Evening Star Newspaper, March 17, 1894, Page 12

12 THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 1894A-TWENTY PAGES. BOUND IN CHAINS Of Darkest Superstition, Which Has a Picturesque Side. COSTOMS OF NATIVES OF NEW cEALAND Wholesale Robbery Sanctioned by Law. DIGGING UP DEAD BONES EW ZEALAND HAS become so far modi- fied by European in- fluence that thegmost Interesting of the cn- cient native customs are fast dying out,” said a traveler to a writer for The Star. “Enough of them re- main, however, to furnish a very curi- ous study to the an- thropoiogist. Most important is the sys- tem of ‘tabu,’ concerning which much has Deen written. It is spread all over Poly- nesia, where it has held control for many centuries, dominating the people with the awe of a religious dread. “I can dest explain the system by describ- ing Its operation. In New Zealand formerly 2 chief was always a personage greatly revered. All his goods, the place where he stayed, and anything he handled became tabu—that is to say, sacred. When at home, he was surrounded by a charmed circle, into which only his most intimate friends were permitted to enter -7 express invita- tion. No one could eat his house or take a@ light from his fire. No woman was ai- lowed to enter his dweliag until a cere- mony had been gone thrcugh. The great man could not carry food, lest to do so should cause his death by destroying his tabu. The chief cou!d not blow fire with his mouth. The sacred breath woul) communi- cate his sametity to the flames and a brand might possibly be taken by a slave or man of another tribe, which would cause the Geath of the grex. men His food was al- ways served separatery, and once set apart it became tabu. “> one would think of eat- ing with him or of teuching any food left by him. Such leavings sre always thrown away into one of the sacret places, and woe be to the pig which broke into one of these forbidden garbage repositories. The animal was at once killed and thrown away for its impiety. This custom has become so far moditied that nowadays only the snout and feet are thrown away, those being the parts which have come into contact with the holy Sround. The carcass is eaten—a much more economica! A Skeptic as to Oysters. “Such notions seem very abyurd, but it must be realized that they constituted a Quasi-religious faith. The belief in them was absolute. Andrew Lang, in his ‘Romance of the First Radi ” tells how Why-Why, @ cave-dwelling youth uf 100,000 years ago ranear, was in- of his tribe that sie would happen if he ate ollusks were tabu, as would say. evertheless, ‘3 4 2nd iaquiriag turn of dec to test the question wheth- er or not thers was any truth in this no- fon. He cid , the re formed by the wise men Semething ho = th a. e are gifted with Why- Opt aun tters. We laugh “te. of superstition, Nanay tabus of cur afemge. To show 4+1 used to b? In there wee2 utaneew where S ate the food of a chief by accident, and. on being informed as to what they had done. they became sudJenly fl] and died in a fex hours as ‘f from poison. To such a be New Ze+'and, point will imagination go. ery Mttle of this no: ains. The New Zealand chief 1 at man, particularly in time of war, but he ts approachable by the | common feople. and his friends and follow- ers do not hesit: As things used to be, a powerful c! _ kK through the tabu of a he s ‘hief might minor one. stem afforted a convenient means of appropriating an e coveted. ‘The chief had only to is backbone, or to give ft hts own na nd it was at once taken possession of him by his people. It he wished to prevert a person from going to a certain place or by had only to make one a drop of his bicod latter at once bec: sion the great ch into a @ certain road, he or the other tabu. If ell ‘en anything, the On one «eca- a was stepping a> belona~*: to another man. He r “iter Into his foot and blood flowed fa per Immediately Is canoe tn front of Te Henken’ house and left it there. pai Useful Superstitions. “The system was sometimes a useful one. Places were made tabu for certain periods— for exazple, rivers until the fishing was ended, districts until the hunting of rats and the catching of birds were done, woods until the berries were gathered and culti- vated fields until the harvest was finished. | All the laborers employed In planting be-| came iabu, so that they could not leave the fields until their work was finished. They were not allowed to mix with so- ciety until tabu was removed from them by su »le and elaborate ceremonies. ‘The tabu sometimes served a good purpose by preserving life. Prisoners of war were often savei from death, as was Mr. Cot- ferill in the famous Wairan massacre of 1845. A bloodthirsty chi had one hand on his shoulder and with the other was raising a hatchet to brain him, when an- other man of inff er lumped forward and threw his mat over the captive. This action rendered the latter tabu, so that he could not be touc! fruitful source of tabu was death. Every utensil employed by a person defunct, ail the clothes he wore and even the house he died in were tabu. “If a prominent man Jied his house was never used again. It was shut up, and everything Im it was left ro rot. This cus- tem remains in force today in New Zealand to @ considerable extent. Some of the Ratives of the interior build a small struc- ture over the grave, in which they hang wp the clothing and other portable prop- erty of the deceased, leaving them to be destroyed by time. Sometimes when a chief dies all of his property is turned. A very ullar practice the disinterment of the mes of the dead for reburiai In a final resting place. This used to be one of the most important ceremonies among the na- ttves, but it 1s now disappeariag. Custom of Opening Graves. “Some time before the ceremony a notice fe sent around stating that on a certain day there will be a ‘hahunga’ of so-and-so’s remains. When the relatives and friends are gathered together the Lones of the de- funct are dug up and tied tn a bundle. If @ecay has not made them clean they are scraped. An