Evening Star Newspaper, May 30, 1891, Page 9

eS MEXICO AND MEXICANS A Look at Our Sister Republic and * Its Curious People. AZTECS OF THIS CENTURY. Something About the Mexican Spanish—The ‘Wonderful Climate of the Country—Reses and Strawberries the Year Round—Pictur- eeque Mexico—The Orient in the Occident, Sao, Mexico, May 20, 1891. HERE ARE, IT IS ESTI- mated, 100,000 Americans who will spend at least €100,000,000 in Europe this year insight-seeing. They ‘will rush from one part of the continent to the other, carrying a little America along with them, and will have their 200,000 eyes worn out with pieture galleries and cathedrals and their 200,000 legs will limp from the effects of their tramp. Their 100,000 stomachs will be turned inside out at least twice by the billowy Atlantic and their @100,- 000,000 will be largely spent in discomfort and discontent. Europe they will find to be no longer a foreign country. The tourist has taken its picturesqueness out of it and the custome of ite ae Se most foreign’ country in CLristendom ean ih sleeper and the needs to be cromed is the are a people in themselves andi find leone of the strangest countries of the world. It is less known in guide-book lit- erature than any country in Europe and it is a land of wonders and « continuously changing kaleidoscope of strange things of both man and Rature. CACTI OF MEXICAN PLATEAU. We know very little of Mexico. Prescott gare usa picture of the country in the time of the Montezumas. Passing travelers have written the impressions that came to them while look- ing out of express trains going at the rate of forty miles en hour, and ‘we have s hazy ides of the republic as a sort of a tail to the Vnited States. It is supposed that there ¢ about 11,000,000 people in the re- public, but they have never been accurately counted, and the most of them are of a char- ‘ter and race about which the world knows nothing. The men known as Mexicans are the ruling class and these are numbered by thou- sands instead of millions. The real people of Mexico are the Aztecs, millions upon million of whom have nota drop of Spanish blood in them, and many of whom possess no element of nature in common with the Spaniards, the half-breeds or with their civilization. Most of these Indians speak but the: have ther own tongues as well, and. it is said there sre at least 100 dif ferent dialects used by them in different parts of Mexico. In some parts of this country you will find nothing but these Indians, end Sena- tor Hearst, a year or so ago, traveled over somo of the back districts of Mexico where he was the first white man the people had ever seen. They regarded him as a great curiosity, carried him on their shoulders for miles and delighted in doing him honor. AZTECS OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. ‘The word Indian gives no proper idea of these Aztecs of the nineteenth century. They are nothing like our Indians in appearance or civilization. They areas advanced as the lowest classes of many of Europe, and they have manners and acivilizati u peculiarly their own. They have shown thcmselves possible of great AN AZTEC MAIDEN. development, and some of th» most striking meh in Mexican history have come from them. Juarez was an Indian; Hidelgo was an Indian; and the president of Mex.co today--Senor Diaz—bas some Indian bicod in his veins. The of Mexico is largely made up of the descendants of the Aztecs, and it is believed by many that the future possibilities of Mexico are tocome from this race. The pure Span- iards of Mexico are few. and they and the peo- ple of mixed Indian and Spanish blood make up, it is said, less than one-fourth of the whole population.” Still it is from them that the whole country has been j in the it remains to be seen what the influence xara. The best part of Mexico has not been pros- pected as yet by the miners. A mining engi- Reer who has been traveling in the southern states of the country tells me that the great Wines of the future lie in the south rather than year. northern Comparatively little known, well-known American and coffee of the states. ‘TIMES AS LARGE 48 GREAT BRrraty. Americans know but little of the Mexic; 0 of cape Feel aT if rire i 5 i LEE Bt t H # Fe e Res Ei ke Hy Be i i Hit Hi BE: i if tl i ti § z H i if Ht ‘li gress ark He 3 BA f H i s ° cf LS ; i | “tHE in by Fe “i oe fie f f B f g lions | that on raisit e rf F CITIES Mexico is « land of good-sized cities. Its capital, which is away at the south, has more than three hundred thousand inhabitants. G has one hundred thousand, and there are = number of towns, the names of which are practically unknown to us, which have twenty-five thousand and Itisa land of many climates. Along the coast you have the tropics with all of their rich vegeta- tion, their fruits, and also, I learn, their tigers and’ tarantulas. In the higher gions it is cold, but on this Mexican plateau you find the ideal climate of the world. This constitutes the greater part of lexico, and this may be called the cli- mate of Mexico. Here the climate is the per- fection of pleasant June in Ohio the year round. The air is as pure as that which sweeps from the desert in winter time, and south Italy and Greece can furnish no more beautiful skies than these. I am now more than a mile above the sea and this is the level, not of @ point on a mountain side, but plateau upon which the biggest nation of ¢ eastern continent, with the exception of Russia, could be lost. There is perpetual sunshine and the blue skies are bluer than those of the United States. The air is so rare that the eye can see many miles farther than with us, and affects the nerves as though one was breathing cham- pagne. The skies are closer to the earth hi than at home, the moon shines at night wi greater brilliancy and the diamond-like stars remind me of the luminous heavens which hang low at night over the Gulf of Siam. I have been in Singapore, almost on the equator, where the thermometer stands at about eighty the year round and where the air is always saturated with moisture. Here I judge thermometer averages about seventy, and the air is as dry and exhilarating as that of the equatorial Malacca is moist and enervating. CROPS ALL THE YEAR ROUND. ‘Think of a country where the crops grow in luxuriant greennessall the year. Where the rose Grows into trees and flowers bloom forever. I saw yesterday