Evening Star Newspaper, May 28, 1892, Page 8

A MARKET PLACE IN TAN GIER. THE EDGE OF AFRICA. ATrip to Tetuan and Tangier Full of Strange Experiences. ‘BY SEA AND BY LAND. Wen Days of Travel and Twenty Centuries of History—A Party of Washingtonians inthe ‘Dark Continent—Among Jabbering Moors and Patient Donkeys—Decay but NoChange. Btaf Correspondence of The Evening Star. ‘Tasorer, Morocco, May of Tetuan. ‘Tetuan—ten days’ tory separating. Wp are much the same. game condi rht of the place. of arms to the Venus of Milo. THE MOOR HIMSELF travel between the two, twenty centuries of his- The nineteenth centary on the one hand, on the ether any time before the Christian era, or since, for that matter, for there is no change or Progress in this land. Today is as a thousand ears ago, and life and all that goes to make it It is the spirit of the country: the people would not have it other- Wise, and the sultan has expressed only the wish ‘that ho may leave his kingdom in precisely the a that his grandfather left it when he died. To the sightseer. with an eve for the like living an- cration to change It would be like fitting a ND SO, RIDING UPON the backs of patient and | many curious happen- ings. entered the walls From Washifigton to of one of the most interesting features of his- and the part he has played in the develop- $nent of civilization is not a mean one. As an architect and builder he stands almost un- Fivaled and it has been said, with reason, that uring the time that the Moors held Spain they @id more for that country than the 5 [ ever done. They are satisfied with life as y have received it from their forefathers and fi is for that reason, more than any other, that Sez Preserve the custome of a by-gono age and Here {upon a coust that is in full «ight of Europe itof unrest, no desire for change, that makes life in some of the great and May day nd decay i fall around I see,” wrote the hymnclogist. oon need ook ‘them the customs of the present. re is none of the spi ities a rather uncertain quanti B time to be dreaded. “Chang decay may be here. but you mi where for the change. It wo visit Morocco for the purpose « and comparin who home d neve: is said to ‘from anythi: iards criticising Even the American tourist we remarked after his return that Switzerland was all well enough in but for scenery give him Llinoix, would obably realize that in Morocco he had found country where life was something different jag with which he was acquainted do gnd which could not be measured by the sume Dtandards as apply in the new world. MOROCCO'S CITIES. With the exception of Fez. one of Capitals of Moroceo, and one or two the inland cities, Tetuan is p {Interesting city in M a ind Morocco, have had few hours’ sail from Gibr: with good hotels and lin touch of a Europes as Mr. Kipling woe The travelers wh ere on um seven of whic , Yains and the other « That is the © ted Beenery in this pari of Nort es rugged ant moantai ne. the j ST To TRIUAN. The Stans corresp. Party to Tetucn and we did not go b ‘Tangier, what sort Probably 1 Most book A MOOR IN FULL DRESS. W to do as others d Gibraltar to on T Desday as a usnal thing. that there was no question vantage of could earn, ‘the coast. The writer of that t to have known better. Eleven was the ~ ait Jackal, but when the and take the steamer gier last Wednesday. ‘There was more than a Little uncertainty as to when that Wednesday steamer would sail and ‘the best the clerk of ‘the hotel could do for us ‘Was to say that so far as he knew there was none ¥, but that one did mail on Wed- In & conversation Sith the hotel, porter, however. on, Tuesday i the t developed that jackal ‘would ail that day for Teton, and after etay- fing there for @he better part of twenty-four hours to unload her cargo would go on to Tan- gier. This was such an unusual opportunity jon about taking it, more, expecially ax, so far as we the town of Tetuan was right on book really the four other of aps the most Fez is so remote at has been with a Jackal was not much bigger than a Potomac river tug boat, or there is no telling when they ever would have got her loaded. crew of the vessel looked much like the chorus in an opera with an abundance of heavy villains thrown in. They spoke nothing but Spanish, but they spoke that toa degree and with an ense and unanimity that left nothing to be de- sired. The only reason that there was not more talking while the cargo was being taken on was becanse there were no more to talk; all that were there managed to talk all the time. But it was charming, just the same, for us to sit there and watch the life and activity in that busy harbor, with the great rock of Gibraltar rising majestically behind it all and dominating the entire scene. We were in no hurry. It is so easy to fall into the spirit of Spain, where manana (tomorrow) answers just as well as to- day. ON THE MEDITERRANEAN. ‘The Mediterranean was as smooth as a tin: lake could have been. There was no breeze an hardly a ripple broke the surface of the sheet of water that separates Europe and Africa. The sun shone clear from a sky in