elaborate performance follows, and finally one of the family takes the bones and deposits them secretly in some! Place known only t» Rim=eif, cave or the top of & tree, the object be! that they may never be fount. It mee the utmost importance that they shall not fall into the hands of enemies, who would 4esecrate and ill-use them with Jeers and curses. The skull might be utilized asa ish for food or placed on a stake to be daily reviled. The bones of the body might such aa a be employed for fish hooks or dining forks. | ‘The reason now assigned for keeping up this strange custom is fear lest the bones fol into the hands of Europeans, to be sround up for manure. ore Was a ces I knew of where a mis- ary attempted to beautify an unattrac- m ve graveyard some mimosa trees. need by hiz: Ts of the trees. The natives complained. The: said at the bees were feeding on the flesh of Bees, inasmuch as the trees derived er nutriment from the nodies interred in < cround. The clergy: ‘do aying no at- ary wes a f t best to combat the -erstitions by means tributed among they had eaten a val of it. wes the flesh thefr own the: le iT lau kmowledgel their folly, saying th. that rding and at they e to take food with him. | by planting in it) 1 Astringent. 'S ESTABLISHED FIFTY YEARS EXTRACT INVALUABLE FOR Piles, Catarrh, Rheumatism, Neuralgia, Inflamed Eyes, Sore Throat. Toothache, Sores, Wounds, Bruises, Scalds, Burns, and ALL PAIN. {SOLD ONLY IN BOTTLES WITH BUFF WRAPPERS, BY ALL DRUGGISTS. REFUSE SUBSTITUTES, PROBABLY WORTHLESS. SEND FOR OUR BOOK (Mailed Free), If WILL TELL YOU ALL ABOUT IT. It_is UNSAFE TO USE ANY PREPARATION except the GENUINE with OUR DIRECTIONS. PONDS EXTRAGT COMPANY, 76 FIFTH AVE. NEW YORK. would not interfere with the trees any more. R ry by Another Name. “Not less extraordinary in its way than the tabu is the ‘muru.’ This may be de- scribed as a sort of judicial robbery or sequestration of a man’s goods because of some muisdeed alleged or something te has said or a misfortune that has hap- pened to him. Any serious accident in a person’s famiJy is made an excuse for muru. If his child dies a violent death, or his canoe capsizes and somebody is drown- ed, a raid is made on his property. Some- times everything he possesses is taken from him, though now: ‘3 the muru is usually Mmited to his “horses or cattle. ‘The plundering party may despoil the un- fortunate family of all eatables and other movables, spearing the tame pigs and dig- ging up the root crops. This sort of pro- ceeding %s entirely lawful and regular. Ind the family so despoiled would feel in; if the muru was not carried out thoroughly. However, this peculiar system is limited end controlled to a considerable exteut by the fact that a man upon whom @ muru is inflicted is entitled to the privi- lege of returning the compliment. Thus it A robs B, the latter may with propriety take the damage out of A by a surprise party in kind. “The custom of muru was of great as- sistance to the British government a few years ago in carrying a telegraph hne througt between Auckland and Tauranga. Many efforts to establish communication by wire were rendered unavailing by the opposition of the natives. A man named McKay, who knew the Maoris well, was employed as a diplomatic agent, £500 sterl- ing being promised to him if he could get over the difficulty. He went to the Onulemri district, where the trouble was, to argue the matter with the land owners. All of them positively refused to permit the line to run through their property. During the conference one chief used an expression that Was equivalent to a curse on one of the government officials. McKay saw his chance at once and pretended to get into a great passion. He told the na- tives that they had cursed the official aforesaid, and that in payment for the curse it was his privilege to muru them. “The muru he would make was to take the land that was needed to carry the telegraph wires through. If they wished to muru in return, there was the store of a certain Englishman in the neighborhood. They might go and muru that and Mr. McKay weuld hold himself responsible for the goods taken. After consultation, the natives acknowledged themselves caught and started off to muru the store. Mr. McKay had meanwhile instructed the storekeeer not to resist. The natives setz- ed goods to the value of £184, with which they were satisfied. McKay paid the £184 and pocketed the difference between that sum and £4. The line was carried through without further serious opposition. Had it not been for this clever bit of management the telegraph between Auckland and Tau- reaga might remain uncompleted to the Present ddy.” i The New Arrival. From Harper's Bazar. Binkway (who has invited Fiddleback | out to his house to dinner)—“Come right in, old man. I guess my wife’s around | somewhere. There she is in the next room. Sadie!” Mrs. Binkway (from the next room)— “Yes, dear. I'll be out in a moment. I’m just giving baby dear a bath. B’ess ‘is "ittle hea: Binkway—“Come soon as you be surprised see you, old man. | Mrs. Binkway—“All right, dear. I'll be | there soon. (Splash.) Did I get some soap | in ‘is ‘ittle eyes? Never mind. Baby must — its bath, mustn't the dear ‘ittle pet mb? | Fiddleback—“Why, I didn’t know, old Tmaan—” can. She'll ae Binkway—"Yes. Been here Wife just worships him. You mustn't | mind her baby talk. It’s the way with all women.” Fiddleback—"“Why, of course not.” | Mrs. Binkway—“Zare. Did ze ‘ittle beau- tifuls have a nice bath? Come here and let me give him a good wub. Oh, if ze ‘ittle pwecious wasn't so vewy, vewy wet I'd give him just ze beautifulest hug. Zare. Does it know its mamma now?” Fiddleback—‘“Well, old man, I hadn’t the least Idea that—" a week. Binkway—“Oh, yes. Nice thing for a woman, old man. Keeps her busy. Fiddleback—“Yes, indeed. Wha’ its name?" Binkway—"Gyp.” In New Orleans. From the Chicago Record. . | ;Zwas in the Crescent City not long ago befell |The tear-compelling it I Dow s ‘come, my eweet collector and listen while I sing Unto Gelectation