men harvesting crops in one end of a field while other men were Planting the same crops at the other. Upon parts of this plateau strawberries are ripe during every week of the year and everything seems to grow at any time it is planted. ‘The rule about Silao is two crops of wheat from the same ground year and I see that in harvesting the wheat is pulled, root and all, from the ground, and this air and sun form the only manure. This part of the Mexican plateau is like» garden. ‘There 4s some ‘irrigation, but in many places the grow without it, and I rode for miles vee- terday through lands which were as rich as guano and as blaclbas the rich soil that makes glad the valley of the Nile. The lands along ‘the coast are, I am told, even richer than thi uplands and the beautiful valley in which Mi ico City Is located is one of. the garden, spots of the world. Mexico City is about 1.000 feet above the sea. My ride of yesterday Was at analtitude of more than 5,000 feet above the level of the sea. The valley through which we passed was lined on both sides with moun- tains, which in the hazy distance looked as though they had been dusted with the frosty silver which is ¢o abundant within them, and 4s we rode on through the green I pointed to them and asked one of my Mexican fellow travelers what lay beyond. He replied that on the other side of the mountains there were other little valleys as rich as that through which we were passing and the greater part of central Mexico was made up of such country. VAST DESERTS. ‘The Mexican plateau is not, however, by any means all green. , There are vast deserts like those of Arizona and Nevada, and in coming here through the great state of Chihuahua on the Mexican Central railroad I traveled for two days through a blinding blaze of dusty sand in which the only green thing was the cactus, which grows there in all its beauty and in all its ugliness. deserts are in some placos fit for grazing and Mexicans tell me them are to be the great cattle- grounds of the futarg. Vast tracts of them will be redeemed b; tion and thousands of acres have already been re- claimed. The land when irrigated makos lendid cotton ground, and one tract pro- faced 97,000 beles last year. A number of new companies are now being formed and Ameri- cans are largely interested in them. ‘The low lands which slope from the plateau down to the coast do not need. irrigation. They have an tmmengo rainfall during the rainy season and as that Tegetation grows as the jungles LIKE THE ROMANTIO ORIENT. The whole of this country partakes of the orient. The moment you cross the Rio Grande you are in the lands of the romantic east rather than in the practical west. The air, the sky and nature are those of Palestine in sprin; time and the architecture reminds you now of Moorish Spain and again of the mud hute of Egypt. people are among the most picturesque on the globe. Every man isa fit subject for a ‘ting, and American Mr. Church, who has spent seven winters says he finds Mexico a much more fei than the well-worked countries of Europe. As soon as I crossed the Rio Grande I saw at every station lusty brigand- like men, wit dark faces shining out from great sombreros, the crowns of which came toa point a foot above their heads, and the brims of which seemed to be a foot wide all around. These hats were gorgeous in their silver and gold trimmings. Some of them had opes of silver around them almost as thick as our and they only a part o! aie hrc fore of these bs a dudes. clothes below them shone with silver but- tonsand braid. The taloons of some of the men were strij with silver buckles, while to the waist of each, fastened by & leather belt filled with cartridges, hung a big silver-mounted revolver. of ta men dressed in this manner would gallop up on horses as gorgeously apparaled, and across the country we saw now and’ then troops of cavalry dashing over the fields. The costumes of the common people were fully as picturesque, and both men and women pre- sented rare bits of color and reminded us of the dance of the nations in a spectacular ‘OROUP OF PROXS. The lower classes of the men of Mexico dress in cotton, but they wear blankets of all the colors of the rainbow about their shoulders and they drape these around themselves in away that adds dignity and grace to them. Many of these blankets are of red flannel and if you will blanket of this sort and throw it around 01 ‘and over your back some morn- ‘as you hop out of bed in your enve-white Pajamas, you will get some iden of the Mexican m. Your hair, however, must be as Binck as the wing “of | the “raven; "you must stain your with walnut juice, and put on your hend one of these gorgeous sombreres it more or less dilaptiatel condi. tion. a piece of sole it You picture. THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON. D.C, SATURDAY, MAY 30, 1891-SIXTEEN PAGES. ther otherwise and that many are de- The Indian women are much ereaiining vem —— sisters. They ve @ when under bat after thirty they crow old rapidly, and hard work and poor food make them led and old at thirty-five. They are more picturesque than the higher classes, and their dress takes back to the east. They often wear go barefooted and stop not to rearrange their clothes if more of the ankle shows than our ideas of etiquette allow. The children of the Aztecs are more or less ‘naked, generally more in the back districts, though even the poorest of those Ihave yet seen have s short skirt to hide the upper parts of their bodies. ‘The clothes of all are asa rule cleanlier than those of other peoples in the same condition of poverty, and the self respect which they when under Montezuma they were the most civilized people on this continent) clings to them still, and many students of Mexican questions believe they are a people with a future. FRANK G. CARPENTER. POPPING THE QUESTION. A Method of Procedure Which if Followed ‘Will Help the Bashful Young Man. From London Tid-Bits. Don’t be too sudden about it. Many a girl has said ‘‘no” when she meant “yes,” simply because the lover didn't choose the right time and pop the question gently. Take a dark night for it. Have the blinds closed, the curtains down and the lamp turned most out. Sit near enough to her so you can hook your little finger into hers. Wait until the conversation begins to flag and then quietly remark: “Susie, I want to ask you something. She