Evening Star Newspaper, December 11, 1897, Page 23

THE MAGIC STONE. SERIOUS OBSTACLES Difficulties Confronting Medical Mis- sionaries in the Orient IN DEALING WITH THE NATIVES Methods of Treating Disease That Prevail in Turkey. WHATEVER IS 1S RIGHT Written for The Evening Star by Cleveland Moffett. One of the most important features of American missionary effort in Turkey is the work done by American physicians in overcoming the superstition and prejudices that are almost universal in the country re- garding the cause and treatment of disease. The popular belief on the whole subject may be summed up thus: The cause of disease is God's will, the proper treatment of disease is to let it alone, since meddling with it shows distrust in God’s wise gov- ernment. Thus if a Turk has smallpox he gves to bed and waits to see whether he is to die or live, he puts his trust in Kader, fate, and not im pills or lotions. And his family and friends would think it un- worthy of a good Moslem to shun the sick man cr to set him apart; if others are to take the disease, well and good, it is so ordered; that is the business of Kader. The consequence is that wherever you go, in Constantinople or the interior, you see many pock-marked faces and constantly hear of smallpox about you. An American missionary told me of an erience of his in Caesarea that illus- the condition of things all over the country. He was invite! to address a prayer meeting one night, held in an Ar- , and did so in the presence of of men and women. After 3 he noticed two children bun- n a divan, where they had been served by him, during the pray- nd preaching. hat is the matter with the little ones?” sked, going near them. They are sick,” said the mother. On turning back the yourgan, the mis- sionary saw at a glance what the illness was. hey have smallpox,” he said. “Yes,” said the mother, “it is God's will.” “But you have exposed all these peopie to the cuntagion. Don’t you know that they may get the disease?” True Oriental Philosophy. “Who knows?” replied the woman, with true oriental philosophy. This happened among Christians, Armenian Protestants, who, nevertheless, are more enlightened in these matters than the Moslems. And among them it is encouraging to note there has been much progress, thanks to Ameri- can Influence, and every year increasing numbers of them are coming to be vacci- nated. But it will be a long time before the Turks will trust a competent doctor rather than Kader. There are thousands of villages in Asia Minor where there is no one who even makes pretense of thorough medical knowl- edge, the whole business of healing the sick being left to the women, with their herbs and balsams, and to fate. On our Journey over the plains we came to one Village where there was an epidemic of eye disease., « form of ophthalmia, with swell- ing and discharge that causes great pain, and, unless properly treated, endangers the sight. No sooner had we entered our khan than several of the sufferers came to us in deep- est distress and begged that we do some- thing for their relief. A lotion of zinc sul- phate or some other simple remedy might have saved the situation, but we had none to give them, and ali night long were kept awake by the weeping and groaning about us. Wherever travelers go in the interior they are appealed to by the natives as if they were doctors, the general idea being that any man with a European hat is com- petent to treat all bodily ailments from toothache to scarlet fever. Virtues of an Eggshell. And yet the task of the physician in Tur- key is not an easy one, for ke finds working against him not only this discouraging con- viction of the people that whatever is must be, but their oft-proved preference for talis- mans and medicines he can give them. How can one deal scientifically with people who regard this as the proper way to treat a baby suffering with anything from croup to stomach ache: First, get a hen's egg, then Tiake seven round holes in the shell and empty out the contents through these heles. Then dip the perforated eggshell under water, and lift it quickly over a basin sc that the water it holds will stream into the in. Repeat this operation thir- ty-nine times until the basin has received ferty shelifuls of water streamed through the seven holes. Finally, wash the sick baby in the basin thus filled, and there is nothing more to be done. Of course the death rate among children is deplorably high, but that does not change the peo- ple’s belief. And c der the following treatment for bolls, which is much in vogue among ad- ults. A man afflicted with Job's comfort- ers starts confideutly down the road, fling- ing over bis shoulder nuts or raisins, and never looking behind him though the city burn down. His belief 1s that whoever Picks up one of the nuts or raisins from the roadway will take with It ofte of his boils. It will be seen that the blending