.” “WHAT LEGISLATION IS NEEDED oO to make it possible to destroy polygamy “Tt would be impossible for me, in answer to that question, to say anyt! full enough to be appreciated. Avast deal of legislation is nec- essary, however, to compass that end.” “How do the various bills which have been 4ntroduced this session meet the emergency?" “Very well so far as they £0." “What attitude does Gov. Emory hold to the ‘Mormon question?: oa “Tregard Gov. Emory as one who is as much opposed to polygamy and its pernicious influ- ence as any man in the Territory." “How would the Mormons stand affected to the United States Government if the latter should eae upon what, might be termed a crusade against polygamy?” “Tt would be very hard to say. In virtuc of my judicial position I would not like to express any oJ inion on that subject at present.’ it is vie neral gurlonte for the ultimate extinction of pol a # i ink that, sooner or later, it will give way a ‘vilization. It isa crime ‘ore the advance of ci betes the laws and against good morals. It must fail if Congress passes Inws that will en- able the Government ‘0 CONVICT THOSE WHO ARE GUILTY. [evil be eradicated in time; but HOW, Jong 8 be no man can say. ee the authorities withhold proper legislation, and the Jaws remain in their present inadequate condition, polygamy will continue ‘their illicit business. These men are wel THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: SUNDAY,, JANUARY 4, 1880—-SIXTEEN PAGES. It can never be broken down without strong and effective measures.".- - oo “Could the Mormon system be maintained if polygamy were abandoned?" * aes em) it Possible for the. sorties Gharéh to jout polygamy, bul lygamy cannot live without the Mormon ‘Church. . “Ig there any considerable number of Mor- mons of influence who favor the abandonment of polygamy?’ . % “(I do not know of one. Inever knew a single Mormon of any character or position todo any- thing else than to‘defend the institution of polygamy.—ciaiming that it is a revelation from yod, and that its rites are holy.” “ By what title are Mormon lands now held?’ “There is no such thing as _‘ Mormon lands.” ‘All titles to property in the Territory of Utah’ are derived from the ‘United States. Where Mormons gooupy, lands, if they have title, the title is deriyed from the Government of the United States; and, if perfected in them, they shave THE SANE RIGHT TO-DISPOSE OF THEN. as any other citizens of the United States. If they are living upon them as homesteads or pre- emptions, and abandon them without perfecting their'title in the manner prescribed by law, the title would still remain in the Government of the United States.” “ Do the Mormon farmers own the land at the foot of the mountains so as practically to con- trol all means of irrigation, and thus in -meas- ure prevent Gentiles from beceming ugricultur- iste, und even from obtaining water sufficient for mining purposes?” “Tdo not know anything at all about that. Utah is a very large Territory, and comprises an immense acreage; but howit is uivided between Mormons and Gentiles, and in what proportion the advantages gre distributed ag to location, water-privileges, etc., 1am not yet advised.” . B. We A THREATENED CONTEST. Bloody Times Coming in the Georgia Mountains—The Struggle Between the Bevenue-Men and the Moonshiners. Correspondence New York Herald. GATRNESVILUE, Ga., Dec. 24,—Your correspond- ent, after a week of investigation covering the most of the moonshining" district finds a more serious condition of things than was expected. For some reason orothér the outlaws and their friends have become: desperate, and Collector Clark's prediction that “the next three months will be the bloodiest ever seen in the Revenuc Service” bids fair to be realized. Collector Clark contends that the cause of this stiffening in illicit circles is the confidence the distillers have acquired from having-repulsed the officers atseveral points, while Marshal Fitzsimmons’ friends declare that it is due to the irritating policy that is pursued ‘against the advice of the Marshal. Be this as it may the fact re- mains that the mountaineers are armed and defiant, and one policy or the other should be promptly determined on and carried out. The events thatdaily transpire are startling, and presage some serious collisions. Two nights ago a body of ermed men rode into the City of Mari- etta, and, galloping about the strects, stated that they were looking for Chuck Anderson, the livery-stable keeper, and John Sangez, a former. Deputy. Mr. Anderson, who is at exceedingly easy person to find, armed himself with a heavy gun and took his stand in his stable door. They Stated that thoy were from Cherokee County, into which the revenue men had made a raid the day before, and they then demanded to know if he had furnished the revenue men with horses. He replied that he bad, and, getting his gun into position, stated that he would do so again. By this time many of his friends had gathered about him, and the night-riders de- parted... They said openly, however, that if they could lay their bands upon Sanzez and Bleaken- ship they would kill them. They made no se- cret of their outlawry, and did not scem to ap- prehend arrest., The relatives of two revenue guides who have been driven from their homes appealed to Collector Clark on Monday for. help, siying that they would be murdered if they re- turned to their homes. is ‘On Saturday night a raid of deputies, number- ing eleven in all, went into Forsyth County and wok: in one night’s run seven prisoners. Their wagon was fired’ upon by ambushed distillers and tho driver and the mules run into the woods. The main body of deputies coming up promptly the distillers retired, but followed the retreating revenue-men to tho railroad, evi- dently hoping that they would in time get u large Suniel force with which to attack. The Deputies declared that they were followed to Aflanta by: nearly a score of these men, and thirteen of them were discovered in the streets of the city. The Deputies held that they had come to Atlanti: for the purpose of intimidation or rescue, and the wagon-yards were raided and several of the suspected men arrested. The af- fuir created considerable excitement in the quurters of the city where the errests were’ mude. The two guides used on this trip are still missing, and it is feared that they have been roughly dealt with. . ‘The ‘Herald correspondent found in a trip through the upper counties the bitterest com- pln against the service. It is strange to ear the mien talk of their right to do what they leased with their corn, and insist that the Sovernment ‘has nothing to do with it. Itis not less strange to hear citizens, who are thoroughly” law-abiding in every other respect, talk of neighbors that they know to be engaged in the illicit business and of: stills that they know to be runuing contrary to law. When the time for “doubling”? comes the men living within several miles of astill gather onthe hillside about it and spend the day rific-shooting, drink- ing, and talking. While many of these men would be really glad: to see the illicit distilling broken up, none of them think of informing the revenue men or would dare to doso. When raids are made upon the stills frequently inno- cent men, who are merely at the still on a visit, are arrested and carried before a Commissioner. When they -return. to their homes they are, of course,. full of indignation at the manner in which | they been treated. This indignation dually spreads throughout the community and involves all revenue-raiders. I could not write down one-tenth of the horrible stories told me of the tyranny and oppression of the revenue men. “No man is safe who opposes them,” said a Yn- fon County man tome. “A year or two ago Duke Palmer, of Towns, got out some papers against two or three of them. In a short time after as he was riding home from Hiawasse Court he was assasinated by some one who was lying in wait for him in the bushes.” A member of the Legislature from: one of the infected counties said: “The Poor peo le