which there was scarce a cloud tobe scen and only the slightest haze enveloped the great mountains that hem in the southern shores of that inland ocean, Far away to the south were ragged peaks from whose summits the snow of winter had not yet disappeared, while above others hung maskes of white, billowy clouds, that were only with dificulty ‘to be distinguished from the snow jityelf. “The scene was superp as the Africa grew clearer to the view and h stronghold sank lower and tus. Here and there to be seen grimy steamers and small coasting vessels, with their curious and_pictar- ateen sails. All was novel; all was beauti- we were glad wehad come. In the day time it is easy to re! . There is no telling what the night may bring forth. ON BOARD THE JACKAL. The passenger accommodations on board the Jackal were not such as would commend the boat to the traveling public in America. Back of the smokestack and raised above the deck, from which it was reached by an iron ladder, was a «mail platform, with benches and a can- vas awning. Here we were to spend the after- noon. Beyond a few wide bunks below for the crew, there were no sleeping places on board, but there was a small cabin in the bow, into which a dozen people might have crowded. The only other passengers on board were a man and his daughter, the former being a doctor of atural sciences from Belgium. They spoke no nglish at all, and our French was not mach more extensive, but we managed to strike up quite a friendship for the time being, and as they, too, were on their to Tetuan to see what manner of place it e decided to take our chances together in the unknows world. An investigation of the boxt on which we were brought out the fact that one of the sailors could talk a little English. This wos Francisco, brother of the captain, an Italian born in Morocco and now living in Spain. He spcke Moorish like an Othello, though it took some trouble for us to grasp the statements he made in English that it was a good day, that the wind was not biowing and that the’ Jackal was second to none in her The as curries ds for all time drink their he distributi: ame nd brought out chs ina aste they proposed s e all right, and ours of hc ed tos y won. the warm heart of Fra © gift of a cigar, which informed made in N ment improved #8 the the taste hers Francisco the time c and was alre It water is * must determine. wat om of time is an unknown is section of the world, and our s’ sail” lasted so iong that it was al- wn when we cast anchor in the shal- ont a quarter of a mile from the ath of the river Martin, which flows past city where we would be. But where was Way off up the valley, some seven more from the coast, was a mass of t re the slopes of the foothills, beautiful in the evening light, but, oh, so far Closer looking shi hat this was re was nothing to wup the prairiedike alluvial val- there and there a white stone house'and th of the river an old moorish fort- Tess. No hotel, no waiting omnibus —a pleasant prospect for strangers in a strange land! It would not have been so bad but for the fact that three of our smail party were Indies, who were not accustomed to sleeping out of doors in Africa or walking an uncertain distance over unknown ground by night. LANDING IX AFRICA, ‘There was nothing to do now but to make the best of our bargain, 80 we climbed down the side into a small boat from the steamer, deelin- ing to take passage in the Moorish craft that had come out to meet the Jackal. Under other circumstances our landing in Africa would have t delightful, for, as the boat entered the narrow winding river, the sights that met our eyes were decidedly unique. Tied up to the sandy banks were a number of Spanish and ireek sailing vessels, onto which groups of their enormons loads, were marching single file off into the dim beyond. Bebind was the smooth sea, now golden im the light of the sunset, in front the mountains of Afriea, t learned that this was a little too early for us he kindly offered to hold it for a balf hour. st all it. bat it was i z Et ee i Fl u ‘to ue ens Ae ae ee YE 5 THE EVENING STAR: ‘THE CAPTAIN OF THE PORT TAKES A HAND. But Tetuan was not for us that night, for be- considerable extent. “Does anybody zare spik Inglis?” came voice frou the rout of the seule, =Four of us demonstrated the fact at once, Snd a little Inter the man with the welcome voice came down snd joined in the trouble, and this curious welcome to the new country had gone on for what seemed like an hour we were told in the worst broken English that ever brought good news that “ ing that we should have a room in the barracks for the night, and that we might go on our way at daylight. “And that was our first Morocco. after IN BARRACKS FOR THE NIGHT. The house was built around a court yard or patio that also took the place of a stable. A part of the building, a true Moorish structure with a great deal of tiling and whitewashed ‘ The natives ery did far away. None of all the talking we had nothing to say—we were not in it to any 1 capitan” was will- and night in WASHINGTON, D. C,, & night—so we