will fidget about a little and probably reply: “Yes?” After a pause you can add: “Susie, my actions must have shown—that is, you must have seen—I mea it be re tae Jn. nm, you must use here for a while, but finger frmiy locked” Ske ay cag our little and try to turn the subject off by askit how you liked the sermon, but she only’ does thas to encourage you. After » pause you can con- ue: “Iwas thinking as I was coming up the street tonight that before I went away I would ask you—that is, I could broach the subject nearest my—I' mein 1 would know porta L)Stop again and give her hand a gentle squeeze. She may make a move to get away or she may not. In either case it augurs well for you. Wait five minutes and then go on: se “The past year has been a very yy one tome, but Thope that future years’ will be still happier. However, that depends entirely on you. Iam here tonight to know—that ia, toask you—Iam here tonight to hear from your own lips the one sweet——” Wait again. It isn't best ta be too rash about such things. Give her plenty of time to recover her composure, and then put your hand on your heart and continue: “Yes, I thought as I was coming here tonight how happy I'd been, and I said to myself that ifTonly knew you would consent to be my— that is. I said if I only knew—if I was only cer- tain that my heart had not deceived me, and you were ready to share——" Hold on—there's no hurry about ft. Give the wind a chance to sob and moan outside among the trees. This will make her lone- some and call up all the love in her heart. When she begins to cough and grow restless you can go on. “Before I mét you this world was a desert to me. Ididn’t take any pleasure in lifepand it didn’t matter whether the sun ehone or not. But what a change in one short year. It is for you to say whether my future shall bea prairie of happiness or one long and never-endinj pathway of thistles. Speak, dearest Susio, and say—and say that——” i Give her five minutes more by the clock’and then ad a “That you—you will be—that is, that you will—be mine? She will heave a sigh, look upat the clock and round the*room, and then as she slides her head over your vest pocket, she will r. lenry—I will.” ———~+eo—____ GET DRUNK AND FIGHT. The Emperor William’s Remarkable Ad- vice to Young Men. From the London Times’ Berlin dispatch. The Emperor William arrived at Carlsruhe from Bonn, and was welcomed by his uncle, the Grand Duke of Baden, and enthusiastically received by the inhabitants. On the evening before leaving Bonn the emperor spent several hours at the beer commers, which was held to open thesummer session of the Bonn University, g | such symposia always being attended by all the corps or fighting clubs. Of these the crack corps is that of the Borussia, of which the em- peror himself, when studying at Bonn, wasa nominal member, but at this general commers he acted as chairman of the revels. In reply to the health of the emperor, which was effn- sively proposed and drunk in what is called “‘a thundering salamander,” his majesty rose and begged to subscribe to every word which had been spoken in praise of all the habits and customs of German student life and their edu- tional importance. He said: “It is my firm conviction that every youth who enters a corps or beer-drinking and duel- ing club will receive the true directi i life from the spirit which prevai is the best education which » young man can t for his fature life and he who scoffs at the German students’ corps does not penetrate their real meaning. I hope that as long as there are German corpsstudents the spirit which is fostered in their corps and which is steeled by strength and courage wili be preserved, and that you will always tuke delight in handling the dueling blade. There are many people who do not understand what our duels really but that must not lead us astray. You and Z who have been corps students, know better than that. As in the middle ages manly strength and courage were stecled by the ‘practice of jousting or tournaments, so the spirit and habits which are acquired from mem! corps furnish us with that ip of degree of fortitude which Is nocesstry torus when we go out into the world, and which will last as long as there are German uni- versities. You have been good enough to refer to my son (the Crown Prince), and 1 give you my hearty thanks for so doing. I trust that the young man, when he is advanced enough, will matriculate here and join your clubs, and that he will then meet with the same kindly sentiments that were extended to me. And now a word to those young freshmen v but beginning to lead'a corps life. Trai courage, your discipline and your obedience, without which we cannot as a state continue to live, and I trust that many officials and officers will'emerge from your midst:” This remarkable speech by thé emperor was applauded to the echo by his youthful hearers, ‘ough it is certain to provoke a bitter enough controversy in other quarters. The emperor remained among the beer drinkers and song singers till midnight, and then withdrew with his brother-in-law, Prince Adolph of Schaum- burg-Lippe, amid a scene of great enthusiasm. ———+ee_____ ‘The Fatal Full Hand. From the Detroit Free Press. Iwas watching a game of poker once at Helena, Mont. The players were a gambler (whom I knew slightly, who bore the soubriquet of “Lucky Bill,”) and two miners. Suddenly. after the hands were dealt and the players had “chipped in” and drawn cards, Lucky Bill, with perfect calmness and not so much as the shadow of a change in the expres- sion of his face, laid his cards on the table, took ® note-book from his pocket and deliberately wrote # few words. Then he tore out the leaf and handed isto me e “Look at that when you get home tonight.” His voice was steady, ped or not betray a particle of excitement. I thrust the paper into my pocket and gave the matter hardly s second thought. ‘The fered at this lowed I bullet ecenden! been Pistol in evening line the from ‘Thave drawa jacks full on ‘One ever Ishall Bank of — of DEATH VALLEY FRUITS What the Government Expedition Has Thus Far Accomplished. SOME PECULIAR ANIMALS. ‘More Than 2,000 Specimens Already Received by the Department of Agriculture—A Re- gion Where Animals Only Go Abroad st Night—Extraordinary Reptiles, 1HE GOVERNMENT EXPEDITION TO Death Valley is bringing forth its first fruits. When a Stam reporter visited