of this. section have been oppressed, and plundered, and arrested until they. have literally nothing left. They are arrested on the slightest pretense, ragged away from their homes ind kept in jail for several months until their trial comes on and they are found innocent. One of the most irri- tating points about it is that these arrests arc made at night. A man never lies down without the fear that he will be seized in the deud of aight bis site insulted and he dragged off to ‘al? I had many talks with men that were said to be illicit distillers. They spoke openly about resisting the officers, and said that there. was no use in trying to break up the srstem of moon- shining. They talked universally as if they were under some deep grievance, and said that they had been run over and plundered as long 2s they were going tobe. The Berrong clan in the Towns County Mountains are sstill thoroughly organized and determined. They are guarding the passes to their mountain eyries, and it is safe to say that no stranger can enter without show- ing his passport in the plainest manner. The pest estimate that I can get of their strength is thnt there are sixty men armed, 0} ized, and under ¢all in the mountains, defiantly puseulng ll armed, athletic, and perfectly nt home in the mount- ains. Each man fs worth a dozen ordinary men ina fight, and fey are not only desperate, but confident. The fact that Berrong showed the heaviest raiding party of the season his two stills, and dared them to touch them, has led them to believe that they are impregnable. A citizen of Hiawassee said to me i * 1,000 men could not take Berrong out of the mountains if his friends did not want to givehimup. He said, however, that the Berrong houses were all being deserted, and thxt the family and its ad- herents were shifting their base.. A ride of ten iniles would carry them to the Carolina line, and out of the jurisdiction of the Georgia raiders. : COLLECTOR CLARK'S VIEW. It is only just that I should give the views of Collector Clark, who insists that there is only one wiy todeal with these men. Said he: “I sce that the Governor fs going to send.n Com- missioner into the fighting counties to report upon the actual condition of affairs. I have no objection, but it will be perfectly useless. 1f he will give me a hea T will convince him by the most absolute testimony that the people of these counties are in open revolt against not only the United States authorities but against the State authorities. What better proof could he want than the raiding of this company of thirty armed men that caine into Marietta and looked up a half-dozen men for the purpose of killing them? Twoof my guides, Benny Davis and ParJohnson, have been driven from their homes, and are now hiding out for their lives. Deputy Balton on yesterday got a dispatch from them telling him that they intended to kill him on sight, no . matter, where they met him. ‘This very crowd ‘a short time ago fired into a wagon, .shooting two of my men and the driver. Inthe return fire one :of them was shot. The leader, Tippins, is now un- der bonds for an illicit scrape a-few months ago. ‘They are openly and abusively defiant. In the mountains the. case is even worse. I went to ‘Dahlonega a few days since with Speciel Agent ‘Wagner to arrange for the rnid on Berrong. We found a state of perfect terrorism throughout the whole section they command. We could not get a single guide. None that we could gct dared enter the mountains, and’ those that were in the mountains could not get out. Every pass of the mountains wns guarded, and even -citi- zens were turned back. It will be a desperate struggle when we do goin, butI am going wun- Jess the Department orders me not to. In those passes a man can sit on a1 and fire at you within easy range, and it will uctunily take youa half day’s hard travel to reach him even if ho waited for you. But Ihave u forco ready that will climb the mountains and fight these fellows band to hand just as long as they waut it."” ‘What has been the effect of the successful resistance of the Berronr crowd?” “Tthas been such that we cannot stand it. ‘They must be taught promptly that the Govern- ‘to increase, | ment can enforce its laws and pratect its officers have - or we must give up the field. Ican just say this toyou. For the past three months my men have not struck a single still without encountering a force of men armed and defiant. The number runs from ten to fifteen men at each still, and the alarm of five minutes has sufficed in every case to gather from ‘thirty to one hun- dred men. In every case they have had some sort of opposition, and in every case except one or two thero has been shooting by one side or the other and usually both. No matter where we strike them we find them organizer, defiant, and armed, and ready to push afight. Lam satisfied that this comes inly from the fact that the revenue men were overpowered and driven off in the Berrong raid. They know that ‘ve have no troops to back us,and as they handled the largest raid that we have ever sent out they think that they can whip us off as often as they please. Unless we dispel this idea by assaulting them in the mountains and driving them out of their strongholds wo will have to fight ora, inch of the way and spill blood over every still we get. It sounds like harsh meas- ures to advocate this raid, but it is really the Inst merciful method after all. Isee that they | Lake Halemauman, are talking about’ my men carrying carbines. Itis their superior arms that cnables them to meet the superior force they frequently en- counter. The other night, in Franklin County, they had only six men nnd drove fifteen men out of a still, having to shoot one of them in the assault. If I take away the carbines and give them pistols they will be arrested in every county for carrying.conceuled weapons. .I have several that are so indicted now. If the Di artment Instructs me not to collect the revenue shall stop, but if I am relied on to collect the revenue I shall break up this nest of mountain braves if I have to lead the men myself.” As an evidence of the insecurity of life piven to the revenue men and informers, Collector Clark ‘called attention to the fact that a short time ago a human body was found with the head torn from the body. It is well known that the corpse was that of a man suspected of being an informer. ‘“3fy informers,” said he, “are usually the wires of men who are engaged in the business.. They write that their husbands use every grain of corn ‘to make whisky with and leaye them to starve. I have seen corn in one of these counties scarce at $1. a bushel'when the natural price is 15 to 25 cents a bushel. The illicit distilling actually produces a sort of local famine, and the good people are all down on it, but aro afraid to let it be known that they in-. form on those who conduct it.” : THE COMING CONTEST. Y : fie arrangements are all made for the raid into the mountains and! the men enlisted, "but tho lack of guides prevented Its going at Gnce. Since then the Governor's letter to the President asking that the proposed extraordinary move- ment of armed men through the State of Geor- gia bo withheld until he could investigate the situation and ay the exact facts has, as one of the duputies here expressed it,‘ put a fy in the lock at Washington.” No attempt will, of course] be made during ‘the Christmas holidays, ns the mountaincers will all be excited over their Christmas rum, and ugly results would follow. Collector Clark insists that he will make the ad- vauce as soon as the holidays are over unless he gets positive ordors not to doso. In the mean- time the Deputies are making short raid§ into the skirts of the district, and breaking up out- lying sills and bringing out a prisoner or two. No uttcmpt is made to pierce the mountain sec- tions, and‘in even the desultory’ work that is done the raiders are met with force and armed men atevery turn, The gravity of the situation has alarmed many of the Georgia leaders, and every step possible will be taken to prevent the