slept, after a fashion, all huddled up on the benches in the little cabin forward. And that was our second night in Africa. e A STREET IN TETUAN. an excuse for a carriage that is used only be- tween the dock here in Tangier and one of the hotels. From a survey of the streets and roads any one would prefer a donkey or else walk. ‘ix hours spent in going around the town of Tetuan gave us a very good idea of the place. although one might stay there a week and still not exhaust its resources in the way of fur- nishing novel and curious experiences. Soon after we made our entrance into the city we were taken in charge by the American consular agent, Mr. Isnac Cohen, a most agreeable and attentive gentleman and almost the onlywone in the town who could speak good United States. He devoted the entire morning to looking to the pleasure of his fellow countrymen, for, though a native of Morocco, he is a naturalized citizen of New York and says that he intends some day to go back to America to live. Like a great number of other people in this part of the world, he shows an immense amount of interest TANGIER POLICE COURT ON LEFT, JAIL ON brickwork, was occupied by the captain and our | in the English-speaking friend, whose connection with | and, li the establishment it was impossible to learn, a part by an iramense old sheik, who we were ergeant of the scattered Moorish soldiers, de and goats in a most indiscriminate maaner. told was the around wi guard, while all key prospect for the Columbian exposition, them also, expresses is intention of going to Chicago r. Among those whose names are in the visitors’ book at the hotel here as Mr. Fred Brackett of Washington, one of the world’s fair foreign commissioners, and judging by what we have seen and heard he has sown We were shown to a big tiled room on the sec- | the seeds of understanding broadcast in the ond floor, opening from the roof of a one-| Moorish mind. The Moorish oe that was storied portion of the house the court. The | such asnecessful feature of the Paris exposi captain was evidenily much disturbed over the | tion bids fair to be reproduced on an even roblein of how to forty ia tw ties.” ‘Th: gians the othe oranges and unk roperly accommodate the | larger scale rooms and «till regard the proprie- | was soon settled, however, by the | Properly to dese: American portion taking one room und the Bel after a simple repast of! droll'and inter el bread we prepared to| In Egypt and Turkey I Chicago. But what a leap from Chicago back to Tetuan! be the latter would require a n of a newspaper column, 60 ting is this relic of other days. y I belive that Christians book, not a port be comfortable on a lounge andacouple of mat- | may enter the mosques, but here this is not the tresses that were spread out on the stone tloor. It was not luxurious by any means, but when the captain said, with a bow that was as grace- as one could expect of so portly have, ge made up mostly of smiles and gestui Was just exactly what we wanted. UP BETIMES, It was 3:30 in the morning and still far from light when our host rou us to understand, that breakfast would soon be ‘This meal consisted of hard bread. eggs, goats’ milk cheese and black coffee. y us and by 5 o'clock we were on the Were Waiting outside and hi ‘Not much; all Ib Jan; that ready To nt city. ber of the her dispom that looked asif it hick: my. the quaint and Around it is a great the main ex ai opttla trod. r rictions the dominant class, we The se: rty Was mounted on a small Zarb horse, which the captain of the port placed at She was «upplied with a saddle ad been made from two of hair mattress, nt red cloth and fitted with of the situation no one ean won- Fortunately she w thick veil, and her mind was more che discovered that in Morocco it is or women to keep their face utter neglect of the other end of ENTRANCE OF TETUA: It was 7 of the clock when we entered us old hw placed ‘This ew jove lids, one wall and from above looking down the valley que cannon tha tion behind them, really ought never In point of ground covered the {+ ge by any means, but the #t ) rarely more than eight feet from door to door, and the houses are p: in a way that uo building inspector ev ‘The population of the 000, assured dus out and gave It did not ‘nior femal It was cc n which the rider’s as fas she was is great sad- 3 supplied ¢ town of Tetuan. for the sxfe! = eked in would id to ty is umber 15, upon them by ume n of the people ist of course, x mere estimate, for a census in stich a place would be an utter impos- sibility from the very way in which the people are herded bresey he ase on the move — in. > i i ; i i f s Aap if [ fs i The streets ii one has to to av case,and in some parts of Morocco the Jews are not allowed to walk on the side of the street on A MUSICIAN FROM THE INTERIOR, which a mosque is built and they are ever. here forbidden to white .agarment that for their own use. One of the mast interesting places into which we were taken by our ppointed guide was a syna- gogue packed to the doors with a congregation who were chanting th rs for a citizen who