this brief, pathetic thing: No lyric in a vaunting key, but Just a requiem Of blowing twenty dollars ‘ta by'9 o'clock a.m. rai | But, when I'm speaking by the card, I call a And Who have een touched of that same mania, myself, Am well aware that, when it comes to parting with his carte is so blindly lost in sin en ee meen, Be eee See In Royal street (mbt Conti) there's @ lovely curio And there, one balmy, fateful morn, it was my cbance to step; To si was hesitation, in a moment I was lost; ‘That of hesitation does not hesitate to cost! I spied a and, my! it was a gem, And the clock in old St. Louis told the hour of 8 om ‘Taree quaint Bohemian bottles, too, of yellow and green, Out in archaic fashion that I ne'er before had seen; A lovely, hidoous platter wreathed about with pink and rose, ‘With its carious depression into which the gravy or; Two dainty silver salts, O, there was no resisting em; And I'd biowa in twenty dollars by 9 o'clock a.m. With twenty dollars one who is a prudent man, Can buy t * Noalth of useful things his wite ant children Shoes, stockings, ‘knickerbockers, gloves, nurs- ing Dettlen cape, — A gown.the gown for whieh his spouse too long has ined, perhaps! ‘Those and tea thousand other epecters harrow and condemn {The man who's blown in twenty by 9 o'clock a.m. | 0, mean advantage conscience takes (and one that j | T abhor), | Ia asking one this question: “What aid you buy it | Why doesn’t consctence ply its blessed trade be- 1 fore the act. becomes @ bald, accom- | Before one's Before one's fallen vietim to the Tempter's strata- jem | _ plished fact, | And blown in twenty dollars by 9 o'clock a.in. | Ab me! now that the decd is done, how penitent I am! | L.Ras @ roaring ion, behold a bleating lamb! that more precious wife. Who shares with our sweet babes the strange vicis- situdes of life, While be, who, in his folly, gave up his store of | weaith, Is far away, and means to keep his distance, for | bis health: —EUGENE FIELD. ————_+-e+_____ To Keep Him From Another. From the Chicago Record. Elaine—“Are you sure that you would always love me as you do now under any circumstances?" Toodles (conscientious)—“N-no, I'm laine. Well, then, I accept you. It wouldn't be necessary if you would have i loved me anyhow.” Ye packed and shipped those precious things to | HIGH SCHOOL NEWS, Probably No Individual Competitive Offi- cers’ Drill This Year. What Dr. Lane Szys the Subject—A Series of Musical Afternoons —Other Items. A question that is agitating the officers of the High School regiment at present 1s whether or not the annual individual com- petitive drill open to commissioned officers will be held this spring. Efforts to hold the competition are being carried forward strenuously by the young men who wear shoulder straps. Heretofore it has proven one of the most interesting, Popular and exciting events during the school year and has always attracted very large audiences. First Lieut. and Adjutant R. W. Test is endeavoring to have the contest come cff at an entertainment to be given on the even- ing of March 80 by High School studehts for the benefit of the High School Review, at Martyn College Hall, but the effort, in all Probability, will prove a failure. Dr. Lane, when asked regarding the matter, said: “There is not a glimmer of hope for holding the drill. In the first place it is in direct violation of military principles for a com- missioned officer to handle a rifle except for the purpose of instruction, and for that rea- son Maj. Ross, the drill instructor, disap- Proves of it. Then, too much feeling is dis- Played by the cadets at large. Last year the contest occurred in connection with the spring entertainment of the Eastern High School, and occupied two evenings. A great deal of disorder was occasioned by the mem- bers of the regiment, who made up the greater part of the audience, hissing and shouting as the officers of their respective companies were adjudged to be in error and left the stage. For that reason Maj. Ross left the building before the conclusion of the competition, and although Capt. Wilson of-| the War Department Guards, the other judge, remained to the end, he stated that he would never serve in a like capacity again. For these reasons Superintendent Powell strongly disapproves of the tndividu- al competitive drili for commissioned officers, and I am sure that there wil’ be none this year.” The entertainment referred ta above will be a presentation of the drama “Rio Grande,” with the following cast: Jose Segura, Mr. R. W. Test; Col. Lawton, Mr. L. H. Reicheiderfer; Capt. Wybert, Mr. Julian H. Hampton; Lieut. Cadwallader, Mr. Thomas H. Means; Judge Biggs, Mr. William H. Hutchinson; Corp, Casey, Mr. H. B. Royce; Johnnie bangs, Mr. O. P. M. Brown; Retta Segura, Miss Grace Ross; Grace Lawton, Miss Alice Irwin; Mamie Bangs, Miss Blaache Shafer, and Mrs. Biggs, Gertrude Holden. A very successful rehearsal of the play was held last week at the residence of Miss Shafer. Mrs. Walton, the instructress of physical culture and elggution, is coach- ing the young actors and actresses, and the entertainment on the 30th instant promises to prove a brilliant success. Musical Afternoon Principal Lane of the Central High School has arranged a series of musical afternoons for the benefit of those pupils who care to attend. The idea fs both original and novel and will undoubtedly meet with success. The intention is to have a Chopin day, a Schubert day, a Wagner day, a Liszt day and as many others of a similar class as practicable. Artistic performers will be se- cured to interpret selections from the works of the composers named, and on the printed program is to be given the history of the composer and any facts relating to the se- lections that may be worthy of note. It is expected that the first entertainment of the series will be heli on March 21, with Prof. J. P. Lawrence as the performer. The Senior Club and the Philalethea of the Central High School, in conjunction with a social organization of the Eastern High School, have arranged