desperate policy yprsneee! by the revenue men from being carried out. On the other hand, there are many good men who hold that the ouly way to do is to crush tho moonshiners at any cost. 5 LETTER FROM COL. STREIGHT One That Explains Hin Status on the Exodus Question, and His Sympathies for the Oppressed. Logansport. (Ind.) Journal. ‘The following letter clearly and sufficiently ex- plains itself, and.is commended to the attention | of readers of thé Journal, who are also requested | their gods—rises high above all others, and, to- to pass it around: The Hon. Charles Kahlo—My ESTEEMED FRIEND? You have my thanks for sending the Pharos of the 18th inst. Itis surprising to sce how a Tory. ordinary transaction in, our private Ddusi- ness affairs can be ‘construed by blind political partisans into a matter of great public concern. The truth is, that. I sent two colored men and their families, con- sisting of some women and children, from this city to my farm in Newton County, where lam needing some farm-laborers. These people had just arrived here from North Carolina. These are the people referred to by the editor of the Pharos when he says: ‘Tell it to the laboring” white men of Indisnapolis that Col. Streight. is stocking his farm in Newton County with North Carolina negroes.” Certainly, tell it to men of Todianapolis, both white and black, that I sent hese people to work on my farm. Why not tell them?. Ihave repeatedly advertised for farm- laborers to go to my Newton County farm, and Have sent numbers of them there, gave them.| remunerative employment, and I still want more, and, so far ag I know, there are noidle farm bands in Newton County. Yes, tell it to the people that I sent two colored men, with: their families, to my Newton County farm; and I will ndd.that they are poor and destitute, but I believe honest and industrious. Now, friend Kahlo, while [am Jariting. I will add that Ihave a very kindly fecling for these poor, destitute, pers¢cuted people, who are en- deayoring to escnpe from a condition worse than slavery. It will soon be sixteen years (in Febru- ary next) since I was making my way from the same country. That class of people that are now persecuting the colored people was then called Rebels; and those Rebels had orders from the commander of the prison from which I had escaped to capture me, but to not bring me back. ‘My life was at stake, but human endurance has, a limit even when life is at stake, aud this limit’ was reached when Iwas on the southern bank ofthe Rappahannock River, near Tappahan- nock, aftera terrible day of crossing difficult streams, marching, and hiding from the enemy, My feet were sore; I was worn out for want of sleep and starving for want of food. Escape seemed impossible. On the north was the Beppe le); hannock iver (nearly three miles wi on the ‘enst was a deep, impnssable ereck; on the west was another stream of water, too wide and deep to cross without a boat, and on the soutd side the Rebels had established a strong picket-line. It was known by the Rebels that I. was somewhere within the space of country above described, Which was not more than two miles wide ant three or four miles Jone A cavalry regiment, together with the people both black and white, with their dogs, had turned out to huntall day -for my place of. concealment. Tt secms almost Providential that T was able to elude their vigi- lance through that terrible day. But darkness putan end to the search, and I was left to con- sider the situation. Upto this time my policy had been to avoid trusting anybody, and to endeavor to get through tho country undiscoy- ered. This must now:be changed, for [was in great need of immediate friendly assistance, ‘andas I had no confidence in the white men of that section of the country, the black men were my only. choice. .I started “in the dark, through the drenching rain, and soon e- | ears as the Sandwich Islands, is the largest act- found the negro quarters ot a plantation, and, on entering one of the cabins, I was welcomed by 2 good, honest Union man, anda friend, though a slave, who had been out all day with his master hunting for me. This man, at the risk of his life, took me into his cabin, pro- cured and cooked 2 bountiful supply of food, and permitted me to rest while he joined his master the next day in a visas hunt for my place of concealment. Night came again, and the negroes returned to tell what had been done, and of the‘fact that a certain boat, by chance, might be captured, which would enable me to cross the Rappahannock, and thus escape from my 7 parenott The negrocs of this plantation, at the risk of their lives, joined me in capturing the boat, and piloted me through a difficult stream to the river, and returned to their houses to join in the search for my whereabouts on tho morrow. By their assistance I made my way out of the reach of tho ene- my, and my life was spared. The ‘colored paople now fleeing from Sonthern persecution hre trying to escupe from tho same evil spirit that plunged our country into war: that starved and tortured to death over 30,000 Union soldiers; that hunted escaping Union prisoners of war with blood-hounds; that since the close of the ‘War has murdered tens of thousands of men and women for entertaining political opinions favor- able to the Union; that bas organized rifte clubs and Ku-Klux bands to whip, scourge, and mur- der Union people. Isay that it is trom this evil spirit that these poor people are trying to ¢scape, find it was from the same demon that { made my escape. And now, remembering the fact, if any man supposes that I have no sympathy for the refugees, he is not acquainted with my disposi- tion, for i donotintend to be guilty of ingrati- tude. Hoping that the time will soon come when our National Government will protect the constitutional rights of our citizens throughout the length and breadth of the land, I remain most truly yours, A. D. STREIGHT. ——$ RACE-HORSE RUINED. Sptctal Dispatch to The Chicago Tribune. Loursvitie, Ky., Jan. 3.—aA Paris special says ’Fonso, a promising young race-horse, cwasruined to-day. « The colt was at exercise, and the mild atmosphere and beautiful day, after so much bad weather, seeming to please him, he became too frisky to suit the negro leading him. The latter, unable to control. '3Fonso, seized a club and, striking the horse, broke-his jaw.. 7Fonso was re; le coming horse of Kentucky, and his owner had just refused $3,500 forhim from a gentle- man‘ who, it is understood, wished to present the colt to Mr. James R, Kine, of New York. ?Fonso was by King Alfonso, ‘brother to ‘Ten old stakes c< 1880, in the cities of Louisville, New York, Saratoga, and Chicago. The distinguished prima donna, Ame. Roze, uses “ Brown's Bronchial Troches,” and testifies “they seem to act especially upon the organs of the voice and produce a clear enunciation.’ Colds, hoarseness, cs exist when this favorite remedy is used. 25 cents a box. Zz ded as the | house to-night, we Brocole, out of Imported Weatherwitch, the |, rolling prairie dam of Waterwitch. ’Fonso was regarded as | recently swept the best two-year-old in Kentucky, now that | struck with the resemblance io aan erie pee: Mistake has gone East, and is heavily backed Hoe, the great. cakes being pile a nen acess in the books for many important three-Year~ | Fomewhat like granit, looks like an iron-clad at or sore throat can scarcely | masses 0! A Visit to the Largest Active ; ‘Volcano in the World. xand it crackles under foot like the icy surface on The Trip from Hilo---Tropical Vegeta- tion-—Lava and Strawherries— At Volcano Howse. In o Pit of Lava Ton Miles in Cixoum- ference, and a Fifth of a. ‘ Mile ‘Deep. and Its Wonderful Sights— “‘Pele’s Hair”—~Molten Ign, Boiling Molasses, and-Cold Tar. Special Correspondence of The Chicago Tribune. Hiro, Hawaii, November, 1879.