Evening Star Newspaper, January 23, 1892, Page 9

SOME WINTER BIRDS. Feathered Songsters That Are Cold Weather Visitors Here. THEIR HAUNTS AND HABITS. The Winter Wren, Brown Creeper, Kinglet, Crossbill, Sparrows and Other Species That May Be Seen in Woods and Fields at This Season of the Year. 4 nature, according to the \) In the summer time \} rireos, &c., making the courses the rails and the little marsh He who believes that in winter the woods are the songsters,or most of them, have left,and the amination many will be found tenanted by northern climate to remain for a few months, Written for The Evening Star. ASHINGTON BIRD life presents two distinet «| Phases tothe student of season of the year at which it is observed. we have the songsters, \ thrushes, warblers, FU, hills and valleys ring ¥ <1 A with sweetest music, mesa HIE |’. white along the ctreamns oe Tait vi wrens incessantly chatter from morning till night. devoid of birds will, after afew ours’ search, form an entirely different opinion. To be sure, places inhabited by them but a short time since are bare and brown; but on a close ex- other feathered forms of a hardier nature forms which have come to us from amore until the rigors of an arctic winter shall have passed away. boing an entirely different bird and so seldom reach this latitude that but a single instance of its occurrence is known to me. Many may & IUNCO. have noticed « bird with « light gray breast, perfectly plain save for one little dark spot right in the center—this is the sparrow, very common at present, butentirely abseut in sum- mer, as it breeds in the nor states and Canada. With them a bird much smaller and save for the breastwork otherwise very similarly colored is the little field sparrow, equally com- mon with the foregoing, but much shyer and less easy to approach. ‘Any old field covered with a rank growth of weeds and tall grades Till furnish an abundant supply, of those ss well as the juncos, white throuted and tree sparrows. ‘THE TITLARKS." Nor are those bare, dreary looking fields without interest. That old wheat field or meadow that looks utterly deserted, as far as the eye can see, is very apt to contain some very interesting forms. The titlarks and shore larks, or as they are more oiten called born larks, ure usually quite abundant. The former will be less in February, while the sho: larks have been leas since early November curious turds they are, too, each with a little horn or ttt of black feathers on either side of the head, which can be raised or lowered at picasure, hence the name, horned lark. They are so very nearly the color of the surround- ings as to'be almost unnoticeable even when mong them, and the first notice o of their presence is to see the e1 ck take wing secmingly from beneath ery feet and hurry to some distant part of oF two repetitions of this they become very shy, and it is difficult to get even within gunshot of them. Wasiingion is peculiarly situated orni- thologically, so to speak; not only do we get a fairly full quota of laze ‘birds, but for an in- land city it affords not a few sea and coast birds. On the river may be found herring and Bonapartes, gulls and fish hawks, while count- “8 numbers of ducks of var.ous species, an oceasional flock of geese, aud rarely, very rarely, a flock of swans may be seen. BIRDS THAT STAY THE YEAR ROUND. One more phase of winter bird life and Iam done. I refer to those birds that remain with us the year round—the cardinal, Carolina wrens, song sparrows and others. The first two may be heard singing on a bright day as joy- ‘THE WINTER warx. Foremost among these is the little winter wren—such a tiny, diminutive little chap that when on a cold and frosty morning, when you are endeavoring to keep your fingers and toes from freezing, his hoarsa clutter comes from the brush heap, it seems almost a miracle that such a mite of a bird does not appear to feel the effects of the cold in the least. He ix » marvelous songster, and must be seen and heard to be fuliy appreciated, for it seems al- most incredible that such a volume of song can come fromsosmall acreature. Unfortunately seldom, if ever, sings during his y here; but further north, in New York and he is one of the noisiest musicians He is a shy little fellow, fre- ¢ wood piles, brush heaps, tangled and similar places, and’ so cute in lis movements equently requires close searching and no little maneuvering to discover him, iy where itis. In and finaliy dis- w fect from where I had i did not know he could be rc a Thy are such cunning, int little fellows, with their short, stampy ointing y toward ther heads, and ments, that they never fail to & ‘ing con- ia them, and they sre as often met in the frozen swamps as else- where. THE BROWN CREEPER. Early in November the brown creeper comes tous, vet how few there are who ever see him! id example of So etive in motion. He eof the word, working the manner of wood in search of insec' ereted among the crevices of the Their note is ex y faint—a fine hairlip, if L may so call it. and rather apt to be confounded with that of the kinglets. They are to be found mostly in the deciduous woods, although cccasionally met in the pines. S SS Tee ‘THE KINGLETS. Next come the kinglets, and what dear little fellows they are; two species, the golden ¢rowned and ruby crowned; each, as the name implies, with a golden and ruby crown on the head, to offset, as it were, their otherwise very Plain attire of olive green. They are. I think, the smallest of our birds next to the hummer, 1 frequent the pines almost exclusively and ge companies; and their faint, chipperings are to be beard nes in the district. The ally in Iai patch of golden crown is « call notes. but in the «pring the ruby fi = With the destest little song imaginal e than once I ible, «and if one remains ly come within arms’ om their little black go creature it is that 1s. Thove who are about Fo: the strip fee ere found many Years, and where a of those in collections were bird of the far north at rare intervals, when the ly offood in their native haunts gives out. wists almost entirely of the the pine cone, and to en- birds to extract them the the bill are curved, thus giving at time in nember Enis feeds able points of them the power of forcing open the seed cap- of the sales. are handsome birds, varying in color from dark red throug! every intermediate Sage to olive green, and as @ rule %o fearless that durmg the w: mentioned « number ously as ever and in Mareh the dear little song sparrow will begin to tune his instrument. One bird of striking note 1s the goldfinch—but who would recognize him? Gone is that bright golden yellow, for which he was so noticeable but afew months since; gone their jet biack wings and ashy rump, and in their place a dingy yellowisi brown mantles the littie song- ster, with just here and there a little dingy yellow prevailing, as if indicative of what will be once more in’ a few months. This is the winter plumage of our common American gold- finch and is one of the many interesting things to be learned by those who will brave a little cold and unpleasans weather to study nature n ber winter garb. EM Ho gama et DANCING FOR THE MESSIAH. How the Craze Was First Started—What