to give a grand ball at the National Rifles’ Armory on Kaster Monday evening. It is expected to far out- shine anything of a similar nature In the history of the schools. Principal C. A. Davis of the Business High School !s authority for the statement that owing to the overcrowded condition of bis school unless a new building is provided next year a large number of pupils will have to be exeluded from the benefits of the business instruction. Mr. Ralph R. Upton, a graduate of the High School and of Yaie, has recently been appointed instructor of bookkeeping at the Business High School. The Annual Company Drill. It is expected that the program for the annual company competitive drill will be is- sued at an early date, and work begun in preparaticn therefor. Another rumor is to the effect that the annual exhibition Grill and parade of the regiment wili this year precede the competitive drill, for the reason that in years past the majority of the cadets have lost interest in the urgani- zation immediately after the championship of the regiment has been not up to the standard that it otherwise would have been. The first year classes at the Business High School have lately begun the study of busi- ness practice. Mrs. Hoeglesberger, instructor of German at the Central, has been confined to her home by illness for a week past. During the popuar teacher’s absence Herr Reiner is conducting her classes. The commissioned officers of the resiment have had their uniform coats so aitered that the sword waist belt may hereafter be worn beneath the coat instead of on the outside. This change conforms with the regulation United States army and National Guard garments. The Pedestrian Club of the Business High School recently walked to the Zoo and spent several hours pleasantly and profita- bly in the study of natural history. Setting-up exercises are being ‘practiced | each drill day by every company of the reg- | |iment. This is a new departure, ‘as in pre- vious years work in that direction was con-; tinued but a few weeks after the organiza- tion of the cadets, and not agala attempted | until the opening of the succeeding schvol contest, and therefore the final appearance | | year. |“ Each section of the Business High School was photographed on Thursday last. | A large number of High School’ Cadets | accepted an invitation to attend the Old Guard fair on Thursday evening last. | Proposed New Battalion. 1 There is a plan on foot at present by | which it is proposed to bring togeth large number of present and ex-ETigh Sc! Cadets into a battalion of five companies The project has not been very extensively published at the four High Schosls or | | among the immense throng of cadets who have graduated in bygone years, but by | the end of next week it is expected that | printed circulars, giving in prief the plans | and probabilities of such an orgsnization, | will be issued to about four hundred of the cade! who have on numerous occasions | proved themselves to be good soldiers. It thought that out of the four hundred ca- dets to whom the invitations will be ex-/| tended a sufficient number will ¢« > -operaie | to form five double-ranked compantes of ach. The promoters of this new 1 project. are ont. a 1 | | | six fours | last year’s 3 pr as pose to effect has been under consideration at least a dozen times in the past few yeurs, but all attempts at permanent organization have proved futile. A meeting of several interested graduates was held paturday evening at the residence of Lieut. Shealey, 608 B street northeast. It was decided that five companies should be organized and zp- ortioned as follows: Two from the Central igh School and one each from the other schools. The following gentlemen, former- ly officers of the cadet corps, were selected to represent a joint committee to control the preliminary arrangements: Central, Messrs. McRoberts, A. J. Clarke and King; Eastern, Messrs. Shilling, Sheaiey and Street; Business, Messrs. Dunn, Kellogg and Fugitt, and from the Western, Clarles Clarke. It was further decided that after an organization was effected a board of contro! should be selected, on which Major Ross and the principals of the Hich Schools will be requested to serve, together with those appointed by the battalion. The above committee will meet tomorrow even- ing and settle upon a eee for bringing the boys together and giving them a proper idea of what it ig intended to be accom- plished. a NEW PUBLICATIONS. CIVILIZATION’S INFERNO, or STUDIES IN THE SUCIAL CELLAR. quthor By 'B. O. Flower, of “‘Lessous Learned from Other Liv: Bostou: Arena Publishing ton: John H. Wills. “The Dead sea of want Is enlarging its borders in every populous center. The rut- terings of angry discontent grow more ominous with each succeeding year.” With that declaration as a text, Mr. Flower opens up a discussion of the intensely in- teresting sort; a discussion in which every man should participate. Mr. Flower hus watched closely several phases of the so- cial struggle and is satisfied that duty calls him to spread abroad the horrible truths on which he comments. As to some of his conclusions there will be difcrences of opinion, but there is no questioning the au- tnor’s sincerity. The book is worth read- ing and will repay study. REED'S RULES. A Mahual of General Parlla- micutary Law, with Notes uud CUuuges ade by Ue liouse of Kepresentauves aud Sugges- Uons for Special Kwes. by. Thomas B. heed, ex-dpeuner “of the iivuse Jt Mepreseniauves. Chlcagu: McNally & Co. Filled with the best of law ani sound advice; the ideal handbook for those who are or who hope to be called upon to pre- side over any sort of a public body. No man living is so well qualitied to write of parliamentary law as Thomas 8. Reed, and in this litle volume he has condeused a vast quantity of sound sense, tersely ex- pressed in language as to the meaning cf Which there cannot possibly be unj mis- understanding. ‘The book hus not been in- dorsed by the majority in the present Con- ress, but it is none the less valuable, 4 