was dead and whose ral was to take place at4 o'clock in the ruoon. This rather interfered with our ch:.nees for doing much shopping, as in Tetuan all the leading merchanis are Jews and their fter_ the funeral had ill we made a few purchases-e to show that it is advisable (0 know how ‘There is no “one price” Mr. Cohen wouid The dusky merchant r stores were closed until taken s enongl to chop in Morocco, As a rule h le then would name a figare froma hirds aslarge as the first: ‘The Moor would look hurt at the suggestion, but without more ado we would wrap up the article ourselves and give him the money we had fixed ‘He appeared to be satisfied after it was upon. alt over. THE OPEN MARKET PLACES im Tetuan are regular bechives in point of crowd and activity, and intensely amusing as well. Apparently the people from the sur- rounding country had brought in to sell their ittances of vegetables and fruit or a few hand- of grain, ‘Theve were spread out in wicker platters on the ground or sold from the backs of donkeys in amounts of the most homeo- pathic description, ‘Ihe grain is always sold ‘unground, as cach house is supplied with small hand mills, and the cook grind: her flour as she needs it for bread. ‘Ihe medium of exchange used in most of these transuctions is a copper coin of large size and apparently very small value. A smail urchin, who followed us around the strects, finally bargained with me for the Tangier is very much like Tetuan, only quite so much 2. ministers and consuls, who transact most of their business thro i country just outside the city walls. The United States ‘consulate proper isin the heart of the town, but the consul general, Col. Felix Mat- ews, has a place out on the slopes of Mount Wi on, Which is generally regarded as being the finest of all these suburban homes. ‘This is rather gratifying to Americans here, as is alio the fact that the American representative seems to be the most popular and respected member of the diplomatic corps. STRANGE SIGHTS AND INCIDENTS. Does any one wonder that a good hotel was a welcome sight after our first two nights in the country? ‘Then, too, upon our arrival we learned that we had been so fortunate as to reach here on the test festival of the Mo- hammedan calendar, the day that marks the close of the Ramadan, or thirty days of fasting. Later in the morning we saw one of the most interesting spectacles often seen by American eyes—the procession of the pasha or governor of the province and his team returning from the mosque on the hill above the cit y wel mounted on superb Barb horses, richly capari- soned, and attended by all sorts of officials and soldiers in all sorts of outlandish costumes. ‘The music: that was furnished by the bands from the interior of Africa would probably have got the performers into_trouble with the police if they tried it on in Washington, but in that — it was one of the least startling fea- fures. As compared with that exhibition an American circus parade is not to be mentioned in the same afternoon. But then in this coun- try one never quite knows what is going to hap- Pen next, and he soon ceases to be surprised at anything. ‘The fact that at the English hotel here the proprietor, in order to get through the day, has to speak’ Englith, French, German, Moorish, Spanish and Portuguese gives but faint idea of the cosmopolitan nature of Tan- gier. For example, the head waiter at the table Chote isa Frenchman in evening dress. His assistants are bare-legged Moors in fezes and red jackets, What a country! V.K. : — IN EUROPE. War Expenses of the Great Powers—Other Questions of Live Interest. Paportant statistice on the financial power of the principal European powers and also on their military forces have been warmly dis- cussed this week across the Atlantic. They are furnished by German and Italian and French newspapers nown for their reliability. The Berliner Wener Mililarische Blatter affirms that while other nations have their reserve only in the safes of the national banks, Germany has stored in the Fortress of Spandau 150, 000,000 marks in gold, which have been lying there unproductive for twenty years. The German statistics fix the treasury of war of the empire at 947,000,000 marks, Austria-Hungary’s at 547,000,000, Italy's at 200,000,000, viz., a total for the triple alliance of 1,694,000,000 as against 2,861,000,000 franes of France alone. England 1s reported for 563,000,000 and Belgium for 101,000,000. : The 'Perseveranza of Milan, commenting onthe old and the new cabinet, says: sphinx that has caused the dissolution of i mini tin the same way ti and other foreign ninisters of war do not stop asking for money, whether under the plea for eapons or for fortifications. Budgets of war, already 80 high all over Europe, threaten to grow bigger every day. When a nation thinks the has done everything in order to oid a possible defeat” and to assure victory, mechanic and chemic sciences come in to show her that she must begin again. No mat- ter how strong a government fe the strong- est governments will be compelled sooner or inter to give