the Dances Are Like. “This Messiah craze of the Indians is derived from their notion of Christianity,” said an eth- nologist toa writer for Tue Sram. “Certain teachings of the missionaries have fitted on to their own belief. By them they have been promised future bliss, if they are good, and this idea accords with the faith which they have long entertained that at some time in the future the Great Spirit would restore to them the land, restocked with game, at the same time destroying all the white people. “The doctrine of a coming Messiah was first preached in 1869 by a Pinte Indian in Nevada. He died two or three years later and nothing more was heard of such an article of faith until five years ago,when a son of this former prophet made his appearance and took up the preaching where his father had left off. His name was Kvit-Tsow. His teaching was that, the Indians having lapsed into indifference as to religious ceremonies, dances and penances, the Great Spirit had allowed them to become destitute, permitting the whites to gain ascendancy and the game to be destroyed. THE PROPHECY. wertheless, Kvit-Tsow declared the Great Spirit still loved them and proposed to restore to them everything if they would return to their old habits and customs, resume their religious dances, cast aside the ways of the whites, and especially believe in the prophet. These conditions having been fulfilled, the Great Spirit would come and lift all’ true believers into the highest mountains, leaving the unbelievers behind so petrified us to be unable to move. Then he would send a mighty flood of mud and water to drown the white people and unbelievers, obliterating from the land ail traces of the work and occupancy of the whites. During the flood the Great Spirit would heal all the sick, lame and blind and the old people would be made young. “When the floods subsided, the prophet said, the country wouid be revealed in ail its original beauty, just as it was when the white people came bere first. Buffaloes in countless herds would return to their former ranges, and game of all kinds would be more abundant than ever before. On the return of the faithful from mountains to the valleys all dead Indians would come back to the tlesh. ‘The pale faces would nd the Indians would 88 yy the whole land undisturbed. Fur- thermore, Kvit-Tsow wished it understood that he himself was invulnerable, and that if the iiers or anybody else tried to kill him they would become as if they bad no bones and would fall to the ground. pirraTons. “This was the prophet who began the dis turbances which culminated a year orso ago. Many Indians believed in the doctrines be preached because they were #0 remarkably at- tractive. Others were not pleased by the dismal suggestion that, in case they did nothave faith, they would be turned to stone and wiped out wave of mud. So Kvit-Tsow secured many jowers. Naturally, he found imitators. r propliets made’ their appearance, prem- iq the coming of the Mf ih, with various incidentals in the way of miracles. Tawaconie sbraska chief, recently met the Savior on @ mountain, dressed in white garments stained with blood, and received the informa- tion that the latter would arrive next spring aud destroy all whites and unbelieving Indians with rain and balls of fire. Ihere is money in this sort of bus.acss, inasmuch as the prophets demand and receive great quantities of rich gifts from the faithful. RELIGIOUS EXCITEMENT, “Inciden the savages have been in- spired to wild religions excitement, which finds A WIZARD’S BRIDE A Strangely Assorted Couple in a Nicaraguan Town, A LAWN DANCE AT NIGHT. A Beantiful Woman and Her Hideous and Misshapen Husband—His Pecaliar Power and the Stories Told of His Influence Over Others—A Brilliant Mind and Distorted Body. Special Correspondence of The Evening Star. Masaya, Nicanaava, January 1, 1892. ,T SEEMS ODD THAT one should meet an ex- ; perience so marvelous and mystic in its every detail ae that which has come before me in this quaint old town, which started its existence centuries ago when ‘here was only a group of wigwams here from which ascended climb- ing spirals of smoke,and before the great vol- eano a fow miles away was convulsed by an eruption laying waste the adjoining country, then collapsing and remaining in silence ever since. Yet it is doubt‘ul if ever more pro- found thought bas been given to any subject in the grentintellectual centers of the world than has been revealed to me here, where the qui restfuluess of southern climate and influences do not seem to urge on activity. The results that have been atiained have bad their o} from the inspiration of an ol narrative of whic ing of successful methods for wi the affection of a beautifui girl, of a det son of humanity who, lie long fled and whore outward ance did not ommend him to his fellows, h turne science for power to overcome the effect of hin moustrosity, and by nations as strange as those of the wizard, yet based on reason, had attained his desire. Thad istely arrived in Masaya and was en- Joying walks about the quaint village, watching the weaving of hamiocks, shawis, suldle bags, ndians oF streets of tropical trees, where evorything seemed to combine in effect to proclaim that here nature holds charms for mere existence in the enjoyment of her gifts. Leaving the more modern portion of the town I wandered toward the outskirts, where the flouses contained less and less of civilization, and though the wigwam had given place to a shelter of cane, yet the bare clay floor and the fire on the ground for cooking gave evidence than the life within had changed but little from thatof the olden days. ‘The suu having gone down and the short twilight passed into night, I found attruction in the coolness of evening and the scene of habitations dotted here and there with flickering lights, all indis- tinetly revealed in faint outline by a crescent moon making its way toward the zenith. A DANCE AT NIGHT. A tinkling sound, blended with the strains of stringed instruments, reached me from a dis- tance, making # monotonous tune consisting of the repetition of a few chords more plaintive than gay, yet I kuew they led a dance, and in order to watch the merrymaking I followed the direction of the sound. Upon approaching it I found back of the street a space hung with lanterns, whose faint, uncertain light showed a party of a score of dancers under the trees that in the daytime lent shade to the place, but now only impeded the free movement ‘of those whose steps were guided by the strains of tho orchestra of three or four stringed instraments, the players keeping perfect time in the rendi- tion of the mourntul tune. ‘There was no loud, glad laughing that is 60 often the accompant. meut of a lawn dance, for though Wearing smil- ing faces the maidens aud their admiring part- ners glided silently through the maze of the movement, which resembled what is known in America as a “square dance,” and the swarthy faces and long. straight, coal-black locks of most of them, the influence of their Indian ancestry med to add to the weirdness of that evening revel. The attire of the maidens was fault in snow white purity, all wearing frocks of linen, sleeveless and cut low at the