the Agricultural Department the other day he found that large consignments of dead crea- tures illustrating what it has thus far sccom- Plished in the study of the life of that amazing, Tegion have reached the department. The col- lections thus far received here include 2,368 mammals, besiues numerous birds, reptiles, insects and other specimens. It is desired by the scientific authorities in charge to find out Just what animal and vegetable life is able to Preserve existence under conditions so ex- traordinarily unfavorable as are found in this desert of horror, the like of which is not found anywhere else in the world. CACTUS THE ONLY PLAXT. Of plants there is scarce anything to be dis- covered besides cacti, which only represent sort of vegetable half-life,and clumps of chapparal that are gray instead of One sort of cactus tl in height, with extended branches, is called the “Dead Man,” because each stalk in the night looks like a’ corpse by the wayside. In rare spots where water has gathered may be seen a singular fleshy bush without leaves and with thick green stems. Such vegetation as there is is rank and spiny, harmonizing weirdly barren aspects of the great alkali crust, ex- tending north and south between two precip- itor of mountains, the Amargosa and Panamint ranges. Those who have visited it say that it is beyond human powers of descrip- tion to picture the wholly unnatural scene to be beheld there—the vast stretches of white plain variegated with black lava, the alluring mirages, the strange appearance ‘of the tower- ing hills outlined like the backbones of mon. strous beasts against the yellow sky, the total absence of trees, the dearth of animal life and the intense heat from which there is no escape. Here and there, too, are pebble beds miles in extent, made up of agate, moss-agate, cl dony, jasper and obsidian. NIONT PROWLERS. This astonishing desert, however, is by no means so devoid of life as ite aspect by day- light would lead the observer to. imagine. As soon as night falls it is all aswarm with creatures of various sorts. Countless lizards come out of their burrows to look for insect preys snakes wriggle across the alkali crast jorned toads creep about and scorpions and tarantulae of enormous size sharpen their claws for combat. Rats, mice and squirrels trot bout in active pursuit of game, and wildcats ind coyotes forsake their lairs on the mountain sides and roam over the plain in pursuit of all sorts of smaller mammals, It is‘ nocturnal Population, simply because the heat is so great 4s to forbid going out in the daytime. SECURING SPECINEXR. The Death Valley expedition has not at- tempted to encamp upon the desert itself for the sake of securing specimens. It has been obliged to content itself with pitching tents about the edge, at the foot of the mountains, making brief ‘expeditions across the torrid plain, setting traps and returning as quickly 4s possible. By this method the traps could be emptied and set again without much loss of time. Tume is of consequence in Death Valley, where a man requires two gallons of water daily to keep him from dying of thirst; and even thus is @ sufferer. Little traps of very imple and most admirable pattern are employed for catching the’ small mammals. “Two or three dozen of them can be conveniently carried in the pockets of one’s coat, and the game coveted ean enter from any side. Each one is hardly more than a wire spring. ingeniously contrived, so that the quadrupai victim is not obliged to enter a hole, sees no danger and does not dream of il until he is caught, Corn meal in employed for bait and is found most successful. For the large mammals the gun must be brought into requisition, while the reptiles, usually slow of movement, are readily gathered in. "Of the birds there are very few in the neighborhood of Death Valley, though the Taven,that funereal fowl, is very plentiful in the woods that skirt its edge, crying witn mournful notes for the many travelers whose dried corpses are scat- tered over the burning level. AYTER THEY ARE CAUGHT. As quickly as possible after they are caught the animals trapped and shot are skinned by the explorers, all of whom are skilled taxider- mists. No great pains are taken with the stuff- ing. A lump of raw cotton supplies the place of vitals, and the tail is extended by a wire thrust through itslength. Arsenic is sprinkled all over the inside for preservative purposes, and the specimen is stretched with four pins on a board to dry. As soon as they have thus been made ready, the preserved creatures are forwarded to the Department of Agricul- ture at Washington. Supply wagons travel the parched and constantly between the expedition and the nearest outposts of civilization to get provis- fons and convey mails. 4 great, man uals of each species found hav. forwarded. individ- e to be killed and because individuals here and there is necessary to determine where ual differences end and new spe- cies begin. For example, one kind of rat may have ears of various sizes and different lengths; but it is requisite to find out the line of occu; tion which separates this animal from another species. WHAT HAS BEEN RECEIVED. ‘Thus far the avimals sent in to the depart- ment are merely such as have been found in Death Valley, because the expedition has been ypes and it will not be possible to conduct any further investigations on the torrid plain until late next autumn. Nearly all of the creatures found in the valley are nocturnal in their habits, because they are not able to ven- ture out in the day time on account of the great heat. Among them are three species of ground uirrels, which live in urpose of getting at the seeds. At other times Hstands on ts hind fect, clasps the ateme mith its fore paws and bites off .the seed pods, dis- tending its cheek pouches enormously with the food. One fellow shot by Dr. Merriam, chief of the expedition, had thirty-nine unbroken seed pods in his pouches. ‘THE KANGAROO Rat." Another most interesting animal that inhab- its Death Valley is the “kangaroo rat,” which makes its way about by jumping. It has long and powerful hind legs and a su: tail. Its coloring varies from gray to dark brown, according to whether it frequents thg alkali or the lava, nature intending to pro- tect it from capture ‘by the likeness of its hue to its surroundings. ‘The kangaroo rat lives in burrows, as