DAILY MANUAL POR BIBLE READERS. wig & Series of Keferences to the Sacred ‘Heat, in distorical amd Chronological Order. (Ou the basis of “Lhe Arraugewient,” of Rev. George ‘Lownsend, M.A.). With portions us- wigued for each day, so as to lake We reader through the Vid Testament once and wie New ‘Testament twice in & year, With an introduc- tion, &c., by Kev. tT. Ward, D.D., F. S. Be." ex-Pi a Maryland ‘College aud President of uuinster ‘sueolugical Seminary. Baltimore: Chesuey & Lits, A hative of Georgetown and for many years a pastor In this city and {ts tmmedi- ate vicinity, Dr. Ward bas a host of local friends who wili secure and prize this, the latest of his valuable productions. THE LOVER'S LEXICON, A Handbook for Nov- elists, Playwrights, Philosophers and Minor P but especially for the Enamoured. by een woud. Macmillan Written originally for 1: is by no means out of place in this country. A really clever production, over which the sympathetic may profitably pore. THE MYSTERY OF ABEL FOREFON B; Willian Drysdale. “Hiustrat New York: Harper & Brothers, Washington: Woodward & Lothrop. A healthy book for boys, rica in useful information and enlivened by adventures that, while thrilling, always end in a per- fectly satisfactory manner. HOLIDAYS IN| ENG vin the Cathedral Di Route; the Teni fountry, and Howes of Baited “by Percy Li or of “Walks in ardenne: ¥ in) Holland,” *“Toucist Guide to the Continent, Germany and Scandinay 879 Broadway. LOVE LETTERS OF A Ry Mra. W. K. Cl \ WORLDLY WOMAN. thor of “Mrs. by Matbelle owe Affuirs of a Worldiy F. ‘Tennyson Neely. Being Lazy Letters from Low Q ‘arren Stoddard, of “ts ‘Marshallet, A Flight, Into Egep f Molesict,”* ‘Chicago: ly. THE RELLE OF of “a Life,”* t,"? “Good Things to City: The Kansas 13 and Other Poems, _Metrical ansiations from the English into. the Ger- 1 B. Hertzog. Philadelphia: Ig. NG MAN IN RUSINESS, By Péwant editor of “fhe Ladies’ Home Jour- jladciphia: The Curtis Publishing SPHNCERIAN SYSTEM OF PEXMANSHIP. bers 8, 9 and 10, Common P. RB. Spencer. ‘New Co. ON A MARGIN. Ry Jn *A Mad World,” Num- hool Course. By York: American Book nlius Chambers, author of a fue Diplomacy “of Journal- fsm,"" &e. Chicago: F. 1 iy. A MODERN LOVE STORY, WHICH DOES END AT THE ALTAR by Harriet eutt. Chicago: Cuaries H. Kerr & Co. FROM BARTH'S CENTER, A Polar Gateway Mes. sage. By S. Byron Welcome. Chicago: Charles H. Kerr & Co. ee The Last Stroke in Taking a Whale. From McClure’s Magazine. But if a man has the good fortune to be present at a “fall,” and, above all, if he be, as I have been, in the harpooning and in the lancing boat, he has a taste of sport which it would be {!l to match. To play a salmon ts a royal game, put when your fish weighs more than a suburban villa NOT EL Or- and is worth a clear £2,000; when, too, your! line is a thumb’s thickness of manilla rope with fifty strands, every stran1 tested for thirty-six pounds, it dwarfs all other ex- periences. And the lancing, too, when the creature is spent, and your boat pulls in to give it the coup de grace with cold steel, that is also exciting! A hundred tons of despair are churning the waters up in- to a red foam; two great black fins are ris- ing and falling like the sails of a windmill, casting the boat into a shadow as they droop over it; but still the harpooner clings to the head, where no harm can come, and, with the wooden butt of the twelve- foot lance against his stomach, he pre: it home until the long steuggle is finished, and the black back rolls over to exp the livid, whitish surface beneath. Yet amid all the excitement—and no one who has not held an oar in such a scene can tell how exciting it is—one’s sympathies Ne with the poor hunted creature. The whale has a small eye, little larger than that of a bullock, but I cannot easily forget the mute expostulation which I read in one as it dimmed over in death within hand’s touch of me. What could it guess, poor creature, of laws of supply and demand, or how could it imagine that when nature placed an elastic filter inside its mouth and whea man discovered that the plates of which it was composed were the most pliable and yet durable things in creation, ‘its death warrant was signed? a THINGS HEARD AND SEEN “No, sir,” said the colonel, with a grandil~ oquent wave of the hand, “woman should be the home maker and man the bread winner.” The colonel stood on the sunny side’ of the street, just far enough below the entrance to the hotel bar to be beyond the range of suspicion, and yet in line for an invitation, His coat was buttoned tight- ly up to his chin in military fashion, and was decorated down the front with spots, souvenirs of forays upon the free lunch summer. “Why, sir,” he continued, “T a blot upon the civilization of this woman should have to mingle in the mary business pursuits of the day to her living. It is a sad thing to the spirit of old-time chivalry and gallantry dying out in this way. Every year we see ‘woman being forced into new lines of Sir, it grieves my heart when I remember how different it was thirty years ago, when it was the pride and delight of a man to care for and support the female portions of the family, no matter how distantly related. Ah, me, how times have changed. The colonel seemed really affected over the thought. Here is a type of the fine chivalry of a gentleman of the old thought The Star man. Just then the pro- cession of clerks from the ts passed on their way home. was a little woman dressed in ored dress. Once upon @ time the dress had been black, page tcc color had 4 since faded into a dingy darkness, little woman's face was faded, too, and there were deep lines and sad ones fn it. As she glanced up, however, and saw the colonel, she smiled. With a sweeping bow and gallant doffing of the soft felt hat the colonel placed himself at her side, and they scon were lost in the crowd. “The colonel is always gallant,” remarked The Star man. “Yes,” said the other man; “that was his wife; she is a $900 clerk in the department, and supports the colonel and their three