neck, the corsage being a fluify mass of frilly and furbe- jows. Their glossy hair wus fairly pasted to their heads by a liberal use of oil, which they regard as indispeusable to their toflet. Their shoes? Many were such as nature had give them, and the clumsiness shown by the} who wore foot covering made it seem a pit that bootmaker had invaded the neighbor- hood, for this gathering 1 had wandered in sight’ of was composed chietty of girls who picked coffce during the season in the n orhood and of men wie worked on the cien- das near the town. The latter were neatly enough dressed, generally bare-fvoted uiso, and took what’ pleasure’ the: dance stolidiy. Unobserved { had watebed tio for some minutes, rather charmed by the quaint music and oddness of scene, when [heard murwar of admiration, Bellisima, La Belhsima’’ (the most beau tiful one), und saw step into the assemblage # most lovely girl whe truly deserved the ad- miring comments that went around. A pair of large coni-bluck eyes and hair of the same hue were strangely set off by « fair complexion, a combination of beauty seldom here oF elsewhere. She was tall, of superb form, and every movemeut appeared in usison with her mood, a8 retlected on the countenance that seemed the tmirror of « happy, contented mind, these qualities Leing rather the resuit of & high intelligence, guided Ly wisdom to appro- ciate what is at Land rather than to fall. into misery from a coustant yearning for what could not be attained. Every one seemed under the spell of her presence aiid ail tu to gain a smile of recognition, and | fou: y eyes fol- lowing her as she passed among tay self apparently as greatly charimed as were the others. 1 was ruminating « thousand thoughts— the strangely cultured’ manner, the evident beauty of character that was portrayed in hor modest bearing, the intelligence and edacation that could not be lacking in a being possessed of such a face—when Icaugist sight of the com- pauion at ner wide. Until now I bed not no- ticed- that “La Bellisizua,” us she was ea: gave the greatest part of her attention to thi person, and I shuddered inveiuntarily as my eyes became riveced on him, attracted by thi intense misery of his being, or a more dis. tortod deforniity I had never ween. He was tall, thongh ampbacied one of his logs was shorter than tie 0! causing him to bend and hebble asho moved about in the dance with his far partner. It seemed that every moment I looked at hint I detected addi- tional monstrosities, A foot bont out of shape, hands twisted, head beld askew and featurcs that were molded after @ fushion that surcly no other human being has ever possessed and his gray logks showed that his youth had long since pessed. When, finally, iny eyes met lis recognized the one redeeming feature of his being, tor they were thoughtful, caim and as had from the vent in “Messiah dances’ and ‘ghost dances" ‘Thousands of Indians in the Oklahome terri- tory, the Cherokee strip and elsewhere are at present engaged in these celebrations in antici- pation of the event of the expected divinity. Numerous members of the tribes, who have been educated in Christian scioola, have be- cowe inteeted with the craze and have joined in the savage rites, forsaking their farms and throwing aside garments of civilization. It affords an excellent illustration of the im- ibility of taming wild people in one gener- Many wagon loads of presents for the ssiah are awuiting his coming. “In the ‘Messiah dance’ the Indians, after forming a circle of dancers, admit the dream- ers or mystery men, who continue to dance until they drop from ‘sheer exhaustion. Then they are carried to a tent, where they are sup- posed to commune with spirits and receive revelations from them respecting the Messiah. ‘The ‘ghost dance’ resembles the ‘Messiah dance,” but in it the object is for the mystery men to commune with the spirits of deceased friends or relatives, and to obtain by auch means advice on questions concerning which important information is desired. This dance Were caught with tle Lands im the grounds of the Agricultural Department. THE SPARROWS. ‘Turning now to the underbrush and hedges, we have the sparrows, and handsome fellows some of them are, particularly the white throated. These may be easily seen and recog- nized, as they coustitute a goodly proportion Of the fucks of birds seen along the roadsides. Af one looks sharp. he muy see the white spot on the throat, and, if close enough, the little Yellow stripe over cach eye. In company with ‘them will almost invariably be found large numbers of juncos; these are the little gray or slate-colored birds, with white beilies and dark Kray, almost black, breasts, white bill and outer tal feathers. They are goneraliy kuown as suow birds, clibough junco is the pro} meme; the true suow bird, or ccurs at ht, and the partici; ‘ts blacken their face and bodice with soot and charcoal.” corners, and in due time they multiplied and *pread into the depot, post office and stores. In the latter place they sit and explain state the ‘go lett at home to care for shamentven best can. There is nothing more noticeable than the loafer: contented us those of his ’ lovely com- panion. For some timo I stood won- dering who they could be; she perhaps the daughter of a rich planter and putroness of the sports of the poor of the neighborhood; he, more than likely, a faithful domestic, a creature 80 hideous thut the beauty might well be trusted in his ‘care. i mused, “a safe chaperon for ‘La Bellisim My interest increased and I doubted whether I had exactly unraveled the mystery to my satis- faction, as I noticed the evident respect with which this monstrosity was held by all about him, for he seemed to repulse no one and they showed the same eagerness to securo his recog- nition a6 his companion called forth. Lsaw exceptions in the caves of several of the beaus fathering, young fellows who looked on—and very handsome Zellows they were, evi- dently of the leisure class, who did not freely mix among the dancers, but slowed plainly feelings of envy as they, too, under the spell of ‘the musie and the moving scene in the uncer- tain light of the lanterns, watched the throng, their eyes oceasionally resting on the coup! that hadso greatly: forth my own interest. THE STRANGE CouPLT. ‘The music had stopped, the movement ceased and the dancers were about to leave for their homes, I loft the scone of the lawn dance re- luctantly, for I felt eager to satisfy my curiosity andto know who this “Bellisima” might be. She had danced with several of those I noticed as baving cast envious eyes toward her. but could not altogether suppress her evident in- difference to their company nor the pleasure riven by a return to monster chaperon. yw could I explain this? The impression she ve me could not be from feigned actions, for rewas manifest on her part an effort to entertain these partners, whom her chaperon also seemed to encourage to dance with her. “Who are they?” me “La “Youdo rot wife?” ° ‘1s it possible that she is the wife of that Mifideous?" he refeaiod. in question “Hideous?” he re; manuer. Then his face brightened as he smi and continued: “You must know him better. His art will cause you t@ see only perfection