does likewise a smaller kind that is commonly called the “kangaroo mouse;” but neither is in any true sense & mouse or a rat. They belong to families quite different. Nevertheless there are plenty of real rats in ‘alley, as the expedition found. One kind that lives in the chap with bare tails paral, and exquisite soft fur, is the etaple food of the Digger Indians who’ dwell in the mountains thereabouts. The latter catch the beasts with dogs, frightening them out of their nesta, which are made like those of squirrels, of great size, t grows to be five or six feet | b ite Lin or dull olive hues | becam« wit MOUNT WHITNEY. Only fifty miles west from Death Valley, which is 150 feet below the sea level, Mount Whitney, the highest mountain in North Amer- uplifts its mighty covered with per- me ‘snow, three tiles into the rr. Thus within » day's journey of each other the lowest and the highest point on this continent are found. Dr. Merriam wrote the other day that he had breakfasted on twenty feet of snow and was composing his letter to Secretary Rusk at 4 p.m. in an altitude of rather less than nothing and a temperature of 110 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade. The expedition would be very fad to ascend Mount Whitney, but the task is likely to be an impracticable one. Above there are depths of snow which are continually precip- itating themvelves in avalanches below on the lower slopes. The ving 1ce has reduced the ground to the condition of a hopeless morass, through which travel is altogether im- racticable. There isno path up the mountain xy which even a mule could journey. OPPORTUNITY FOR OBSERVATION. In the region described is to be found a most astonishing opportunity for the observa- tion of @ traveler, inasmuch as within fifty miles he can pass through all the life zones of the earth, from the hottest tropic to the frezen arctic, and view not only the vegetation but the beasts and birds of the various climes tra- ve It seems very strange to find upon the summits of Mt. Whitney, the San Francisco mountain, and other the warmer parts of 5 onies of veritable arctic life, both vegetable and animal. But this is explained when it is realized that during a period immediately pre- ceding the nt and known as the “glacial age” the entire ‘northern part of the world was vuried in ice, the ice-cap, which in places was several thousand feet in thickness, extending southward as far as Philadelphia aud below Chicago. When this vast cosmic giacier re- ceded many arctic plants and creatures were stranded on lofty mountains, where at sufti- ciently lofty altitudes the temperature never jeame too high for the continuance of their existence. For an example, the San Francisco mountain in Arizona is an extinct volcano, in- habited by plants and animals which could not possibly have reached it since the glacial Period. Though an isolated rising out of ® vast and berning desert, its snowy top is a veritable arctic colony. Impartial Criticism. From the London Daily Telegraph. Opinions differ widely among artists as to the merits of the present Royal Academy ex- hibition. PerBaps the following little scene, which recently took place at a well-known club, may account for this variety of view. Enter A.—“Have you been to the exhibition?” “Yes.” “What do you think of it?” “Ob, it is very good.” “Anything of yours there?” “Yes, a couple of small things—both bung on the line, by the way.” Enter B.—Been to eademy?” * “What sort of a show , a fair average.” “Got anything Yell, yes, but they have ‘skied me. .—What do you think of the academ: “What do I think? ‘Well, of all the collec tions of rubbish, of utter daubs—!" “Have you anything there?” “Oh, dear no! Of course they kicked me out!” Siriaas abot ae A Veteran Student, From the London Globe. The students of Glasgow University have presented an address to Sir William Thomson congratulating him on his accession to the presidential chair of the Royal Society of Lon- don. Sir William, in thanking them for this mark of sympathy, avowed his sympathy with their efforts and objects, and declared himself @ student like themselves. “I have been dent of the University of Glasgow for fi five years today,” said ho with characteristic modesty, “and I'hope to continue a_student of this university as long as I live.” The winter session having ended at Glasgow, Sir William comes to London to fulfill his duties as presi- dent of the Royal Societ; The Law's Delay. From Texas Siftings. Life Insurance Agent—“I want to insure your life in our company.” Convicted Murderer—Do you know that I have just been sentenced to be executed?” Life Insurance Agent—“That’s why I want to write you out @ policy. Your class live longer than any other in New York, and we make a specialty of convicted murderers. Sup- Pose you take out a Tontine policy for twenty Years.” ————— ‘Weddings in Heligoland. From the London Globe. ‘The facilities for marriage in Heligoland have been greatly curtailed sincg it has become a German possession. Among other conditions both parties must produce certificates of birth in order to prevent Jews being married there. All whu are under twenty-five must produce a legally attested written consent of ts, if these are dead, a certificate of ._ Widows or widowers must pro- duce the death certificate of the deceased wife or husband, and if they have children prove that the property willed to those children is se- eurely settled upon them. ‘The entire expense of a marriage in the island is about 200 marks. In spite of these conditions, marriage in Heli- folaud is a much simpler and easier affair than Germany. Got His Model. “Now «iistemptation is all complete with the exception of the serpent.” ‘Leau t, tor the lire of ma get thi snake to assume a life-like appearance: Interesting Chat’ About People and Things Theatrical. BANVARD'S COSTLY EXPERIME Fallure of Stage Realism to Attract the Re- Mgiously Inclined—The Accidental Success of “The Two Orphans"—Sara Bernhardt On ‘an American Actrese—An Auction Cotillon On Bleecker Street, ——_-4a_ Special Correspondence of The Evening Star. New Your, May 30, 1891. @JOEN BANVARD IS DEAD AND TODAY his hell is being torn to pieces. Banvard was an artist, author and showman. His re- cent death in South Dakota has been published already. A quarter of a century ago he built what is now Daly's Theater in this city and opened it as Banvard’s