in, as the most obdurate and rich- est nations are now getting tired.” ‘This the German minister of war has asked for an extraordina f #10,000,000, the, Swiss (a neutral “country) $10,000,000." The min- inter of war of ‘Sweden asks $21,000,000 for the reorgar: of the army and 000,000 for y constructions (and e¢ r nts). The budget of ruined Portugal for the wer depart- ment for 1892 sums up to 35,700,000 marks. italy’s minister of war asks for $9,000,000 extra on the already heavy war budget, and@so on. “Hence, among « number of evils coming from such an abnormal state of things,” concludes the Italian newspaper, ‘is the spread of social- i Tealy. Turkey Spain The Emperor of Germany has received a let- ter from King Humbert announcing that he will visit Berlin with Queen Margargt now that the is at an end in Italy? As ready stated in Tue Stan, that visit will coincide with the coming to Berliz the Czar_of B on his’ way to Copen- hagen. No doub: such a tiiengular in tho present state of Europe meaning and will have arerious inslucace on the destinie: of the near future. A Russi dinlom von the subject this will be the first time that the Empe y will meet, ads een at Berlin, as gu Jasa sign of peace- I over oe vises German am increase-of her mili- tary forces, alveady important, so that the Fu in government will be obliged to resort to taxes, which would provoke discomfort all over Italy.” ‘The opinion of the French press fa that Italy ought to leave the triple alliance at once and avail herself of the facilities of the Paris exchange, where capitalists would pull her out of her present financial diti culties. The German and Italian press stand more by the line indicated by Bismarck gnd edict that the mecting at Berlin will give Haaty the opportunity to explain to Germany and Austria her situation in full, with the view of obtaining temporary relief from increasing army. “Other European discuss the outcome d the general opin- of the meeting at Berlin, pol eal or maffonal feelings are Kept triple alliance is indissoluble at present. This # ereated a great impression as the retired iron chancello: “not to compel It transfer of five of these coins for an English penny. Later he gave me seven more for o naif penny, and later when I came to inguire the value of my collection I found that if 1 put 8 few more to it I should have the equivalent of an American cent altogether. With what I bad I might “be able to buy a small bunch of 8. ‘When we came to leave Tetuan wé were city by as be i Fes & é F ae. Lge & Hi FF ag F il Hi & & i if s 3 8 s i 1 I i> i E fs tt EE FE if i ¥ i i i F F i i 3. 4 s i ? i i I i & “ I i i i i t ert Hi ig ff til ty ion, where within the linfits of facts and reazon, is that is proved by the fall of Bismarck end the subse- juent policy of Caprivi, as well as by the recent ita , owing to her present ai ly be granted the same favor. FRANCE AND THE XEW TARIFT. ‘The new “protective tariif” adopted by the French government against the advice of Jules DICKENS’ READINGS. Entertainments Given by the Crest English Novelist, HIS STYLE AND MANNER. How He Impressed His Listeners—The Suc- coss He Met With in This Country—How He Commenced to Read His Own Worke— His Farewell Appearance. Written for The Eve ning Star. HAVE SEEN Charies Dickens but twice, both times in New ~ York; yet is his image Sy upon my memory. One bleak winter morning in 1967 I met him face to face on the diagonal crossing between the Fifth Avenue Hotel and Broadway at 234, street. He was un- mistakable —a slim, wiry gentleman of: five fect eight or nine, English looking, with an American beard about the mouth and chin, having a fatigued and furrowed face, yet with some color of the cheeks, and serious, searching, thoughtful eves, I should think of blue. His dress was what might have been that of a genteel sport or actor of a generation since; a billycock hat, a double-breasted monkey jacket of dark plaid stuff, tight gray or drab pants and heavy enameled-ieather shoes, and he carried jauntily & cane or knob stick. He was walking fast, for his after-breakrast exercise, probably, it being about nine or half-past, in the morning. The second time I saw Mr. Dickens was at one of his famous readings, just before his sailing for England later in the sume year. It was held in Steinway Hall, 14th street. At 8 o'clock to the minute Mr. Dickens walked quickly out from behind a green baize screen at the side of the stage, and, without seating himself, laid his book uj @ small reading desk, lighted by row of garish gas jets a few feet above his head. In a brisk, busi ray he at once addressed his audience, and set off with “David Copperfield.” HIS APPEARANCE AND ATTIRE. Thad never seen him without his hat, and, consequently, looked at him with interest. He was at that time fifty-five years of age, lmving been born in 1812; a man of striking person, but indifferent presence. The features were regu- lar and fine, though plain, and wore a haggard, overworked expression, which told of a restless brain and too much toil. The forehead, bare it the temples, was broad and