—On the Island of Hawaii, one of the group known to English ive voleano in the world. Since the discovery of. the islands it has been visited by various ex- ploring expeditions, and by notable. men from America and Europe. Here, too, has the re- doubtable Mark Twain been; and here was the scene of ‘that abortive dream of - his about the ‘tomb of the first Kamehamehy. This, too, is the Mecca of all island pilgrimages to-day; and tho number of those who visit KiJauea in the cours ‘of a twelvemonth {s not small ‘by any moans when we consider the difficulties in the way. To those living on the island, the, trip means, from almost any point, a wearisome horseback-ride; while, to those living elsewhere, it includes a rough passuge by steamer or sailing vessel. Leaving Hilo,—a picturesque little town at the foot of Mauna Kea, facing'd beautiful’ bay that curves gracefully. in to the very. streets,—we soon reach - A BELT OF WOODS, : through which a pathway leads for three or four }> miles, Thisisthe most pleasing part of the much the same way that buoys do along the sea- coast. f I take my first step on the floor of THE LARGEST KNOWN OF ACTIVE VOLCANOES, snow. When the lava, in flowing overa given place, cools, it forms a thin crust of the consist- ency of glass, hard and sharp, but exceedingly brittle. Underneath this crust the lava con; more slowly, and is dense and heavy, whereas the crust is as light as charcoal. How this thin layer glistens on its upper side! In the'sunlight it gives back ail the colors of the precious jewels, On its surface it is compara- tively: smooth; but ‘here the light penetrates millions of ininiature cells, and makes each one | beautiful with 2 benuty all its own. Our ide, who has come with us to carry our basket of goods and canteen of water, and to show us the ‘way, pretends—with how much truth I am not able to say—that this wafer-iike crust in some places is only a treacherous covering to ' CONCEALED CAVES AND FISSURES, into which it might be fatal to. fall. And so we follow his lead after this, rather than risk it on our own-responsibility. And don't we keep closo at his heels?—severul times literally stepping on them, so concerned are we lest we fail to do the thing just right. Mentally, I don’t belicve a word about the caves; practically, I shall avoid them if I can. So crunch, crunch, we go in Indian file, on our weary throe-mile walk. Here isa place where the lava, when flowing, sprend out its long fin-_ gers like ‘the tentacles of a devil-filsh. Here wo are reminded of the great hawsers of an ocean- steamship, so literally are the twisting3 of. rope imitated. I break off a small cone, a few inches big, and find that itis a nest of supine crys- . LT put my band over a crack, ant i ‘|? 18 UNCOMFORTABLY WARM. I step on one end of n large shect of lava, and it breaks like ice, giv mea fall of six inches or more,—a thing which somewhat startles me, but which I shall get uacd toin an hour, Andso we plod on,—the lake, whose banks alone we see, seeming nearer all tho time. But how slowly wo get away from those tall aliffs behind us! Stepping down from‘one cake to another, a piece of “aa,” tliat and Gn Eb 5 a knife, goes it were puper, and through my shoe as though lodges fast in my foot. Itis the work of more ae a moment to get it out, and it leaves o pain after it. 5 -The lake, on. nenrer approach,—at least the spot where the smoke is rising,—seems to be on an elevation; and, ns we go up, we wonder what our sensations will be when-at last we reach a point from which we can view the whole thing. A mile back, our guide had kindled our excite- ment by running like a madman to a hillock that was unusually black and glistening, and which,.on inspection, proved to be decidedly trip. “The gratoful shade, the cool air, the trop- | warmer than anything clse we had seen. ical growth, all conspire to make itsuch, On either sidenre ugly holes, nearly sercened by the bushes and trees, so that their real uglinces is never known except by some hapless creature that steps off the trail. One pitchy-dark night, with horse disabled, and walking on before, I mot two natives in these woods, in this very path, with three pack-mules, each mule having three large barrels on his back. How we pussed |. each other I never knew. I only remem; ber seeing confused mass struggling on the side of that trail, and thinking to myself that it was a. pretty closo call for three barrels anda mule. This whole region seems honeycombed; and out of the ereviccs and holes the largest trees are growing, their roots being well watered by tho inexhaustible supplies of these natural reservoirs. A line of broken lava marks the width of the trail, but this is frequently hidden by the fens and “oi” bush, which sometimes cover my horse's head as I ride along. The “kukui” trees bend their branches head-high, and. I am thankful if I escape a switch across the nose, or-mouth, or eyes cyen. The “hala,” or pandanus tree, stands stiff and heavy,—rather a dotraction from tho general grace of allaround. The “ ohia”—the tree out of which the ancient Hawaiians made gether with a large vine which is its wedded companion, 5 5 LENDS TROPICAL BEAUTY TO THE SCENE. Gigantic bird’s-nest ferns cluster in the forks of trees; and on a single branch, while walking by, I can count four or five, or even more, varicties of both large and small ferns. The birds of the island are not specially famed for their song, but one never fails on this'ride to hear notes from unseen songsters which are in beautiful keeping with the tropical scone through which he passes. i ‘These pleasant features do not Inst long, how- ever; and we emerge from the woods to begin the more disagreeable partof the trip. At first tho path ‘passes through what is known as “TI” Swamp, though itis such’ now only in name. Soon we reach the “ pohochoe,” or smooth lava. This is by no means level, it being called smooth to distinguish it from “ao,” or the rough, sharp lava; it is full of holes, aiid broken by cracks, and is not at all pleasant~to- ride over, though not dangerous. This Insts’ until within a few miles of the volcano, all the time getting worse, when suddenly we find ourselves on a hard road that will xccommodate three or four abreast, and would i PUT MANY A CITY-PAVEMENT TO SHAME. A few miles back we passed an immense begonia, with its pink-and-white blossoms ang contrasting with the guava and “ohelo” bushes that surround it. This plant grows luxurlantly in the gardens at Hilo; but ow this mammoth specimen got rooted out on this lava, miles from any house, isa problem. Equally mysterious is the presence of straw- berry Vines on both sides of the road, and bhe- inning just ns we leave tho lava, and’ continu- for several miles. We see the flowers as we gullop along, and occasionally a bit of color under thejleaves, and ard almost tempted to, dismount] Buton we speed, making tho best time during the rips and itis not_long before we wheel into full view of Lua Pele, an im- mense basin, charred and black, with columns of dense smoke prising vat the further end. A little gust of wind ives the vapor from a steam-crick on our yight, directly in our faces: and we rentfize that we have entered the realm of Pele, the fabled goddess of Kilauca. ‘These steam-cracks multiply on, both sides to the yery gate, where we turn in with a shout to the inmates of z % é * VOLCANO HOUSE. Three or four native men take our horses, and we gotoourrooms to doff our clothes,—for it has rained nearly all the way from Hilo, and we are wet, and hungry, and tired. A roa firo in Now-England fire-place brightens the large room; and we exch take a rocking-chnir, and laugh merrily over the exploits of the day. Our host télls us we have made good time, 4,00 feet from the sea-shore, tl miles away, in y elt hours, What aro we poing to have for supper? An have said, Bread without but- hour ago I shoul ter, pressed beef, possibly a few potatoes, taro, ‘Before leaving the table, lest and “poi.” imi some important omissions, let me. tell you what wo hud. For principal dishes,- sliced cold meats of two kinds,—pork and beef; mutton-chops and beefsteak; potatoes, taro, yum, sweet-pota- toes, tomatoes; bread, white nnd Graham; but- ter, cheese, and raspberry-jam; and, for des- sert, strawberries and cream; and this on acold