Museum. One of the features of the establishment was a Tepresentation of an extremely orthodox and old-fashioned hell, with as many of the traditional horrors of eternal punishment as could be depicted in the space at command. Banvard was a good artist, and from his brush came so much of the exhibit as could be painted. Real flames broke out here and there, several men disguised as devils made sport of as many tormented beings, hideous nondescript animals crowded in and out of darksome grottos, and pandemo- niac music mingled art premny groans and Fells. All this was deep downin an excava- tion underneath the theater level, and _in itself and its surroundings it was calculated to hor- Tify the spectator. Perhaps it was too great a success in its Fionn and so fright ened visitors off, for it did not save Banvard’s Museum from financial fail- ure. The house became Wood's Museum, then the Broadway Theater, and finally into the hands of Daly, who sunk about « hundred thousand of his father-in-law's dollars before establishing himself in prosperity. Today a commencement was made to reconstruct the old rattle trap. and one of the first things done was to clear out the remains of Banvard’s hell from the deep cellar. ONE WHO ENEW HIM. “Iknew John Banvard intimately,” said an old man standing by. “In making his elaborate and really artistic imitation of the infernal re- gions he aimed at the approval of orthodox clergymen. Bear in mind that the present re- laxation of religious views as to # literal hades of fire and brimstone had at that time scarcely begun. Banvard had ob- served the ‘degree of success attendinj Barnum’s efforts to so disguise and surroun theatrical performances that pious people, who wouldn't think of going intos theater, were en- ticed into a ‘lecture room’ to see a regular,out- right dramatic performance. Barnum's down town museum had been burned out and Ban- vard thought he saw the opportunity to out- Barnum Barnum by building @ new mu- seum uptown; and, by putting in this show of the place of eternal punishment, as rofessedly believed in by most church mem- ers, he thought ‘be would gain au extensive indorsement from the pulpit. He had a regu- lar theater in the building, of course, but he counted on his underground hell to atone for the wicked amusement overhead. The failure of the museum was a crushing blow to Ban- vard, and he never récovered from it either in money or spirits. You see those boards and timbers that the workmen are fetching out? ‘They are the wreck of Banvard’s hell.” THE COMIC MAN'S TROUSERS. Horrors remain attractive in some of the museums, but the popular taste runs rather in the direction of jovial things. Comedians in comic trousers are more potent than fiends in red tights. Indeed, current farce depends a great deal on clowns and pantaloons and buf- foonry. comedians are the clowns and “they wear pantaloons. So in- geniously planned and caretuily executed are the devices in funny trousers that one tailor in upper Broadway makes a specialty of such garments. A comic man in a farce nowadays counts himself a failure if upon first turning his back to an audience there doesn't arise a roar of merriment over the extravagantly bad fit of his trousers. So, among his conee tions for his next ‘season's role, he includes a pair of ‘character pants,” as he calls them. They embody his best inven- tion in grotesquery, produced by odd colors, incongrnous patches or a combination of tight legs and baggy seats, baggy legs and tighteente, or some other ridiculous disproportion. Then he goes to the expert tailor, describes his de- vice, perhaps illustrates it with # rough draw- ing, and as likely as not expends the price of haif a dozen fashionable pairs of trousers be- fore the altered and improved result is reached satisfactorily. SERIOUS DRAMA NOT POPULAR. Well, this is nota good week in which to write violent condemnation of farcical efforts to please audiences, since New York city has just refused to accept twoextremely artisticanh elaborate essays in serious drama. Each was devised and produced bya popular and ex- cellent actor and offered toa fine first-night audience in a fashionable theater, but disaster is the result in both cases. On the other hand, one of the greatest of the season's successes was achieved. with a play had been in the manager's possession six years, and was put upon the stage finally as a forlorn hope, after several failures with pieces from famous foreign authors. So it goes. Trustworthy judges of dramas in manuscript are exceedingly scarce. Nor does tried and successful material always prove profitable when used over again. This truth has just been demonstrated b; venture. A careful selection of popular things in five or six of the current | P€®! rural plays of New England life was made, and these ingredients were mixed up for a’ new play, which was presented with the finest pos- sible scenery, any quantity of farm realism and a total of expense reaching about $20,000. The drama was performed one week only in an al- most empty theater and will never be repeated again. SUCCESS OF “THE TWO ORPHANS.” The biggest theatrical hits are made some- times with a careless or recklessaim. “The ‘Two Orphans” may be taken as an illustration, ‘The use of that melodrama was due to an acci- dental hour in the life of Agnes Booth. An old-time Bohemian, Bart Jackson, translated D'Enery’s masterpiece and took the manuscript to every theatrical manager in town, but could not convince one of them that there was anything in the piece, which anybody's use in this country, as it published in France, and was therefore unpro- tected aguinst piracy. One day Agnes Booth was waiting idly in the office of her husband, then business manager of Booth's Theater, and ked up Jackson's version of “The ‘Two Orphans.” She began to read it, became in- terested and finished it before laying it down. “That is the best melodrama I ever read,” she said to her husband, in the presence of several witnesses. Her opinion was repeated | to, ES lars amo hed a high regard for her judgment, and it led him to accept the play forthe Union Square. ‘There wasa on the first night, a contin- uance of the storm for two ensuing days, and small audiences in lay in this country except Black Crool” cd “Uncle Tom's Cabia’ BERNHARDT'S TRIBUTE TO LILLIAN OLcorT. Obituary praise is notof much practical value to