low at the top, with wrinkles on the brow. The hair, once so luxuriant, was thin and gray, and rather fop- pishly frizzled at the sides. A mustache and grizzled gontee graced his face. A dress coat, with silk or satin lapels, black | trousers with a_stripe down the leg, a low-cut velvet vest with gilt buttons, a brace of gold guards, one running from either waistcoat pocket, as if he carried two watches, with a great locket in the middle, and a frilled shirt front, with a huge diamond cluster in the raffle, made up his showy, conspicuous and somewhat cockney attire. A'prodigious bouquet was on his left breast and lemon-colored kid gloves covered his sinewy hands. He suggested or seemed to be some sort of a “swell;” yet it would have been difficult to classi fv him ‘correctly among the swell species. Strictly speaking he was not & patrician swell; nor a_plebeian swell, nor a military swell in‘ citizens’ clothes, nor ‘a pro- fessional swell, nor a theatrical swell, nor a shopkeeping swell, nor was he a snobbish swell at all, but a happy combination of all kinds of swelle. Yet, perhaps, it was not “swell” at all, but simply the original Charles Dickensstyle, the Bozesque. HIS STYLE OF READING. Dickens was a versatile reader, a clever light comedian, highly humorous, unique and satis- ‘ying. His heroes were gullant, generous gen- tlemen; his heroines agreeable ladies, though much the same. His comic personages, “awber, Traddles, Barkis, were racy on and very laugh provoking. ‘The description of the storm at Yarmouth and the wreck upon the sands, when James Steerforth met his death in the raging sea, was effectively read and tell- ly pietared. When he had finished the story stepped audience ptly and hast behind the screen again, leaving his somewhat _ sed at his sudden exhit. It was lent that he was there for business and meant to make money and did not want to waste any time about it, either. After ten minutes’ intermission he suddenly reappeared at his desk, volume in hand, and immediately resumed gis reading. vay he went again at his subject, “Bob arty,” with the boisterous glee of a at intermission, He had a most comical way of repeating over and over, in a rattling, rollicking tone, the word “necklace, ch infantile appendage, it will be readily re- 1. the unfortuna ¥. Jack Hop- ‘al patient, had surreptitiously swal- lowed, to the terror of its. parents and the cm of the street. This incident was Land convulsiug and brought tears many eyes. At the close of the ickens bowed and bolted from the ph b ot waiting toacknowledge the applause so heartily bestowed upgn him. His illustrations of character were unqhestion- ably above those of the average stock actc although the voice lacked strength and the gestures graces While in New York on this visit Dickens stayed he Wesiminster Hotel in Ir lace with his manager, Dolby, having apart- ments with a priv ite entrance from the street, soas to permit of his stepping out for an ai ing whensoever he chose without the annoy- ance of attracting attention. DICKENS’ FIRST SERIES OF READINGS. The fimt series of Charles Dickens’ famons rendings were had at Birmingham, England, during the Christmas week of 1853. Three given for the benefit of the Beien- in the Birmingham ens, during the next imilarly for cha h in London and the p very fare’ of mirth to chapter T pose in [it was was not until 1558 that he bega on his o Mr. Dickens, however, had publicly rehearsed Peterborough in. the corn ex- : ss of the scene, ickens himself went intended the arrangements, so anxious was he for the result. At one end of the hall he had caused to be erected a tall pul- pit of red baize, as much like 2 Punch and Judy thow with the ‘top taken off as anything else. This was to be the reader's rostrum. But as the iall red pulpit looked lanky and very comi- cal stuck up there alone two dummy pulpits of miiar construction were placed en be really true, av ws discreet supernumerary, that Mr. Dickens shook under him from’ that he read, for the night was Christmas eve. As the clock struck the appointed hour a kindly, jovial face, unrelieved by the heavy. mustache which the novelist afterward assumed, high forchead, and a perfectly Micawber-like expanse of ‘and front appeared above the red baize box, and a full, sonorons oice rang out, “Marley was with”—then paused for an instant as in the character of the audience. HE ftit | i t ! i i | Hil etl aH) «i ineffaceably impressed | 892—SIXTEEN PAGES. (Write n for The Fveumng Star.) SERGEANT BIELY, An Incident of Decoration Day and What Came of 11 Not long after the close of the war, and after the country had settled down to a state of |r met on the 30th day of May the Grand Church and | Army met for the purpose of decorating te graves of their fallen comrades and of paying tribute to their meme The | arradging on Pennestvanin avenn malted him, His recding stand had been > their march to Arlington, where rat were am leaves by some | sands who gave their lives fo ladles of the clty. “He dk nnoe acknowledged | ms ts vs arg this greceful tribute in the following words - lay oir