of human beanty when you view him” Bewildered and speaking ‘no other word I moved away toward the hotel. What could this man mean by declaring that his art would teach me to see in thone hideous lines of body and countenance the perfection of humanity? ‘The more I pondered on it the more confused grew my mind. Could it be possible that such @ monstrosity had, through some knavery, en- trapped in marriage this girl whose beauty would make her prominent among the most refined society in the world? Is it mesmerism, wpnotism? The supposition soemed unlikely ud I copld not entertain it fora moment. Ail. attempts to surmise a reasonable canso for this incongruity failed me and Ionly became more entangled in the mystery. THE WIZARD AND His THEORY. On the following morning when I opened my eyes und pushed aside the mosquito netting of the cot fora long timeI could believe only that tho memory of that scene, so vividly im- pressed on my mind, was a dream. “So you havo met the oid wizard and his beautiful princess?” It was young Haskins who spoke. A good- natured young American whose chief gapital lay in his power to take nothing rerfously. What he understood readily he accepted; what wus not easily comprehended he bad no interest in volving and he quickly disposed of such matte ‘o he had traveled through Central America, old merchandise here and thete and ade friends with every one. He was amused il things and his temper rufited by none. Well,” he continued, “i think he is a great humbug. He is an artist with a g lation of old rubbish ia In have soen but littie of it. eculintities of the gena- His talic is wild and am He declares that all things aro perfect and that nothing really exists but the bes ful. A fine theory,” he continued, lag: “for one with such a hideous careass as 1s his. | He claims th y morals is only disease, which all are susceptible to. Greater than all, the old teliow claims that he can demonstrate’ tuat the ugliest tuing is beautiful and that the perfect are 3 ly. ButIam repesting trash, though for the lile of me every the I think of the od feliow and the way he has hoodwinked that Young wife, who gives him wore admiration than ever Juliet gave Ronco, I cannot help | tauy! sides He started to} initi yateries of his studio ime ago, but Ltired of his talk before e had drawn the curtains of his show, and so managed to cut my call short. Now, let us have a fresco of an American variety and then Sigaine of pox | mind oF | Ms was in no mood for than those wluch conte: creature, and [saw my companion was already tired of the subject. Stili urged him to tell me more of the bistory of this unseemly mar- riage. other thoughts edaround this stranze ‘THE STORY OF I11# MARRIAGE. “As near xs I can learn,” he went on, “the old fellow fell in love with her who is now his! bride many years ago, when she was but a little tot and a pupil ir his school here. she ways been under his a child and the result has been h with him when she became a woman, You may well Lelieve that such a beautiful girl would have many admirers. Of a good family here, she was sought inmarriage by dozens of the young men possessed of money and good looks, but she passed them all by and for a couple of years has apparently been the happiest of brides, although married to that old brute, and he has never had the least cause for jealousy, though there are an abundance of those who would gladly give him such cause were they | able. Some day when I have nothing better to do I want to look into his den again, for they sty he has an image of himself there ‘as he really is’ and without his deformity; that you cannot dispute that it is himself, tough more perfect in mauly beauty thin an Apollo. Strangest of all, he deludes people who luok on that model so that they recognize him in it, although he is such a mass of ugliness. Then the old rascal, they say, besides’ making him. self an Apollo, manipulates models of the young men whom be has reason to fear as rivals so that they are made to appear more hideous than himself.” I rather eagerly inquired whether it would be possibie for me to mal juaintance of the man and sco the means he employed to work such wonders, “I might,” I said, pose some fraud, for he may exercise only a power of mesmerism, the influence of which is probably unknown to the people he controls. At the day of the wizard has d; what | émust do by means of some fraud.” You voice my « exactly,” said Haskius, with a yawn you should ex- im you Will make more enemies than inends and probably be chased out of town, for who would believe any assertion you make st placed ay with whi the superstitious reverence Leid? But if you are deter- hb he mined to kuow the old fellow you have only to speak to bin whea you pass lim in the street, start a conversation, and the result depends on the impression he hus of you. If he takes to you be will grow communicative, invite you to his house, pour his theories into your ear | aud pethaps add you to the list of those who aduure ‘his beauty.” Think of it—his beauty Oh, itas too good,” he exclaimed, no longer able to control his laughter. “I rather admire the sly old fox; who pulls the wool over the eyes of his admirers so cleverly.” CE K ene STORY OF A POSTAGE sTAMe. Mow Von Moltke Kewarded Kindness to a Little Boy. From Bow Bells. Some four years ago, among the letters re- ceived by the ex-Ameer of Cabul at Mussooria was ono addressed to “His Majesty, King of Afghanistan,” which ran nearly as follows: “Your majesty—I am a little German boy, and am making a collection of stamps. I wish very inuch to procurs some stamps of your majesty's kingdom, and shall be very much obliged if your mzjesty would send me some.” ‘The letter was made over to the English politi- cal officer in charge of the ameer, who good- naturedly answered the letter, inclosing a small collection of Cabul stamps. In due courso came a reply from tho little German boy: “Kind English officer—The stamps which you ly sent me hive arrived, and are valued by me in my collection. I showed them and ar letter to a distinguished German officer is now staying at my father’s house, and iso pleased with the kindness of an Eng- lish officer toa Little German boy that I asked Lim to give me his photograph 10 send to you, whieh he hax done, and I hope you will accept it,” ‘Tho letter contained a photograph, with the antograpb, “Von Molt, Field) Marshal.” ‘Tuo littic German boy was the son of » well known manufacturer who had been most lib- eral in providing benevolent institatio: workmen in Germany and who was the field marshal's host daring the manquvers in the neighborloud of his property. —_—_—_<or—___ CHIPS OF MOSS AGATE, The Ground Covered With Them in a Pet- rifled Forest in Arizona, From St, Nicholas. From the Atlantic and Pacific railroad it is not hard to reach one of the greatest of natural enriosities—the petrified forest of Arizona. Much the nearest point is the little station of Billings, but there are the scanticst accommo- dations for the traveler. Only a mile south of the track at that point one may see a low, dark ridge, marked by a single cottonwood tree. Walking thither (over a valley so alive with jack rabbits that there is some excuse for the cowboy declaration “that you can walk clear across on their backs!) one soon reackes the northern edge of the forest, which covers bun- dreds of square miles. Unless you are more hardened to wonderful sights than Iam you will almost fancy yours in some enchanted spot. You seem to stand on the glass of a gig ic kaleiduscope, over whose sparkling suria the sun bre: in infinite rainbows. You are ankle deep in such chips as I'l warrant you never saw from any other wood pile. What do you think of chips from trees that are red moss agate and amethyst and smoky topaz and agato of every hue? Such are the marvelous splinters that ‘cover the ground for miles here, around the huge prostrate tranks— some of them five feet through—from which fime's paticnt ax has hewn them. T broke a spocimen from art of a tree three yeara ago which had around the stone pith a remark- ablo array of large and exquisite crystals; for ‘on one side of the specimen—which is not #0 largo as my hand~is a beautiful mass of erys- tals of royal purple amethyst and on tho otier an ly beautiful array of smoky topaz ‘One can at a viele fake oo" showit D.C. SATURDAY. JANUARY 23, 1892—SIXTEEN PAGES. UNCLE SAWS DEBTS. Some of the Creditors Who Bother Him With Claims CRANKS OF MANY KINDS. ‘They Present Demands of All Sorte—Bad Debts Owed by the Government—Carious War Claims—Reappearance of Those That Have Been Formerly Disallowed. HERE NEVER WAS anybody so pestered by dunsas Uncle Sam. "People who say that he owes them money are .) always swarming about the Capitol when Con- ‘grew is in session, while thousands of such claimants all over the country arecontinually clamoring by letter for Payment. Somoof them erecranksand not afew are frauds, but many are honest creditors, hopefvl or despairing of a settlement. Numer- ousare the bad debts recorded against the 1 which has often been accased of never paying anything when it can help doing | 89. ‘True stories of lives ruined, fortunes wrecked and homes destroyed in the prosecution of just claims against this government would fill a library of volumes. Unpaid victims haunt the ivo lobbies from Congresa to Cougress, the delinquent debtor with never- Lope, while scores of others are relogated to the poor houses and the lunatic « Some such debts due from the nat. handed down by the creditors fro; t 1 are generation ‘ios usually productive ouly alt than to get the most am through Congress. 1ended by commit- ly against its ever the House. Suppos- racle m| any i that it passes the Hou terpose to xeenre its approval by the ¢ and the President's signature. Ii 01 be lacking, the claimaat must begir ginning again in the next Congress, never taken a step bet ‘The labor Sisyphus, whose stone al of # rolled down to the foot of the hill before he coukl get it quite to the top, was nothing to this. COURSE OF SOME CLAIM AGENTS. Much of the labor incidental to tho settle- men: of claims under existing lawe is caused by claim agents. Many of them aro not very rep- ble persons. They send circulars broxdeast to the unintormed suggesting that the iatter are entitied to money: by way of foe for looking into the mat mind $2 or 53 in advance, with the that nothing furtier will be demanded unless the claim is allowed. Having got the fee, their interest ceases in the claim, which is in due course disallowed. M le they send out more circulars soliciting victims. Conse- quently inore than 60 per cent of all claims are found devoid of merit. Suits are to this day being brought for slaves killed and stolen “by the Creek Indians during hostilities with that nation in 1836 in Alabatna, the value of the buman_chatiels being cotimated at $1,000 each. There are numerous claims outstanding aguinst the gov- ernment for dogs taken by Indians, their worth being reckoned at from $5 to #50. A woman in Nebraska has recently applied for repayment for property destroyed by Indi who, on August 7, ISid, burned her house and carried her ino captivity tor cighieeu month: Not very dissimilar is the case of a k Davenport, Iowa, who was eaptured in 1469 in southern Kansas by Cheyenne Dog Soidiers and kept by them for two months. At the end of this time she was bought by an_ Indian trader for $1.6.0 and returned to civilization. Now she is suing for $50,000, which was stolen on that occasion fom her tatber, who had brought e money trom England 1m the shape of gold es of the Bank of England. Claims for deprecations against Uncle Sam aggre 4,000,000, ranging in amount all the y from £19.75 to ¥1,261,250. on. L. W. Colby, ‘assistant attorney gen- eral, in charge of Indian depredation claims, it was who p:cked up the little Indian baby on the battledeld of Wounded Knee. fight occurred ou December 29, 1800, fifteen days after Sitting Bull was slain. 'Two ‘hundred of the redskins were killed, and the condlict was so severe that both’ sides retired from the ground on which it was contested, the savages Hoteven returning for their wouniled. Wit- hesses were not wanting who declared that the ir Was A seer massacre by the soldiers, who shot down the Indians merely because the latter refused to give up their weapons. At all events, four days afterward Gen. Colby, who communded the Nebraska state troops, went over the field of battle and found a living in- fant strapped to the back of a xquaw. Tho child was eomewhat frozen, but it actually re- covered, and is now a remarkably pretty little girl of eighteen months. She has been given au Indhan name signifying “Lost Bird,” and is tobe brought up in every respect as a white young lady would be, having been regulurly adopted by the general COL. CHIVINGTON’S CLATM. Col. John M. Chivington wants the govern- ment to pay him a big sum for damage done to his property by Indians. A bit of ancient his tory isto bo sct up against his claim. For- merly he wasa Methodist preacher in Nebraska. After ard he went to Colorado and raised a ent, which he commanded. In June, . the governor of Colorado, by prociama- tiou, invited all the friendly Indians of Coio- rado, Dakota, Nebraska and Wyoming to come i e neighborhood of the foris, saying that it was desived to protect and take care of them during hostilities which were in progress. ‘Twelve hundred of these friendly Indiaus, re- | Amount was lent to Spai paid claims would come in from the real and previous widows across the ocean. A CLAD FOR 4 WAGoX. One of the oddest claims was brought not tong ago by the sole survivor of a massacre on the plains. Thirty years ago a family of emi- grants was traveling through Idaho on its way to Oregon, when it was set upon by Indians. ‘The father and mother, four sons and threo daughters were killed. but the youngest mem- ber of the expedition. a male infant, was car- ried into captivity. Having grown to man- = ho demand oe qoery a of tho wagon in which the eusigrant party was traveling when attacked by the savages, the vehicle having been subsequently found by a quartermaster in the army, who had applied it to hisown uses. So the amount, $150, was paid by the treasury and charged against the quartermaster. ; To illustrate the difficulties which common! attend gotting the most just claim thro Congress the case may be mentioned of Col. B—-, who raised a regiment for the Union army in