an actress. If Sarah Bernhardt had to prom he gad him, so that he| the electric light interval re- discovered that his watch, which was = [+ from his royal master, was and gpg gy a but there was no reminded Sticeke sess next put each member on his word of honor to ast |QN AND OFF THE STAGE) == ich Theodora herself was con- cerned and I attended it; so did Sardou and many others. We were all astounded by her accurate reproduction. In broad effects and minor details alike she sree go much like me as to be a speaking portrait. You say: ir fortune and died poor and disappointed? That ioe pity. She was a won mimic.” A BLEECKER STREET COTILLOX. It was depressively hot in the low-studded hall on Bleecker street, but there was « “‘cotillon on, as the posters in the street below announced to all yy, and the place was crowded. The affair was novel, even for the district it occurred in, which ix not noted for its couserva- tive spirit, and is said to exist without any ob- ‘ance of social etiquette, as that term is un- tood further up town. ' The novelty of the cecasion was to be found in the decidedly original way by which the short-haired young men secured their partners for the dance. “None of the blokes invited any frre see,” said a chunky young man with the gentle countenance of a pugilist, who stood against the Fall rubbing on a pair of rose piuk gloves; “this is an auction dance.” It turned out that one were put up to be bid for, like ® second-han article of furniture, and knocked down for the Terpsichorean festivity to the highest bidder. The scheme had been resorted to for the pur- ‘of avoiding the unpleasant results of Jealousy that had marred suid confased re- ‘vious event of kindred sort. It was hoped that if a favorite should be given to the youth who Was ready andable to pay the highest price for her companionship any. other gentle. man desiring her as a partner would uot push his claims pugnaciously. The was hot a bad one up to a certain point, but itended in disaster when all was looking rosy. auction had with the low-priced girls. ‘One under- maiden with mismatched eyes as going toa bashful young man st the a surdly cheap figure of 3 cents. As the more comely and'emart girls were put up by the auctioneer bidding brisker, until at last, when the few final belles were reached, Fett excitement throughout the bail’ ‘nally but one of the young women was left. She was by all odds ‘TRE FINEST SPECIMEN OF HER SEX in the room. Tali and well made, witha grace- fully set head that was crowned with pretty blonde hair, this queen of Bleecker street was fashioned to inflame the heart of any set she moved in. The upset price for the young lady was seventy cents. A tall dark young man, with large jaws and bair that grew like » tragedian's “ Roman wig, _ immediately offered $1. Hardly had this bid been made when it was raised by a sandy-complexioned youth to €1.25. A murmur of excite- ment ewept over the company. The man with the tragic hair took a strong look at the sandy chap, who didn't flinch under the gaze, and when the former bid €1.35 the latter coolly Went to $1.50. Matters were now extremely ex- citing. The beauteous rarity herself was pin- ning 4 rosebud in her hair, standing before « mirror, with an affectation of carelessness. All eyes were centered upon the two reckless bid- ders. It was not long before the figure called gut by the auctioneer had mounted to $2.60. ‘This was the limit of any Bleckder street youth. Something w: It was the sandy young mau’s turn to bid. “I'wo seventy-five,” he said in # calm, aggra- vating voice. ‘Thereupon his opponent crossed to where he was standidg and fairly hissed out, the remark: “T'll beat you if I have to hock my vest. I bid ¢3.” “You ain't got it,” retorted the other. “And if yer hocked everything yer got on it wouldn't bring 10 cents.” Five minutes later the police entered and cleared out the hall. Noone knew who struck the first blow, but the young gentleman who had declared himself ready to pawn his wear- apparel in order to secure the belle of the for a partner was found jammed under some chairs with his hair very much disar- ranged, where he had been kicked by the ad- herents of the youth of the sandy complexion. The auction idea had proved a sad failure, and for the next Bleecker street dance each man is to invite his partner in the old way. Our Queer American Ways. ‘From the Chicago Tribune. He was taking « pleasure trip through this country and was unused to the ways of ite citi- zens, which may explain his action. He met » friend, showed him a card, and asked him to go with him to the address on it. “What's the matter!” asked the friend. “Why, this gentleman,” explained the for- eigner. “helped me out of a very embarrassing position. You see, through carelessness, I got caught on a street car with nothing but a draft in my pocket, and he paid my fare. I insisted on moving S card, — a ‘cine around to than! a in ant mm oe “The nickel? sid i “Certainly.” ‘Don't do it.” ‘But I owe it to him.” “It makes no difference; he'll be angry.” And he was. He said tne s1 must have thought him mighty | hard up or close fisted to come chasing after him with a nickel, and he Sndignantly refused to take it t, sir,” said the stranger, with surprise, “Towe it to you. Idon't wish to bare ptber apie paying my street-car fare.” “Offer him a cigar,” whispered the friend. The foreigner promptly followed instructions. “Will you join me asmoke, then?” he putting away the nickel and taking out ony. Gant yo the repl; “Why, you,” was the reply, and ina oking. few moments the three were sm ‘Ask him to have something,” suggested the friend again. Again the foreigner followed instructions and the) promptly adjourned to a place where something could be had. Here each man felt it incumbent upon him to buy = “round ‘Then the foreigner and his friend started for the hotel, and the former remarked: “Queer ways vou have here.” “How ao?” asked the friend. “Why, he was too proud to accept 5 cents that was due him, but be would take a and a drink that were not. And because he me a favor I had to take three drinks that I did not want and smoke a cigar that I was saving for after dinner. If I paid my car fare that way I'd be drank and broke all the time.” THE EPOCH OF THE MILLION. Great Enterprises Contempiated in the City of New York. 4 TWO-STORY TUNNEL To Cost FoRTY MILLIONE— SEVERAL