night, on the brink of a volcano in mid-Pacific. Supper over, we reach the door looking off on the crater just in time to see a column of lava thrown up,—prqbably 100 fect, our host tells us; and, at this distance from the fires, three miles, we can distinctly see GREAT BALLS OF FIRE, Uke molten iron, falling into the burning fur- nace. Occasiomully the thick clouds obscure the strange. fireworks; but the driving winds soon’ sweep them away, and ngain we seo fountains playing all over what is culled Lake Halemau- man, The damp, cold wind chills us to the bone, and we guther round our log-fire to get wel tonsted before going to bed. Forty-five hun- dred feet difference in altitude in a tropical land makes itself felt, and our reverence for Nature is quite overcome by our love for personal com- ‘ort. . I congratulate myself that my room com- mands a fine view of the fires below, and, get- ne wal into bed, I pile the pillows behind me, gather the blankets about me, and, after the manner of an aborigine, begin my vigils. For an ‘hour I watch the spoutings of what I suppose to be an angry tossing sea of aya. Once I think I see the mass bursting its barriers and flowing off to tho south, and I run to our host shouting, “A FLOW! A FLOW!” — atwhich he blindly remarks, “ Flowing into South Lake.” I didn’t discover any more flows that night, but put my couch into its “normal ‘condition, and slept heavily till morning. My companions make merry over my blunder, and onee frirly rouse me: 8 they run by my door wildly shrieking, “ A flow! a tlow! In the morning we got an enrly start. The prink of the pit is only a-couple of hundred feet from the house; and the pathway down has evi- dently been the work of earthquakes, as the im- mense bowlders and other evidences of great land-slides would indicate. Here are perpen- dicular walls 1,000 feet to tho floor of the crater. The shape of the pit is oblong, and from the top |- the floor seems to be level, on the whole, with & “THIS WAS LAST NIGHT,” . he snid,.with face beaming. Now he leads across flasures that are maltiply’ ing about us, and from which steam and hot air pour forth. This place looks as though it-might vomit liquid lava any moment. Here we teeter on a broad cake, thal 80 far as we know, may ina second’s time sink with us into an abyss whose tossings and splash- ings we imagine wo hear below us. Thear what sounds itke the sea madly booming in a deep cavern. ‘Ihear a sizzing noiso prolonged and multiplied. The swash of breakers, and the spattering of a cloud of spray.'and the grinding and cracking of a river breaking up in spring, are sounds which become more distinct at. eacl step. The heat becomes intense. All: the way the sun has shone with steady glare, and its rays baye been sent back from the glass-like floor into our frees. Bui now the heat is ‘of that parched nature which almost burns to one’s bones. Hot- ter and still hotter it comes in great waves. Louder and louder are the sounds so strangely mixed. A.report deep as of n cannon is followed by the rattle of musketry. Just then we jump, run a few steps to the left, and | LAKE HALEMAUMAN, “ the house everlasting,” comes into full view. ‘The first sensation is one of disappointment. ‘The sounds continue in all their variety; at the. farther end is a-réd-hot cave, into which the lnya booms and splashes, and from whose roof hang numberless orange-colored stalactites, just in process of formation,—the ends of -the larger ones anon bathed in the ebbing and flowing lava, and dripping like melted icicles. To the right isanisland whose sides are marked by a livid line at the point of contact with the surface of the lake, Behind this island there seems to be unusual activity; and the surface, all molten, heaves like billows, and, dashing against the walls which inclose the lake, spatters them with drops. The surface of the lake is as immobile asarocky plain, The clouds of smoke and gas drive ceasclesly toward the south. But where is the turbulent sea of fire that I promised my- self I shonld see? I am about commiserating myself on having chosen an inauspicious time for a visit to the crater, when—~ Z crack! and a seam opens clear across the lake, out of which oozes a yellowish-rod liquid that has much the consistency of boiling molasses. This cools rapidly, leaving a ridge of a dark hue, which in a few moments becomes black. This rapidity with: which liquid Inva congeals isa constant: surprise. Only .2 few moments after flowing by 2 given point, it can be snfely walked. on, the stream continu- flows. few. , inches underneath, ing., to, flow y theonly drawback. being:'the jheat, which is notso great, however, #8 one |would expect. Our guide assures us that the lake never re- mains long the same; and so.we are not sur- prised to see the activity increase. Over toward the cave, Into which the lava is flercely thro itself, e FOUNTAINS BEGIN PLAYING, bobbing around like seals in. water. Tho whole surface begins. to move, the cracks multiply, and. like an iron tide, the current sets in be- hind the island,—fountains playing now at many points over the rapidly-changing surface. motion sends the lava of South Luke in througha narrow strait which connects the two, and Hale- mauman begins to rise. ‘The current sets with great volume and force toward the island, crowds the narrow channel, halts a moment, and tips one-third of the island into the lake. It is like the Inunching of an iron-clad. Liquid tongues of lava leaps over it as it goes under, and the mighty current moves on. At these times of specint commotion we notice thousands of thrend-like objects glistening like filaments of glass as they float in: tho air. Our guide stolidly remarks, : “PELE'S HAIR.” We secure some in & Grevice near by, and do not wonder that the natives gave it the name it bears, deeming it, a3 they once did, the hair of their fabled goddess. It has been torn out by the roots, so to speak, as at the end of each hair there isasmall jet bulb. This product of the fires is sometimes carried a score or more of milesin the air before being deposited. We have to handle it very carefully, as it penctrates the skin like a needle, and breaks off in the flesh like 2 small splinter of wood. ‘We work our way half-way round the -lake, getting 2 new view with every change of posi- tion, until we get tolerably familiar with the lo- cation, shape, und size of the objects around ‘us. The fires, we judge, are a hundred feet below. Thelake'is “ FROM 1,000 TO 1,500 FEET IN DIAMETER, _ being oblong in shape, though not perfectly so. The walls are perpendicular, and occasionally beetling. Below, and running all around the Jake, is ledge perhups fifty feet wide in places, dropping sheer into the pit. When the lava that is'sometimes thrown on to ledge con- ‘cals, it looks like great clots of tar. One sight yas pecullarly fine. When the seams cut off a large cake, it would slide out of sight | in much the sume way that sheets of Ice do when something obstructs their progress ina time of freshet. { didn’t see any “clots of blood,” as travelers are fond of relating. I was continual- ly reminded of snteltiug-furnaces and sugar- houses. I saw molten iron, and boiling molasses, and cold tar. [heard old Ocean in all hercon- tortions; I saw the moving ice ut Oldtown, on the Penobscot; I remembered the kettle of mo- lasses that boiled over when we children were making candy. Having watched the varying changes for sev- eral hours, and having in the meanwhile eaten our lunch and increased our stock of specimens, we. TAKE UP THE LINE OF MARCH HOMEWARD, = “ giving a last.look at all the points of interest, including the marty Sardine-box, that, though not yet destroyed, Is sure to be before morning. By some sort of sardine-box luck it has escaped every seam thus far, but its evil day willcome. An uneventful walk brings us to the foot of the bill, up which we toil, arriving at the house a full ten, minutes before’ our guide, who mukes several stops to get his wind. ~ We steer for the extensive sulphur-beds west of the house, poke around after fine specimens, €et, our Angers burned, take a warm sulphur- ath, repair to the house, oat a hearty supper, and in the morning start for Hilo. BREWSON. Dedication of a Joss House. 