country’s While waiting for the procession to move “Before allowing Dr. Marigold to tell his story | | Roticod fair-haired lot of perhaps eleven in his own peculiar way I kiss the kind, fair | Years approach the commandi hiver of @ hands, unknown, which have so beaut y | divisio: decorated my table this evening.” At the end of the reading the reader endeavored in vain to ay ml friends demanded one word | more. Returning to his desk, pale, with tears in his eyes and a broken voice, ae said: “Ladies | M0" Tl and gentlemen, I most earnestly, most | 7outhful gratefully and most aifectionately to bid you | [0% 1° Cover, # gach and all farewell” ‘Thi was his last leave- | g ha 0M fellow frequently declared to his friends | Spt, if you'll ki that Dickens nights were *the most de- |“ lightfal evenings of his life. 1 and salute him in true military style. Captain,” began the boy, “T watit to go over with the soldiers, My papa was a soldier, but he was killed at Anti ad “Trial From | Pickwick” Mr. Dickens brought to a close th brilliant ayd memorable scries of read! cand seating him~ if would byesk. The rit within me moved and I would have tak m gla vain di fixed on fillin ther would ba: never read with greater spirit an gave so faithfully his own interpret characters called into existence by his wonder- fally creative pen. His voice to the Inst re- tained its distinctive tones and marvelon transitions as each personage of the story, called | up by a word or gesture, rose vividly before the mind. The distinguished assemblage, hushed little soldier speak, but it was son captain wn't let me go; my father was @ nd I want to go over and see hix gra into breathless silence, suffered not a s¥llable to yt gone ap os part coeaee i * much and couldn't work and I Saape the ear or action of the part the eye, ldn't get enough m to buy thir gun and Fich humor and deep pathos of one of the | {jrlldn't get eno ex, but this y yught them mise ayain most charming books in the Englich language 7 found once again the fullest expression and ap- | |" “Tr, hool and preciation. ‘usual burets of tmerriment te- wh onsive to the description of poor Bob z Cratchit's Christmas dinner, so blithely ren-| dior “What dered, and the tender sympathy with the little | jedy," was the bov'e anne crippled child, Tiny Tim, had prompt and spon- | Ya. senmennt ene taneous play." The general delight at hearing | New york" of Scrooge’s sudden reformation was only P pered by the saddening remembrance that with the ending of the familiar page the fond strains of the dear old carol, as sung by the minstrel's voice, were dying away forever. And so the curtain fell. __ In the spring of 1871 I visited England, spend- ing nearly a year in London. Soon after my arrival in the great city I passed a morning among the monuments of Westminster Abbey In the poet's corner I stood for some time e gaged in examining the marble busts adorned with rainbow colors from the marigold oriel window. The bust of Thackery, upon a pedes- tal, caused me to think of Dickens, who had died at Gad's Hill only the year before, and I glanced around in vain to find his monument. Chancing to look down I saw that it was at my feet—a in flat slab of stone with the simple inscription in brass letters, “Charles Dickens,” the respective dates of his birth and decease. to shall ped the lad, for he nt and * the lad of the past, « day at Antietam, when a rebel wn his old friend and com Bill Kennedy, whose parchod lips be had moistened in his dving n and re- ceived a blessing for it. “At down the line. lhnmediat obeyed the order, amid the strains of mus on their patriotic m: mare! military precis nd perhaps a schoolmates to seo soldiers. fal a m. tas. Pencu wanted his marching with real ‘The procession headed ap the beeuti- mue to the grounds of the Executive It was the grave of Boz. Mansion, where they were reviewed by Preai- ‘And os one stands and ponders all these thi dent Grant. The general, together with a num. ai pistagmall voice Comes cheery te theese, | ber of army ox, was standing on pi GO, ot Dike ee the portico, and as the tattered battle flags met his gaze h ‘kerchief—a complete American —flag—and waved it to and fro. It slipped from his fingers and fell to the ground just ax Billy pamed. little fellow p it back as the ge keep Billy's joy knew no bounds—a han kerchief from the Pre would Inve to tell his would be. All the way up the long aven kept looking at his ng the strain from the ae little form became less erect, the little gun was carried less correctly, and’ as Cleelan upon the little face’ beside hin b i down his « ‘ka. hy waid to Billy, "m afraid "I can't go much further,” sobbed the boy; “I'm tired out, t going to give w 5 hero was i & bewutifal Davip Garauam Aer. PHILADELPHIA AND THE TROLLEY. Mayor Stuart Obeys the Public Voice and Vetoes the Latest Ordinance. Mayor Stuart of Philadelphia Thursday vetoed the trolley ordinance passed by the city council authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract with the Traction Company for the construction of the trolley roads authorized