children.” Only one leg and riding a bicycle, such was the figure, both amusing and pathetic, that was seen coming along the street the other day. One sees many strange objects astride the wheel nowadays, but this man pushing his machine swiftly along with only one leg, serenely unconsclous of the novelty of his position, drew all eyes toward him end was the subject of some varied remarks from the passersby. His wheel was not the latest make, nor his clothes the latest cut, and he had lost his left leg nearly a the hip, but with his right he sent his bicycle spinning along with perfect confi- dence and he got there just the same. He carried his crutches with him, too. They Were attached to a support on the handle of his wheel and stood straight up in the air, making a strange spectacle, taken all in all. Everybody turned and watched him. It looked easy, perhaps, but it would have been interesting to see him pushing up a steep hill or getting.on and off, and pos- sibly not so much fun for him. All eyes watched the rider as he disappeared down the street. There was a smile on the lips of some, but nobody laughed and the un- kempt and unbashful Arab of the street summed up the admiration of the crowd for the crippled riders originality and pluck by punching his companion tn the ribs and shouting with all his inborn gusto into his ear: “Say, Jimmy, hot stuff, ain’t he?” There will be no bench show in Wash- ington this spring, the experience of last year having been sufficiently unpleasant to prevent the gentlemen interested in such matters from wishing to undergo a similar one. It is the same old story of losing money, but away back of it is the growing Public distaste for events wherein contests for supremacy of any sort are discounted in advance by the superlative qualities of certain of the participants. The great American admisston-paying people won't go through the turnstile to see anything of a sporting character, where the result is a foregone conclusion, and while a bench show is a pretty interesting place to visit when the kennels are full, the judges’ ring, which formerly used to be the central point |of interest to amateurs, is now scarcely honored with as many spectators as there are judges and handlers of entries inside of it. No one cares to see, for instance, the judging of a group of St. Bernards, when Sir Belvidere ts there and is sure to be awarded the first ribbon, and ft is the same in the other classes, where there is abso- lutely no show for any dog outside of those which are taken to every bench show held in the country, and whose owners make a business of exhibiting them in such a man- ter. In a word, bench shows of recent years have become cut and dried affairs in the public estimation, and are no longer profitable outside of Madison Square Gar- den. The dog lovers here who lost money on their last venture at Convention Hall are wise in their generation for appreciat- ing the lesson. When bench shows are s0 managed that winners in the champion and cpen classes for all sorts of dogs will be jbarred from competing at subsequent events, they will become popular again, and keep the improvement of the various breeds by holding out the probability that a good dog may have a chance to get a ribbon without being handicapped by famous prize winners. . “There are hundreds of clerks in the va- rious departments here in Washington who never receive promotions and claim they are the victims of spite or jealousy on the part of those immediately above them in authority.” Thus spoke an old bureau chief of a quarter of a century's experience this morning. “Their records in their work are all right and their attendance ac office reg- ular, and they consequently put their lack of recognition at the door of their chiefs. In almost every case it is that unruly mem- ber, the tongue, that is responsible for the retention of a clerk in one grade. The talk- | ative clerk may be able to do his own work, but he interferes in that of others by dis- tracting their attention. Then a talkative person is usually a critic, and clerks such as I am speaking of take a -lelight tn find- ing fault with the system under which they work, and think it funny to hit off the per- sonal eccentricities of all the peculiar peo- ple in their section of the department. Let a government clerk attend to his work faithfully, keep his tongue between his teeth on matters concerning the business or personnel of the department he may be employed in and he will find promotion coming a great deal more quickly. Every bureau chief of experience employed under the govegnment will tell you the same thing, In the farce of “Adonis” Henry Dixey burlesques the clerk in a millinery store with excellent effect, but the actor has not yet appeared upon the boards who can do justice to some of the individuals who pre- side over the destinies of certain gentle- men’s furnishing stores. A man about town wanted a plain, every-day black tie the other day, for which he proposed to | squander fifty cents, and he entered a hab- | erdashery in search of the article. | “A black tie,” dreamily remarked the as- | sistant—heaven forbid that, he be callel a clerk, “I infer that something in russet brown would suit your complexion infinite- ly better. I have some receat tmporta- tions, exquisite in their delicacy and, er—” “I want @ plain black tle for afty cents, mister man,” interrupted the would-be cus- tomer. “A mere mournful monologue about | juarters of an inch wide.” The assistant was astounded at such 4e- praved taste. He regretfully put away tne boxes containing autumnal symphoaes in satin and spring idyls in silk, and with a sigh of pity produced the desirad neckwear. Why is it that a man canaot go ‘nto a store to buy something for his personal use or adornment without being waited on by somebody who assumes to know whut is wanted better than the customer himself? If you ask for green paint at a paint sicre they don’t expatiate upon the better pro- Priety of your purchasing vermillioa; ff you call for a cigar at a