2 San Francisco Alta, Dec, 21, ‘The new Chinese Joss House, at No. 512 Pine Street, was dedicated last evening, The building, which fs scarcely finished, js seventeen fect wide, forty fect deep and forty feet high, containing two stories, full of Chinese eccentricities. Above the entrance isa handsome marbie slab, gilded in heathen characters, and bearing the English inscription, “* Kong Chow Asylum.”’ The bulld- ing stands upon the fit pines of real estate pur- chased in Sim Francisco by Chinamen. | Its cost, when completed, will be $3,500. It is built by contributions from natives of the Kong Chow District, China, and, in addition to being used as 4 place of worship, will be utilized asa tempor slight Inclination towards Luke Halemauman, | ¢Sverard for Celestial bones bound for Ching the present seat of activity. Making the de- scent, we find our alpenstocks in play. It is: gag ene going down; the hard work is in trying to hold buck, Here one meets with the same difficulties in jud; of distances that is the case on water. But, before we reach the shall readily admit that the TEN MILES IN. CINCUMEERENCE, and a fifth of a mile“deep,—large enough cer- to entomb several boasted American cities, ‘On nearer approach the floor reminds one of a PBtnckened the fire that hos over it; and, in places, we are pit is anchor in this black sea. It is said that this ledge has successively sunken and risen in great eruptions, though no one has seen it in motion! Possibly the rising and subsidence of the floor of the crater has conveyed the impression that the ledge moved, whereas it. may have, peen stationary. Itis true, however, that: imi rock and lava are thus borne uprby the molten lava below, and that they Hse, pd fall with the ebb and flow of the fery 8 in J. and Paradise, via Pacific Mail route. The fes- tivities begun last night will continue for eight or ten days, that time being devoted once in three: years, according to Mongolian ethics, to a thankegiving for woot crops of piss and fall- ures in the yield of Irishmen. ‘A large number ‘of curious whites attended the dedication last night, and wero industriously shown about by their proud brother barbarians. Ent from Pine street a filckering Ught, sent forth oF several dozens of taper candles, reveal the hight of Chinese extrava- gunce in brightly-colored paper ornamenta- tions. A. jus embossed paper picture, resenting the bon of the moon taking the salary pledge, especinuy excited the admiration of the lcather-cofored artstocrats: Several booths ‘Strange In "Yarlous. Ungie'bantomimes -alsd arrangefl in various trazic-bantomimes, called for free approbation. “Ihe were covered with flaming red posters, but the re- porter, being pressed for. time, did not Step to read them. Turning a short corner anothcr room was entered. At the entrance were two fierce-loo! tg, about twelve feet each in hight, g] at the passers malignity of femaie book agents but not a tithe so dangerous, The same recideasness a8 to high- | bazzome but the persons Of sunuey of the past colored papers was here displayed as in the en- trance, in in addition to the candle-lights sev- eral handsome cut-giass septagonal-lanterns swung pendant from the ceiling. On an ele- vated stage at the rear wus & up of heathen amateur musicians, whose Muse appeared to have gone on a spree. The thought occurred that the greatest part of the thanksgiving was in reality because the band wasn’t larger. The famous “German Band” would have given up ite ghost and brass horns without a murmur if the shame of comparison had been theirs. Sum Snuf, the leader of the orchestra, performed on the bottom of a brass kettle with a. prir of cho} sticks, and evidently considered noise’ the cul- mination of harmony. His partner scraj an impromptu fiddle, mude from a ma and a beer-faucet, and fastened with shoe strings, rendering Strains that in a civilized country would condemn him toa term in Con- taper ‘The third fiend picked discord from & julcet guitar, fashioned from n pick-handle and the crown of an Irish-American stovepipe hat, while the fourth thrummed a Chinese banjo,—in China generally used as an instrument of cap- ital punishment. .A thundering gong made up -the complement. Occasionally the saucepan artist charmed the company by singing in high C to elevated Z, and was only prevented from ruining his voice by the alfabet running out. In groom to tho left the more impressive cerc- monies wore conducted. The.chief altar wns ten feet high, and at the top bore the inscription “ Beware of pickpockets.” It was laden with artificial fruits and sundry substantial delicacies that would indicate a cast-iron appetite for Joss. Before the altar the Chief High-Priest knelt and kept up a dreary plainc to the deities that their blessings be showered upon all gnod Chinamen for the next three yorrs. Behind him wore squatted seven high-priests, four of whom wore brown jackets, the others blue; all wearing red- topped caps, always the insignia of high office among the Chinese. Several highbinder-look- ing fellows, with almond cyes to iness, dodged around the altar and kept the tiny lamps filled, sro to earn a stipend from Joss as well as from the ident of award club. Between the beating of the cymbals and war-whoops of the master of the ccremonics, a.chorus behind the scenes favored the company with selections from “ Pinafore” in several dialects. LOPEZ DE AYALA.” ‘The President of the Spanish Chamber Stricken Down in the Midst of a Great Political Crisis-The Most Nota- ble Scene of His Life. a New York Herald. Maprim, Dec. 30.—Senor Ayala, President of the Chamber of Deputies, died at his house yes- terday. . : (Not three weeks ago Senor Ayala presided overascene quite unprecedented in the annals ‘of the Spanish Cortes. He was, indeed, its con- trolling spirit. ‘The London Standard said it was evident that the return to power and office of Senor Canovas del Castillo had strained the pa- tience and equanimity of the opposition, what- ever their shade, almost to breaking point. The scene around the Cortes, with the long files of carriages, the anxious crowd of candi- dates for admission tickets, the. strong dis- play of, police, the elegantly dressed ladies, showed what might be expected. The Deputies mustered stronger than usual in the lobbies and famous Conference room, and the multitude contained representatives of the various parties that have in succession ruled Spanish politics during the last ten years. It wasn little after 3 o'clock when President Ayala took his seat, and the decrees appointing the new Cabinet were read, the galleries and every inch of space being crammed to suffocation. Then appeared. in ful uniform, with belted swords, cocked hats, laced uniforms, and crosses in. abundance the Minis- ters of the Crown, One solitary exception among them was Senor Lasela,—the Basque nobleman selected as Minister of Public Works, no doubt because he represents the most economically- administered provinces of the Peninsula, Heap- posted in plain evening dress. Senor Canovas, resh from the Senate, where he had made the first declaration of the new Cabinet, rose to re- new it before the popular Chamber. He spoke in clear and, as usual, slightly haughty tones. When he declared that he would continue the pole: of his predecessor loud interruptions and ronical cheers hailed his speech. Tribunes and members of the Left proved that they did not share his opinion, and at last he wound up his exposition of a program that differed so little from that of Marshal Campos that most of his. hearers wondered why hecould possibly have consented to supplant the Kingmaker, When Senor Canovas intimated that he must go to the Senate, where the sitting had only been sus- pended to allow him to come here and address the Deputies, a member of the Liberal Opposi- tion very sharply demanded that some member of the Cabinet should remain to answer his