Pennsylvania, He was made colonel of itand was ordered to Washington. While r iduaped and ebut up for a long time inthe old Capitol prison. The whole sffair is a mystery which will probably never be solved. Atali events, tho unforrmuate man having disappeared, another officer was ap- pointed to his command and led the regiment to the field. Investigation made years later showed that Col. &—— expended $60,000 in raising and equipping these troops. ts peti- tion for reimburscment bas never been granted and he is now a pauper. There ix an oid lady in Wost Washington named Kearney. ier hnsband was a Union soldier. During the rebellion the federal troops oncamped about her place and took all her live stock and other movable prop: vained at $20,000. Sho has been asking Con sfor repayment ever since, but she will Tgetit, though no dispute is made of ber at to the money, alker did good service asa sur- Seon ta the army during the late war. She was Paid Lor the first twelve months, but at the ead vf that time the War Department discovered ad no right to employ x womat in such cily. Nevertheless, sue kept ou without pay sor three years io and for this sh xed the government to grant her ably reported in mi y sresses, but has never been reached on the ‘alendar. « Cc ‘THE CELEBRATED MEADE CLAM. The celebrated Meade claim is one of the most remarkable knows. More money has beon speat by the government in printing documents relating to the cxse than the entire sum demanded, which is $400,000. This by Mr. Micade, father of the hero of Gettysburg, to help bay Florida. When the United States purehased Vicrida from Spain this country agreed ay part of the bar- gain to asenme ail debts outstanding on lorida’s account. Of such debts that owed to Mr. sieade was the principal one. it has never be.u paid wud never will be paid, because, as one ongressman frankly said, it was too much casi .o Lana over inalump. "No question las made as io the Justice 0: the cla Spain is widiay to Eiquidade it af Cong: declare formaily thu: the United Stavws refuses but Congress cannot deny the indebted- appropriate the im 2 detrwided of their dues. alier every change of adininis- tration claiws which wee disallowed by the outgoing power come pouring in by thousands to be ouce mur in rejected. Applicants evidently nag t what one purty will not grant may perhaps be obtained from the other. Their persistence in many cases iy astonishing. One citizen of Indiana, Who hus nox the shadow of # right to back him up, has written more than 1,000 letters to the ‘Treasury respecting his demand and bas ex- pended more money in postage thua the gov- ernment is alleged to owe Lim. He has ad- dressed his communications on the subject to every pubic otticial im Washington from the President down, aud even to the Cuinese and other foreign ministers. Letters received by the Treasury in relation laims are frequently abusive. Oue appli- cant, being dened a rehearing, informs the second auditor tuat he can “go to h—I with his ted tape,” and thut he will get a private bill through Congress. He closes by assuring him that “the rascals will soon be out, aud he ean at bit of information in his pipe and letter srou: a scldier's daughter begius: “There is a legend in our family that a claim was fied in your ottice by one of my an- cestors.” Communications to the second audi- tor come adcressed sometimes to the “second oratorio,” whiie one was received the other day which bore the superscription, “Sekun odor of the treaser.” ‘Iwo million claims have been eutered at this olfice alone since the war. seers AN INDIA RUEBER NAvy. ‘Y, 80 The Ex. uditor of Indiana Thinks Iron Must Give Way to Rubber. From the New York Times, As the man was going out of the big hotel he Whispered tome in sepulchral tones: “Col. Rico is not right in his upper story—he is clean daft.” In a few minutes I saw the full-moon, jocund face of Col. Jas. H. Rice, ex-auditor of Indiana, coming from the elevator. He looked perfectly sane, and [asked him who his friend was that had just departed. “Tiat man,” said the col- oncl, “isa promoter and has not given mea moment's rest since I arrived in the city. I've just let him in on the ground floor of an ides of mine and ave shown him illustrations of it. I offered to have him elected vice president of accompany that is not formed. If my idea is put into execution it will revolutionize naval Warlure and an ironclad will be as harmless as 4 barge carrying a load of Sunday school ex- cursionists.” ‘The cclonel invited me to his room, where I saw a number of illustrations in the rough of queer-looking ships. I asked him to explain them. His eyes beamed with pleasure as he proceeded to clucidate his ideas. ‘The cuts,” he said, “represent war vessels armored with tougit india rubber. Each vessel is protected with rubber seven feet in thickness and with enough give or elasticity to it to send the larg- evt ball ever fired aguinst it bounding back into the water. I admit that the common rub- ber is not of sufficient toughness to resist the impact of the ordinary cannon ball, but mind sponding to the invitation, encaumped at Sand Creek, Col., and gave up thei: aris. On No- vember 27, 164, Col. Chivington led his regiment to their camp, over which fluttered the Unit States flag and also a white flag. He fell upon the defenseless savages und massa- cred uearly all of them, killing the women aud children, scalping the dead, eating off their noses and ears, murdering the squaws and Lraining the infants torn from their mothers’ arms. Now he complains of Indian depreda- tions to the amount of 32,000, and this record is to be brought up against him. He was not punished in any way for the outrage, because Colorado was then only ® territory, and he was not an oficer of the regular army. There are pienty of ante. One man wants $250 for cutting the corns of sol- diers during tue rebellion. Another person desires $25 in payment for @ pair of trousers which were eaten off a clothes line in 1876 by a government goat. In Brooklyn there is a eiti- zen who petitions for #500 in settlement for a calt killed by a cattle inspector, who put atin tng through the animal's nostrils and so caused blood,poisoning. Auother applicant wants $75 for the stealing and taking uway of ono sky- blue horse. SOME CURIOUS WAR CLAIaS. Now and then persons file claims against the United States for servico in the confederate army. An old gentleman named Taylor, from Chicage, has asked soveral Congresses for $10,000 in payment for his having suggested to President Lincoln tho idea of issuing green- backs. Col. de Arnaud bas made repeated de- mands for $50,000, which he considers to to due him for showing Gen. Graut how to cap- ture the town of Paducah, Ky. ‘Two years ago the famous Private Dalzeli issued what he called a “Christmas present to the soldiers.” It was in the shape of @ circular announcing thut $140}000,000 was in the treasury at Washe ington waiting to bo distributed among the veterans. All that was necessary was that the should write and ask for their share of thie sum, which bad been discovered to be owing for extra travel pay, allowance for rations, && On thisaccount more than 10,000 letters were qe tho rubber | intend to use is not