tobacconist’s you not regaled with a dissertation on mee schaum pipes; so why is it that when a man goes to a furnishing shop to get a pair of suspenders he is wheedled about buying Turkish toweling bathing gown? Why? NOVELTIES AT THE MUSEUM. ‘The Ancestor of All Barnyard Fowls— Most Beautifal Bird in the World. ‘There has been newly placed on exhibition at the National Museum a specimen of the most valuable bird that the world has ever known. It is the so-called “jungle fowl” of India. This feathered creature was the original ancestor of all the chickens known to the barnyard. Just as all of the fancy varieties of pigeons have descended from the unornamental “blue rock,” have ell kinds of poultry been produced by breeding from this original stock. It was from India that the Chinese ob- tained the jungle fowl originally, so long ago that the date is a matter of doubtful tradition with them. They created many of the breeds which are best known today, and eventually these improved varieties | were transported from the flowery land to the western world. From America the Chinese have since received in exchange the turkey, which is now a popular bird with the slant-eyed Orientals. The primi- tive jungle fowl, which still haunts the for- ests of India, is best described by saying that it resembles in all important respects the black-breasted red game chicken. Tl: latter is a reversion to the primitive type. However, there is an important difference in the voice. The crow of the jungle fowl is shrill and small. This is for the reason that it is dangerous for a bird to make much noise in the woods, lest it give notice of its presence to its enemies. It is on that account that the female birds of nearly al? species do not sing. There are some excep- tions to this rule, but not many. It is upon the females that the kind depends for its perpetuation, id nature.is always look’ out for that. The song of the males is a call to attract the females. Hen’s Egg Models. Another exhibit, newly placed on view at the museum, is a series of models showing ABOUT ART AND ARTISTS Washington's little colony of artists num- bers @ score or more of busy workers who are for the spring exhibitions, shortly to be held in this city and elsewhere. Among those who have almost completed their preparations are Mr. BE. F. Andrews, whose colossal portrait of Senator Voorhees gr segs aly unfinished, already attracted great of attention. The figure is larger than life-size and Tepresents Mr. Voorhees, in his well known cape overcoat, standing in a natural end dignified position. When completed, Mr. Andrews will present this portrait to the Congressional Library, Mr. Andrews has also just completed what he considers his chef-d’oeuvre—e Titian- haired woman against a blue backgroun: The subject ts an interesting one and wil exhibition icture, for is ini nded.” oeeed : Another artist whose work {s always clever and popular is Mr. Max Wey! me wl exhibition, now being nthe in this collection Mr. Weyl many instances made a marked departure from his usual style. Especially is this noticeable in the skies, which are unusually tender in color and artistic in handling. Prominent amongst the paintings exhibited are “The Brookside,” “Little Ri er,” “Gray Day” and “Shades of Evening. yy are, the most striking, but it would be impossible to name the best, when the average is so high. BF is ios Mr. Robert Hinckley is another artist whose clever handling and brilliant color are sure to attract attention during the r moyen f exhibition of Washington artists. me 0 Mr. Hinckley’s recently completed Portraits is of Charles F. Crisp. of is admirable, and the House; the likeness is an eloquent testimonial of the artist's ability as colorist and draughstman. Mr. Hinckley 1s also distinguishing himself as a a, having just timished a fine bust of the late Gen. E. F. Beale, which exhibition in the New York galiertes of th Associated American Artists. This artist is an old friend and pupil of Carolus Durand, mag tg) not being an impressionist, clear- ows the effect of that master’s and instruction. — . * 2 Mr. Richard N. Brooks is working on @ fine life-sized portrait of Mrs. Walsh's son, betcwrned wl —- to finish in time for the exhibition. The subject, as arranged b: artist, Is a difficuit one, but the 4 = is promising, und Mr. Brooks expects t — coy of his most si - ions. lis other paintings are aya favorite negro BaF of which will shortly be finished placed on exhibition. ses 7 e+ © ° Mr. Harold McDonald ‘has less than usual to exhibit this year, most of his winter's work being in portraiture, with which he a hen’s egg in successive stages of its in- cubation up to the time of hatching. The first model shows how the yolk is held floating in the white by means of two twist- ed strings of modified albumen, which ex- tend from either end of the shell. The “germinal vesicle” likewise appears. Any- body who breaks a raw or soft-boiled exg may see that for himself—a whitish bit of jelly-like substance attached to the side of the yolk. In the second model, which rep- resents the interior of an egg after fifty hours’ incubation,the rudimentary backbone of the chicken that is to be is observed. After the seventh day gill-slits make their appearance, giving evidence of a relation- ship between the fowl and the fish, and so the series continues until the creature is feathered and ready to emerge into the world. ‘The Most Beautiful Bird. Over at the Smithsonian building is ex- hibited one particularly perfect specimen of the most beautiful bird in the world. While its coloration is as brilliant as that of any humming bird, its superior size ren- ders it more attractive to the eye. This is the “quezal” of Guatemala. its plumage vies in brilliancy with the rainbow and shines with a metallic luster. Until wit the last few years it was unknown to sci- ence, mainly owing to the fact that it ts a hermit among feathered creatures, de- lighting in the silence of deserts. 