criticisms. Canovas very coolly declined this challenge, and putting on his plumed hat strode away, followed by his eight colleagues, before President Ayala could consult the Chamber on the question of adjournment. Then began a scene compared to which the characteristic revelations of the national in- stincts in the bull-ring would appear mild if not tame. ‘The last Minister had not vanished, when the whole of the Left and Centre were on their feet, shouting, proveation, calling upon the Speaker, and exchanging remarks with the gal- leries above. At the same time, the Ministerial members, now become furious, began a eeries of demonstrations that defy description. Tho ladies in the galleries endeavored to escape, the diplo- mats thought discretion the better part of valor, the ushers shouted to the rioters in the galleries, and a headlong rush was made toward the doors and pass ident Ayala, after ringing his peli until he became red in the face, put his hat on, and vanished with his mace-bearers and Sec- retary to his own rooms, where he summoned the Governor of Madrid and rave him leave to clear the House and tribunes. The Civil Governor, with the police, went and very civilly asked the spec- tators of this unlooked-for entertainment to dis- were and he was successful everywhere, except own below,-where a dense mas of Deputi Renstors, and exemem rere of sone rivile| classes surged about, quarreling, laughing, ban- tering, wrangling, discussing, shouting, and otherwise proving that it is an error to suppose that Soutbrons are wanting in animal spirits. In fact, to use their own picturesque expreasion. not even the royal fetes nor on the occasion o! the Pavia coup d'etat had they witnessed such an unexpected scene. It served to give new pe and influence to Ayala. He was now looked on as the mediator between the warring parties. ‘Till the lust few days meetings were eld at his house or under his presidency. was not a man of high elevation of character. He had been Minister of the Colonies durin; Gen. Prim’s Ministry. Having been one of Queen Isabella's bitterest opponents, he accept- ed with equanimity the return of the Bourbons. He wasaman of moderate views, not unac- quainted with the art of bending. At the pres- ent moment much was expected from his inter- vention, and his death is another blow to the champions of Cuban liberty.} NEW YORK CUSTOM-HOUSE. Mr. George Augustus Sala Finds It by No Means so Black as It Is Painted. Mr. Sala in London Telegraph, Dec. 16. ‘Throughout the voyage of the: Scythia the Custom-House had been held up to meastho fearfullest of bugbears, and it was not only tho foreigners on board who were loud in denounc- ing the grinding tyranny of the tariff! and the inquisitorial proceedings of the douaniers. Those of my fellow-passengers who were’ Americans were prompt to join in the chorus of indignant disparagement of the fiscal regime at present in force, and to indulge in the most dismal prog- nostications touching the treatment to which their trunks and/themselves would be sub- jected on their arrival. Ladies turned pule with mingled horror and wrath as they recited how tha chefs-d'euvre of Worth, in the way of long-tailed dresses belonging to thelr female friends, had been ruthlesly dragged out of Saratoga trunks, exposed coram publico on the dockhead, and examined under the arms to ascertain whether they had ever been worn; and how, if they proved to be new, they had been subjected to exorbitant duties. ‘Then uprose shrill complaints that renovated Jace and cleaned gloves had been treated as new articles of wear and charged 60 per cent ad valo- rem; that the wicked Custom-House officers would not recognize the right of a lady to im- port, sor fifteen corsets,—best “ Duchesse " or “Swanbill” pattern,—eight Parisian bonnets, and two peers bag of stock and a box fall of cambric hankerchiefs trimmed with Brussels lace for her own personal use, ‘As if we wanted to smuggle anything! Asif we were New York millincrs and dressmakers, who crossed the Atlantic half a dozen times a year in order to matomate: dutiabdle articles into the States.” At the vehement disclaimer of such an imputation I noticed that a lady, pre- of French ber head extraction, wagged in acquiescence with the sen- timents just uttered, but at the same time turned very pale. ane yeouemen on board wero quite ns excited and equally gloomy views of. the prospects before them. One addicted to field sports had brought with him a hunting-suit of the most approved Melton Mowbray model, which he hoy to display at a meet nt Rocka- way Beach on Than! -Day. He would have to pay for his “pink,” for his buckskins, his tops, for his esagtle cap, ney, even for his new hunting crop. There was no wa; Articles not “ declared,” and found to woe aut able”’—the abhorrent word—were liable to ‘per- emptory seizure; and the worst of it was that it was dapossible te bribe the. Custom-House off- cers. ley are immaculate. They are all as incorruptible as the late Lord Bacon, and their acts and de are, moreover, so narrowly watched by agents from Washington, flit aboutin plain clothes and taking notes of they see, that they could not be venal, cven if they wished it. I listened to their dolorous fore- casts and held my tongue, hoping for the best. Ihave seen something of Custom-Houses,—even to the most rigorous of those detestable anach- ronisms,—in my time and I never came to grief. As regards smuggling,—a recreation to which I never cared to devote myself,—it may be held to be like matrimony, a Toten. I remember, in the spring of 1864, sail from 3 srk to Havana and the - panish sain, de the ston and prior to qur departure officers searched not sengers who were bound for = whom they suspected of Conveying Tomes, ang of war for the uso of the Confederates eit metrically suspended to the crinoline yo particularly guileless-looking young lady °&? | Zemale searchers found no less ‘than twelve yolvers, while in her tollet-buz was.a Resi in the shape of a large packet of lettentd a to prominent personages in the gah and a very nicely-bleached human skull 13 “Chickabominy,” 8 trophy of warfare de that river, I apprehend. Every! wan by much shocked when revelation was made of (2, trouvallle discovered on the gullelesslomt® Young lady. Elderly gentlemen on board opi that she ought to be sent to Fort Lafy) The Northern ladies sent thetr erring sige Coventry. In particular wasa long gentleee? with a tawny beard, and wearing an Inver cape and a Jim Crow. hat, scand: by thee capade of the fair Confed. “She oughterk® known better,” he more than once pid ‘When he wus under weigh, discovering thee was an Englishman,he informed me conde ly that he was an habitual blockade-rannee that he was “all over quinine and spurs. ye being just then articles of prime necesai im Secessia. An odd time. Iwas told once tq ana rents, enousand) aonas. worth of smuggle jamonds being hooked by a cautious our of a German Iady’s chigaon. Supervisce was after the Scythia had passed Staten Island (I do not. know its name ore one of the most picturesque forts T vera’? that we were boarded from a pretty little steaw! yacht by the much-dreaded officers of the tom-House. Everybody answering to the of perener trembled. Rverybody seemed mailed jade, and our withers were unwrune Now was the moment to “declare” as to whet you had in your impedimenta, and to maka, solemn oath as to the truth of your declarsticg, Perfectly unconscious as _to whether f haq thing todeclare or not, I nded to the loon, prey d toswear anything. The chieg official, a benevolent old gentleman with sao hair, eat enthroned in state at the head of i table, where Capt. Banks had, during eleven, days, presided with so much grace and urbanity, Some subordinate inquisitors and sworn tor mentors sat by him, and the table wo littered with forms declaration, [ think that I was mumber three on the list of deciaratory oath-takers. I garg the chief inquisitor my name. He bowed ely, and said that he had a communication forme.’ I felt slightly unnerved. What the communication be? An order to quit the territory of the United States forthwith? Not at all; it was an invitation from a valued Amer ican friend of many years’ standing to dine with him at his beautiful country house at Glen Cora, the nextday. I felt reassured, and immediately swore tol am sure I know not what—for I am purcel blind and hard of hearing—quite cheer fully. Then I made way for a crowd of ladies .and gentlemen, who with troubled mieq thronged round ‘that terrible table. Some of the Indies subsequently dissolved into tears, Some more philosophic of the gentlemen con. soled themselves with those cocktalls for the confection of which Robert, one of the saloon stewards, is so justly celebrated. There was cf course, 2 deal of swearing gone through be low, but I incline to the opinion that there wag a prodigious deal more swearing performed in an unofficial manner on the Scythia's deck and in the dock-shed during the azoxizing period of baggage examination. ‘What happened tomy companions I candidh aver that I do not know, and I'am selfish’enot toconfess that Ido not much care. Itisacase of every man for himself in a custom-house, and, given a regular rasping, indiscriminate, omnivorous tariff, such as the present American, one is suid to be, I suppose that most persons strive to evade the duties as far as they possibir can, and that if everybody bad thelr deserts few would escape the whipping in the way of sure charges. My own experiences were brict, sim le, aud eminently satisfactory. The enormous jook-shed into which we were turned loose from the Scythia’s sway Presented : Hone of the inary_ spectacles ever bex held. Imagine the Long Room at the London Gustom-House brought into combination with the platform of the Midland Railway terminnsat St. Pancras. Throw in one of the huge corridors of the Bezesteen at Stamboul, with a soupcon of the Agricultural Hall at Islington. Imagine this colossal area traversed in every direction by. brawny potters wheeling towering masees of luggage on hand-barrows, and in the comers of the shed picture the powerfully horsed wains of the Express Company ready to away the trunks and portmanteaus, 80 saon as they have passed the tom-House, to the various hotels at which the owners of the luggage intend to stop. The transport of bi has been ree duced to a science, and ent the merest mini- mum of discomfort to the traveler. The troa- ble and the travail lie in getting trunks and portmantenus through the Custom-House. ‘Tho which, since I fast strove to picture it, has undergone another transformation. ‘you ever read Beckford’s “ Vathek"? If you have ever perused that -delightful romance. cary pre maind back to the description of the Hall ct lis, with its countless multitudes of troubled souls wandering hither and thither in two oppo- sit tidal streams. AsI contemplated the new aspect of the dock-shed, the locale of the Hallot Eblis seemed to have been transported to a plier on the North River, New York. ‘There were the countless multitudo of anxious souls wandering upand down, hither and thither, in dolorous quest of thoir luggage. I had been “ fetched” by. trusty emissaries ‘from tho Brovoort, and “Jerry,” an old retainer of that establishment and an old ally of mine, had, with the aid of cer tain stalwart porters, swiftly rescued what be- Jo: to me from chaos; but all the “ anxious soul had apparently not been so fortunate. Inqui countenances, ‘bed . countee nances, despairing countenances, flitted by ma. The scene became Dantesque and Gustave-Dore- like in its intensity. Imagine Francesca di Rimini in angulsh-stricken quest of har Saraiors trunk. This day she flirts no more. You might offer her chicken-sslad, stuffed tomatoes. Blue- Point oysters, a Chickering pianoand a Tiffany bracelet, to say nothing of your hand and heart and all your New York Central stock, and sha would not heed you. Where is her bonnet-box? Where is the coffer containing her robes & quaus} And echo answers, ‘Where?’ Stay, another echo in the sonorous voice of an Irish porter makes reply, “Shure it's here!” and the bor. net-box and the coffer with the long-talled dresses are disinterred from the baggage of s confirmed old bachelor, a Congressman fram Wisconsin. A yellow ticket, bearing a number, bad been handed to me when I signed my declaration. I was taken to an official to whom I made the most diplomatic of bows that I could master att er ten days’ tumbling about the decks of the Scythia; and the authority handed my declare tion and myself over to an elderly gen tleman in private clothes, but - who wore & brazen _ bat at bis button hole, and. who was the searching officer My interview with this functionary lasted pre- cisely seventeen minutes. We had some ter packages, large and small, to examine; and every package, down to railway rugs and a sheaf of sticks and umbrellas, was opened and care fully scrutinized. The officer was_scrupulowly and, indeed, amicably polite, and incidentally , mentioned that his was far from an aa satr ine that be as bound to a6 it. was Oot made ay asingle cent, so I suppose had nothing liable to duty. As cael trunk of, %, bag was relocked the article was chalked, snd i another ten minutes the Kes ated had got ny heavy luggage, and with my lighter n ats, I was safe and sound in the Brevoort and on my way to that. most comfortable of hostel: ries.“ Well out of it.” Ithought; still 1 not help thinking that the much-dreaded snd much-abused New York Custom-House is, like something else which you mny havo heard fy not 60 black as it has been painted. TELEGRAPHIC NOTES. New Orveans, Jan. 3.—The coming cal nival is expected to be the most brilliant enjoyable ever given on this Continent. New Yors, Jan. 3.—A forged check fot 1,000 was found in one of the hospital cor tribution boxes. New Yorks, Jan. 3.—The probate of t? will of Charles Morgan, who died leaving a2 estate valued at $12,000,000, was confi £ by the Snrrogate this. morning. The will. leaves all the property, real and personal, '@ be distributed among the heirs as the Tawsof New York provide in case of intestacy. New Orteass, Jan. 3,—The Grand ef recommends that gambling-houses be 5 $5,000 a year, so they may contribute to t# public ‘treasury, as they. are not stp, pressed, owing | to the impossibility. of procuring evidence adequate to con! ‘The Grand Jury also recommend that Eo Lepislature adopt such measures a3 vill make depositors in savings institutions 3 cure under all contingencies, and hedge Lf posits by ample penalties, both civ! criminal. aes ——— Evolution of Ceremonial Tostitation™ You may have faith or not, just as you EB in Herbert Spencer’s scientific specu! But you must admit that there 1s much lager ‘ ity, and no small amount of interest, in the lowing speculations in reference to the ever tion of “Ceremonial institutions.” Here rh es “ gist” of his arguments, according to the neum a! human, evolution. alls rior to social, and ack and holds up his paws meet eum: “ Ceremonies are @ little dog that f Ele dog is performin itiatory ceremant a log is form! & pro} ator’ * 8 Dig dog is pel ga Drop ie dog: + Dea when bo a3 good as saying to the bite a dog when he fy down; own weight.” Now, ™mense majority, of human cere! relics of. a ‘similar process of tion. ‘Tho savage who rolls on, bis and slaps his thighs to welcome his a ig not many stages in advance of the little The lady who f Kisses the Queen's js present ying out cow who licks her cult. ‘The that process gives the cow &. ion in her offspring. | FFOm "gy, , OF sniffing as an agreeable process came the custom of ict kissing, or sni ‘as asignof affection, ands? Ea lation of n superior, who nal iy eno © iked, and of that propitiation the. cere, | of kissing the Queen's hand is a survi Spencer traces a vast number of othor fey nies to acts of propitintion. He keeps in Z that men naturally tranfer services that tinte the living to the propitiation of tht of the dend, und that the ghosts becom and that in this way the religious ceremony sense of ing, fectionate Christianity, and of other creeds, ars nected in the long run with the timid little and bis pl _