under the previous seven ordinances. The veto was sustained by the select council by a vote of more than three to one. Besides the various legal considerations involved, the mayor based his veto on the fact that the peo- ple of Philadelphia were opposed to the intro- duction of the dangerous trolley in the streets of the city. The mayor in his veto said: “I at all times to have to differ with the legislative bodies of the city government upon questions affecting the welfare of the municipality, but there is no doubt in my mind that at the pres- ent time the great majority of the people are opposed to this ordinance an’ to the erection in ¢ city of any more poles and overhead wires, and more particularly in the business and densely populated districts, and as the strocts of the city are the property of her people, they should at all times have the right to say what obstructions shall be placed apon them, and J am determined that I will never by an act of mine grant permission to use the streets in any way in opposition to what I believe to be the will of the people.” A GRAND CONFIDENCE GAME. The Philadelphia Telegraph in an editorial on the situation in that city «aid: “The friends and advocates of the cheap, nasty and perilous trolley have never to this moment, and for the obvious reason that they cannot do #0, satisfactorily answered the manifold obje tions so strongly urged against the introduction of thi most undesirable system of electric transit into the very heart of this great city. The trolley is acheap and nasty device of the electrical ‘transit experimenters. The whole science of electrical application is really but vet in its infancy, and the trolley never would have received serious consideration, much less practical recognition, at many inte but for the weariness of the people of cities and towns with the ‘of local transit in opera- tion for y ‘The trolley was rushed to the front as something that could readily be ed to all sorts of places, easily put up. operated and easily removed when found desirable or necessary. So it was thus fastened upon many communities, careless of the future. The whole thing has been a grand confidence game from the beginning. Some of the cities which were taken in by the trolley promoters speedily saw their error, but when too late to pro- tect the public. Boston, for instance, has been ir a state of egitation for months past, yet the trolley retains its gri yndieate controlling | it showing no disposition tobe fai the people, only being intent upon keeping ite bol ngthening ite #0 will Phil ap and nasty vep it, my boy, y suffer, and it was but an instant ere he had the boy seated com- fortably on his shoulders, and in this way Billy reached Arlington. ‘The soldiers hud prepared a bountiful lunch, to which Billy did ample jus- tice, for he was nearly famished. Down the avenues of the silent city a goodly number | of” peop! of the fallen heroes with while the bands played # land directed the boy to his father’s grave and an affecting scene occurred. The little fellow knelt beside the grave while be read t tion upon the tombstone. overcome with gricf, and his sobs brought tears to many who had heard the lads story through Cleeland. After his tears had spent themsel he raised his head and, while y ed completely eurj rice ed to the «pot conclusion of the prayer the bugle sounded the commencement of the ox. “T must take this home tomam: «he plucked a flower from the grave a ed it on his breast. Billy was ce and just before the many of the oitice auc 4 stroked his head, » unanimously dubbed “ reaching horwe. in the related in fall doings to hix mothe A the hamdkerch hana, st excitement, he f his day's Sergeant Billy was not mittee frora ene of th waited upon his mother, r place 4 kept at sehor tly and xn forgotten. A com- 4d Army posts al and a lly, ead Cleeland and th he owes the G. A. gray and bowed with age understand the #1 y have made life a burden to the mayor during the past te nitade of these m:nifostatio: doubtless impressed the exccutive with the that he cannot in this crisis change front. took his position with regard to the matter some month ago. This was directly in line with the popular demand.” Written for The Evening Star. ‘What Do They All Mean? Tdoubt not thro’ the ages one increasing pur- pose runs. —Loexsiey Hau. What do they all mean?—I should like to know— _ Covert tx Gexnnat Tr ham and Judacs James a Yesterday—United State tions to order of May 24 tiled. on hearing. mt — Chief Thstion Bing- 4 Bradley Cooper; exeep- Belt agt. Lewis; rule on de- hed nid, . do. ‘The splendors of planets and suns on high; ‘The marveis of this email orb below, With its towering mountains that pierce the sky, And oceans and streams with their eb and flow. Our hopes, fears, doubts, our mirth and woe; Our pleasures that ever so swiftly fly; Our lives that to deatir so surely go; ‘What do they all meant ‘The mind's vast powers, and love's warm glow; Calimbing ues agh grow, And if fairest auguries do not Ne, ‘What do they all mean? —W. L. Saormaxen ————_0+-____ SOUTHERN LYNCHINGS. f i f fs