1t dwelis on mountain heights ebove 7,000 feet in elevation. The quezal was the royal bird of the Aztecs. Its breast is a brilliant scarlet, while its green tail attains a length of three feet. Its size is about equal to a pigeon. Its plumes were utilized anciently for the adornment of head dresses and for the famous feather pictures of the Mex- icans. It nestles in holes in worm-eaten trees, which it enlarges with its bill, so |as to form a comfortable and roomy resi- dence. The young are hatched totally raked. It is the hardest of all birds to prepare for stuffing, because the skin tears like so much tissue paper, and the feathers are implanted to so slight a depth that they readily fall out. A specimen ery apt to be spoiled by falling against a branch on being shot. Up to 1860 naturalists did not know where the quezal was to be found. The few specimens which had fallen into their hands were obtained from the Indians of Guatemala, who kept the secret. About that time, however, a collector, visiting that country, got cn the track, went up into the mountains and shot a number of the birds. It is said that in ancient times the skins of all birds of this species that were killed belonged by law to the king, and nobody outside of the royal family wos —- to wear the plumes. The quezal jon, to the family of trogons. 1 genus includes forty-six Brien tates three of which are American. A’ are very beautiful, oo ———__. Nlogical. From Harper's Magazine, A well-known Utterateur not long ago delivered a lecture before a Buffalo club, and in the course of his talk he had oc- casion to quote Shakespeare’s lines about “uneasy lies the head that -v a crown,” etc. At the conclusion of his address he was approached by @ Scotchman, who ex- pressed his pleasure at the talk, but took eccasion to say that his approbation of Shakespeare was only limited. “There's that bit you said about the un- easy head and crown. I dinna Uke it. It's | muckle foolish. Now our Rob’ would na ha’ writ such stuff.” eet he lecturer was a trifle surprised, but | ingulred politely why the Scot thought as | \e . “Oh,” sald the Scotchman, “there's na a! mon in Scotland, king or anybody cise, sae | foolish as to go to bed wi" a crown on Any | mon o’ sense wud hang it over a chair be- fore turning | salts one Johnny's Point of View. From the Chicago Record. Teacher (recounting the hatchet story)— “And now, why did little George aay to his father: ‘I cannot tell a Me; I did ft with my little hatchet?” ] Johnny—“Mebbe they wasn't :nother Ut- | tle boy along to blame it onto." | ——+0-+_____ Quite Fair. From Lite. “Say, Fatty, have you got twenty dollars? I promised to take my girl to the opera and has met very fattening success. . Mr. Walter Paris is anxiously waiting for a few days of warmer weather, when he can exercise his artistic ability in mak- ing out-of-door sketches, work for which he has gained an enviable reputation. Mr. Paris will have a number of his interest- ing water-color studies on view during tne coming exhibition of Washingtoa artists. All his work is Gone in the open air and directly from nature, which gives it @ pecullar purity of tone and truthfulness of detail impossible to obtain in the atelier. . oe eS The receptions and private views which have recently been given ty Mr. R. Le Grand Jchnson have brought that artist into very flattering prominence among the connoisseurs and art lovers of Washbing- ton. It has been some time since Mr. John- ston has held an exhibition of his work, and his*friends are glad wo sce that his Powers as an interpreter of nature have rather increased than otherwise. Many ef his subjects are taken from country life, strength and simple sincertt; ly found in the work of pleted his preparations for the exhibition e will hold in the Fischer galleries early next month. His work is particularly im- teresting from the fact that are all taken from the immedi of Washington. He works alm tirely in the open air and directly gram nature, which method has resulted in delightful atmospheric effects and purity of color. : . Se ies Mr. Wells x. 's: Mr. -H. J. Ellicott, the sculptor, is receiv- ing the congratulations of his friends over his success in obtaining the government commission for the equestrian statue and pedestal of Gen. Winfield 5. Hancock. The model of this is a splendid piece of wor and still further establishes Mr. ElMicot reputation as one of America’s best sevlp- tors and artists. He has just completed an equestrian statue and pecestal in bronze of Gen, McClellan, which is shortly to be erected in Philadelphia, | se Mr. U. S. J. Dunbar is also busy just now on miniature statuettes of the late Senator Kenna, for which he has received numer- ous orders. He expects in a few aye to receive the marble from Italy for the buet of Martin Van Buren, and &8 soon as it arrives will begin the cutting. The sketch model of the bust is very fine and reflects great credit upon the artist. x . es Mr. Viele is putting the Snishing touches to a number of clever studies, intended for the coming exhibition. They are all cuted in the artist's impressionistic and daring combinations of color. oo os oe The friends of Mr. L. Moxley are much jinterested in an ambitious painting by Charles Armoz, which is on exhibition at Mr. Moxiey’s residence on K street. it ts ® large canvas on which is depicted the players’ scene from Hamlet. The grouping is quite striking, and the figures are cos- tumed with great historical accuracy. The work will bear the closest inspection as to details, —_—_———_ Ample Experience. From Puck. Secretary—“I fear you are not sufficiently robust to join our expedition. Have you lever been in the arctic regions?” Applicant—“No; but I've been through five winters in Lonelyville, New Jersey." Secretary—"We'll take you;—just sign your name in this book!" I am Gead broke.” “That's singular. Now, I have twenty and no girl. I'll match you to see whether you take the twenty or I take the girl to the opera.” a The canvass of voters in Denver ang Highlands is practically completed, and it is estimated that over 12,00 women have been registered.