common. Every man who makes an innovation end rele. gates established methods to the past is in the beginning considered a crank. Mut I do not mind any littio epithet of that kind.” “What is the tall spire in the vessels?” “That,” said the scientific colonel, “is the lookout. Iti» atower that can be tek in a second tothe surface of the vessel's deck and erected in the same space of ime. It is 800 feet high. There is only one smokestack and it can be taken down in a minute. Can. nons? Ab! that isa secret, but I shall tell you Uecause you are nota promoter. In the rear of the vessel there is a turret tower with four destructive guns. You don't sce it, eh? Well, neither do I, but if the enemy aj red by manipulating machinery there would rise frock the hull of the vessel @ turret, protected by india rubber and ready to sink a fleet of iron- clads. Everything on the deck of my india rubber vessel can be dropped below in a few moments.” “Have you ever studied that branch of mathematics which treats of trajectory?” The colonel had, and added: “My boy, a ball dropped on the deck of oncof my aes would bound s mile high. There is sheninioty ne powder or force strong enongh to drive into the rubber. “Ono moro question, colonel. How Lave you bad this peculiar elastic idea?” “It’came to me as an inspiration five ago. Iwasin Chicago and a weazened-i mar. with a voice that sounded like the noise made by tearing calico made life miserable to me. He hadaschemo and for a week he be- came my shadow, trying to get me to go into it. I worked out the india rabber. vessel and for threo hours I earnestly explained to him the fortune in_ it if he would accept the vice presidency. From that time he has never said ‘scheme’ to me again. I havo shown it to dozens of promoters and have talked so much about it that I really think some kind of rubber can be made to resist and throw back cannon balls.” “Have you mentioned your ides to Gen. Tracy. Secretary of the Navy?" “Tam a democrat,” said the colonel proudly. ‘You wait until s democratic President is received by the second auditor alone, thus giv- | elected. ing riso to an immenseamount of trouble. Mr. Dalzell Las now reduced his estimate of the claim to $1,000,000, Frequently Union soldiers who were never fe iy mustered outcome to Ws TITLES OF DIPLOMATS. Foreigners in Washington With Handles to Their Names. HONORS TOO FREELY GIVEN. A Popular Tendency to Distinguish « Repre- sentative of Another Country Beyond His Deserts—Members of High Degree in the Legations—No Ambassadors Here. N DEMOCRATIC America no titles of nobility are permitted among American citi- zens, but in Washington there are more foreign titles than thereare in any other Americancityg This is due to the pres- ence here of the diplo- matic corps, and among foreign diptomats titles are numerous enough. © Nevertheless they are not nearly so numerous as some people like to make them out, A In conversation with a writer for Tar Star member of one of the foreign legations about this the other day and pointed -al notices of himself in newspapers pub- ed ouiside of Washington wherein he was Jed to variously as a marquis, count and baron, whereas in reality he has no title of m bility at all. He said it struck him as very strange that in a republic like ours heshould be so often put down in the public press as having a title which he had no right or desire to lay claim to. AW A POSSIDLE EXPLANATION. The explanation is found perhaps in the strange desire to heap honors, or #o-cailed honors, upon the head of every foreign resi- dent. In some countries adipiomatie position iu itself confers a title upon an individual and in nearly ail monarchies it is pretty eure to lead to titles, for with the possible exception of the military and naval service there are no duties which a sovereign is $0 ready to recognize as the successful performance of diplomatic duties. Ifa foreign minister negotiates a suo- cessful treaty with this country he is pretty sure to have some new handle or some letters Signifying new honors added to his name. NO TITLED REPRESENTATIVES OF FRANCE. Tn taking up the titles of the diplomats who Feside in Washington it will be well to begin with our sister republic, France. Strange to say there is not nowa single titled individual on the French legation. This is aomething that has not happened for along time, but since Count Sala went Lome the legation’ has been without any scion of nobility. The new Minister is plain Monsicur Patenotre. Of course France coniors no titles of nobility now. but the old tities masio in times tained by courtess 3 meaning and coufer no privileges. A Frenca count i the eldest son of a marquis, but the marquis has nothing tangzble to leave the count when be dies except the empty title, which may be cast aside withoutany consequences. ‘These French titles are very much as though an American having been once a Senator left the title of Senator to his soa, There are hundreds of these useless titles in France, and many marquises, counts and chev- aliers are having a hard time to keep their heads above water and make an honest living. They come over to America, too, sometimes, and tt is not long since one of them was discovered waiting upon the guests of a fash- ionable restaurant in New York. He reaped the crop which sometimes falls to the share of the clever foreign titled husbandman and married a rich American girl. But be had exceptional lack, and most of his compatriots find that they must sink or swim, according to their own abilities, withoutany help from their titles. OERMANY'S REPRESENTATIVE. In Germany, of course, title means more than it does in France, for Germany has an emperor and all the grades of nobility are his especial care. Dr. von Hollenben is tho new German minister. He has no designation of nobility except the von, which, like the French de, 1 supposed to signify gentle. birth. His predecessor, Von Arco Valley, was a full-tledged count, a high title with the’ Germans; before him was a commoner, Von Alvensleben, and before that Baron Eisendecker. NO PRINCE IN THE DIPLOMATIO CORPS, There is no princein any legation at present, Which is unusual, for of all foreign titles this is the commonest in some countries. In other countries itis the highest. If Great Britain, for instance, were to send a prince to this country as a diplomatic representative she would ‘have to take one of the royal family, for they are the only princes she has. If Ger- many Wanted a prince he, too, would have to come of a sovereign clan.’ Bismarck, itis true, isa prince, but not of Germany proper. On the other hand Russian princes are so com- mon as not to be worth looking for. They may be encountered by the thousands, and it has been estimated that there arc 600 of them belonging to the house of Galitzin alone. If the father of a family is @ prince all the chil- dren are princes, and all of their children, and soon. By anatural progression it would be fair to presume that in course of time a trav- eler will be able to paraphrase the remark about England and the fools and America and the colonels and say that the population of is 100,000,000, mostly princes. ENGLAND'S BARONET MINISTER. Coming to our old rival, England, there not many titles in her legation. minister was a lord, and of one of the, and most powerful families of Great Britai The present minister is not « lord, altho some newspapers in otner cities are fond calling him so. He is Sir Julian Pauncef G. C. M. G., K.C. B. He is not even a baronet, his knighthood being of receu tion and not inherited. Hie father was Pauncefote, esq., of Preston Court, Gloucester- shire. His'son Julian began life as a lawyer in 1852, was afterward attorney general of Hong Kong, and in 1873 filled the rather office of chief justice of the Lee The next year he was knighted by patent and made assistant under secretary of state for the colonies. In 1876 he was appointed assistant under secretary of state for foreign affaira. In 1880 he was mado sess grok wang M. G. = in 1882 became ‘manent fe secretary Stato for foreign affaira. In. 1885 he ‘received the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. ‘Thus it will be seea that Great Britain's min- ister is to # very great exteut a -made man, none of his honors or tities having been due inheritance. He is probably proudest of G.C.M. G. which follows Bis name. means Grand Cross St, Michael and and isaa ler isst subjects holding and confidential ofiices within ber majesty’s colonial possossions, and in reward to the crown in relation to the foreign affairs of theempire.” It is not a pepe ie gee In No. 328 on the baronct list; are 327 knights who have @ walk into or out of @ room ahead of him, but this is really not s bad rank when it is I i] iuiies | £ thereare over 1,200 kni back a green 's “4 the Bri legat present bers generally contenting themselves pretix “the hon: "@ designation which extends to the ladies as well as the men, accord- as their relauonship to man allows it ‘Suppose there was «/marqa ia the Delish - ie iy i i i i H fi iH iE i f i I [ | i iF fy & li e i there are few countries better able to send titles abroad then Russia, for there are no leas than 650,000 hereditary ucbles there and 200,09 whose nobility dies with them. Bat s title im Russia confers no privileges, unless the mam who has it is in army, navy or ivil service. A COUNT PROM mEareM. Belgium sends us Count Gaston d’Arschot, as counsellor of legation, and Baron Raoul de Vriere, as second secretary. Th inieter, Mr, Alfred Le Ghait, has no title. Barons and counts in Belgium must be inepected. They may be of recent and rather trivial creation, of they may be of great antiquity and carrying great prestige. : Sweden and Norway also follow the ex- ample of Belgium and has the title in the lega- tion oe secretary, while the minister te withe any. Baron H. J. Beck-Frice is secretar; Mr. J. A.W. Grip, the minister F XO ORANDEE YROM «PAIN. The head of the Spanish legation is Senor Don Miguel Suarez Guanca’ All this implies high rank and gentle lineage, and is about aa high as Spain ever sonds ws, for it would be un- reasonable to expect ber to send one of ber Genuine grandees abroad. They stay at home and claim to be the noblest of all Europeam nobles. MAVROYENI AND FFFENDI FROM TURKEY. Turkey sends Mavroyeni Bey as minister and Negrditch Effendi Norighian. Anybody who addresses the first namedas Mr. Bey makese Judicrous mistake and might aa well cali am America Mr. Esquire. To say Mr. Effendi would bo as bad, for both these words are both tities, They are giveu, however, in cop jeration of wervices, As for our South American sister republics they are fond of sending as their diy representatives Dr. Dous, « title th misleading, as it does not mean that ¢ seseor is a doctor of medicine, b: lawyer. XO AMBASSADORS IN Another common mistal Ror at ie unply @ NIXATON, of ignorant people © who ought to know of the Russian or English Jor im Washington. not send *. The highest diplo- voy extraordinary and ry. and according to im- ambassadors take vdeuce over ministers plenipoteatuary and they in tare over ministers resident and they in turn over charge d afiaires, There are a few countries only that eu; the ambassadorial rank. Great Britam, Hs on in view of its large colonial posscssions may be considered the country . ai; i dors res ‘They are from France, Austria, ( Russia, Italy and Turkey. It is probable ilat each one of these powers has the same number accredited to it, and there the ambassadorial rank ends. ‘There is no reason why the United States should mot receive and send them if it chose todo so. It is merely to change the title; the functions of an ambassador and minister are the same. There used to bean ide riust be the perso ereagu, but this is not now th se. He is merely the agent of a power, whether that power be a republic, as in France, ism, as in Russia and Turkey. TITLED DIPLOMATS FuoM AUSTRIA. In the legation of Austria-Hungary there are two titles, the minister being Chevalier de Tavera and the chancellor of legetion Barom Norbert von Stettin, and Denmark sends us Count Sponneck. ‘This completes the list of or @ despot foreign diplomats in Washington who hat tities of nobil ty. — a ————-+e-—_____ AN ANCIENT CITY UNEARTHED. A Washington Man Said to Have Made an Important Discovery. A Santa Fe, N. M., correspondent of the Bos- ton Globe writes: Last November « party left this city for the purpose of exploring certain Tuins which were reported to bave been found by prospectora in the southwestern part of the territory. ‘These men have returned and bring with them a most marvelous story of what they dis- covered. They have certain relics to bear out their tale and these relics show that they bave undoubtedly unearthed # city of » lost race ‘hich peopled this country long before the Present people bad existence on this conti- nent. It has been «legend among the Pasblo In- dians in this territory that there was once @ ‘great city near the line between New Mexico and Arizona, but this has been treated as myth by the white people, as there has never been seen anything which’ would indicate that there was « foundation upon which to build the story. ‘Tile legend had it that far out on the sandy and debris, which’ turned it into an arid plain. About November I a prospector came in from the Sierra Madre range aud said that he bed found ruins of houses far out from the moun- tains, which looked like none that he had ever seen. He told his story to many, and there was one who listened with more dinary interest, and this was Walter Wi @ young gentloman from Washington, D. wlio hus been out in this country in the inter: ests of the National Museum. He saw at once that be wason the eve ofa great discovery, and made ments to search for the ruins, and if ible get draws ings and models of ‘them for preservation a@ the national capital. Williams organized o party and with the tor asa guide started for the countr: Where the ruins were said to be hs § The party consisted of Williams, James Dob- son, the prospector, and three other men who were taken as assistants and workers in Camp. They left on November 15 and reached the spot where the ruins were to be found on the ist of December. They remained three weeks at the made a th scarch of the country for miles around. That they have beon well re- paid is shown by the drawings, models, relics j £ i i & & vi iy ale ne fH HI i if Y i f gee i i ty if i f ul j il