SCHEMES REACHING 4 MILLION Rach — BEY. DR. BRIGGS AND DR. PARKWURST, mIs UE- FENDER—OTREB INTERESTING Gofmir. From The Star's Special Correspondent. New Youx, May 28, 1891, Db BRIGGS SAILS FOR ENGLAND ON Saturday on the Umbria, to be gone «il summer. The trip is taken by the order of lie Physician and is greatly needed, as the pro- fessor's health is much broken. The great strain to which he has been subjected. coming as itdid, when he was very much debilitated from the grip, has resulted in astate of nervous Prostration, from which rest and change of scene and peace are necessary. Dr. Briggs will, however, combine professional work with his leisure. He goes to Oxford, where he will meet Prof. Brown. his colleague in the faculty of the Union Theological Seminary and clows Personal friend, who is at present thfere in cou sultation with the British students on a biblicel work of great importance. The doctor will re: turn early in the fall, by which time his case Will be ready for consideration in the synod of New York. In the meantime his utter ances have been rather cast inthe shade, for the moment certainly. by the very defiant and peppery remarks of Dr. Parkburst. Last Sun- ¥ # sermon by this epigrammatic divine has ited universal comment and not only in the church but througbout the whole community It was printed in fuil in most of the newspa Pers and seems to have been read as attentively as the latest cock fight or drunken fracas, which is saying a good deal for @ piece of religious news. SELLING ONESELF RELOW cost. One of the useful societies of the coun- try is the Typotheta or employing printers. There isa very strong New York chapter of this society that meets frequently and discusses matters relating to the ancient and honorable craft of printing. At their monthly dinner re- cently an ii nt address was read by one tht to honor, Mr. Theodore L. De- should govern printers in th ompeting bids, and among other valuable things which ‘be let fall was a remark that out of bis thirty years of experience be could say that be never knew a PFinter that was in the practice of taking work low cost, whatever Teason, who did not ultimately get into the hands of the sherift. I wonder if this remark isn't of broader Application than was inteuded by the speaker Isn't there a solid chunk of wisdom concenle in it? There are very many people who, ra than be idle (or rather not employed to th utmost tension of energy) are all the while ing odd jobs at less than cost, as expressed in gry matter and other capital. The world ll of this unnecessary audguneconomical em- ployment, and it is very likely true that most generally the result is failure. No JOKES IN TRADE. The difference in the point of view between our British cousins and ourselves was brought to my mind very forcibly this week in a remark dropped by the proprietor of one of the leading trade journals of Englund. In discussing the difference between class papers here and there. he said that what struck him most fe the tendency of American trade papers to co tain jokes. “Now,” suid he, “any joke in an English trade paper would be futal to it” ‘The English tradesman takes his business and himself very seriously, and he doesn't care to be trified with by having the vehicle of his trade, and the medium in which be advertises his wares and in which he reads of what others in the trade are doing, made the receptacle of trifling witticisms. Chis fanction o ment he regards as covered by the profession When it comes to the newspaper of his trade, it must be devoted to black and white facts and figures. VERDI RULES THE RoosT. Wagner may do for winter, but Verdi is the Sun God and reigns triumphant in the summer months. This week we bave two opera com- panies in full blast, one in the Grand Opora House and the other in Hammerstein's new building in Harlem and at both we are baving nightly the simple tunes of the Italian masters ““Trdvatore” reigns on 234 street and o- letto” in Harlem. For the present the victory seemscertainly with the tune masters asagninst the tone masters, for elaborate plans nre being made for Italian though be goes #0 far as to pit: holders in the Metropolitan’ wh will take their part of the ously indeed “before they are with it. I understand that Herr has made very elaborate plans on for a winter season of classical and concerts, which will embrace not only New York and vicinity, but the principal cities of the country, in ‘the itinerary. Very likely Wash- i have the privilege of hearing bis magnificent orchestra, reintorced by Lilla Leb- mann and other Wagnerian singers of the frst rank, in splendid Wagnerian programa, SOMETHING LIKE RAPID TRANSIT. The report of the committee on rapid transit, has been received with well nigh universal ap- proval. It isa big job that is mapped out, but practicable, and it is adequate to the necessi- ties of the town. Probably two-story tunnel will be bored from the Battery to 42d strect, er beyond, and” then the work be carried forward on one level for a part of the way above ground. The whole thing will cost about $40,000,000, but that is a mere huckleberry nowadays. ‘I understand that there will be considerable competition to et the job among capitalists and ay ndicates. Its astonishing how multiplication brings respectability. Very few men would care to be engaged in a trade that brought them in afew nickels, but when nickels come in by the mil- livn the most aristocratic of the “400” are much inclined to dabble in the business. 4 VICTORY FOR ARBONIAL MAN. After a stiff fight, in which the newspapers bore a creditable part, the Adirondacks seem safe for another year against the intrusion of the railroads. It has been almost as hard work todefend the Adirondacks as Central Park rough Serdl his part operatio against those who would spoil the public's en- joyment for their own selfish ends. ba tow ‘Sak tees proud of its fhree-million | acre | wilderness | that : latent public sentiment always existe, which propeny touched upon develops into a formid- able resistance. For the moment the sapper tracts wicked land grabbers of Scripture, adding field to ficld—but this time with = ise worth: spirit—and if the whole against the railroad kings will be secured a8 a “boundless contiguity’ of shade,” and the 8 wilderness made as permanent as an: of the sort can be im progressive practical country and age. JUTUEIET E ier