of science and charity in this proceeding gives some- thing truly oriental. Of similar interest is the commen method of curirg fevers—or trying to cure them—by getting some wise old Armenian to bind the patient's wrist ‘with cotton cloth. This is supposed to bind the fever at the same time and render it harmiess. _ Shocking Menace to Health. ‘The missionary doctors in Turkey find gnother serious obstacle to their efforts against contagion In the method of distrib- uting water to the various houses that is ir operation in many cities and villages. ‘The water supply usually comes from a spring or stream on high ground near the city, and this water, when needed in one section or another, is simply turned down this street or that, its course being regu- lated by temporary dams, and for hougs it will flow down a certain set of streets, and is at the disposition of residents in that vicinity. Some hasten to wash their clothes in it, others fill earthen jars with 5 while those who have wells direct part it Into their mouths, which are set on “the pavement covered with flat stones. Owing to this arrangement it will be seen that the wells ney a with water which ‘has run unprotected along where donkeys and bullocks the public streets are constantly superstitious practices to any | passing, where the women tread out the clothes of the weekly wash, where all man- ner of refuse accumulates, and where the sleps from all the houses are regularly thrown. The slightest consideration will make it plain that there could scarcely be devised a more perfect system for trans- mitting contagion than this, and how well it succeed8 may be illustrated by one case among many. When the chwlera plague Was raging in Asia Minor a few years ago, the disease was brought to Caesarea by a man from Siva, who died almost immedi- ately cn his arrival. That night his body was washed in the court yard of the house, and the water was thrown out into the public street, when it flowed into a public fountain not far distant. The next day scores of people drank at that fountain, and pes day after that scores of people were lying. And it is interesting to note that while the little band of Americans in the plague- stricken regions were making a brave and successful stand against the disease, fight- ing with the weapons of science, the Ar- menians were making blood sacrifices to ap- pease the angry gods, and were marching about the city led by their priests lifting their voices in dirge-like chants, and were openly declaring that the missionaries had 00) The Magic Egs- brought the plague upon them by _post- ing up certain sanitary instructions in ad- vance. If these instructions had not been posted up, the cholera would never have visited them. This is a specimen of their reasoning. Gradual Triumph of Science. Ignorant as the people of Turkey are re- garding the nature and treatment of disease and superstitious and foolish as they have been, they are, nevertheless, learning after years of practical demonstration that there is no such talisman against bodily ills as knowledge, and they are trusting them- selves and their children more and more to the American doctors and those of the natives who are qualified to practice medi- cine. The only trouble is that there are 10,000 people who need help for one phy- siclan who is able to give it. A single man, let his devotion be what it may, cannot care for all the sick in a region covering 100 square miles. One missionary doctor of my acquaintance tells me that whenever he goes on a tour, he is literally besieged by the sick, so much so that he can scarcely find time to eat, and to treat 150 patients in a day, all strangers to him, and most of them charity patients, is nothing unusual for him. To be sure, the missionary doc- tors, as a matter of principle, try to make the people pay some nominal sum for their services, say six or eight cents for a consul- tation (if they pay nothing they are apt to conclude that the advice is worth noth- ing), but there are thousands who cannot even pay so small a sum as that, and they are treated free. UNIVERSITY NOTES Howard University. ‘There is a game of foot ball scheduled for this afternoon at the university between the Colored High School and the reserve eieven of Howard. : Next Saturday the foot ball team from Wayland Seminary will meet the first team of the university at the colloge greunds. The last meeting of the Christian En- Ceavor was led by the president, and the subject treated was, “Not to be ministered unto, but to minister.” Tonight the topic will be “One thing I have learned from Paul's life or writings,” and J. B. Brown will be the leader for the evening. The December issue of the Journal will probably appear next week or the one fol- lowing. The Eureka held no meeting last even- ing, but next Friday's program has been announced to melude the following fea- tures: Recitation, Miss Scipio; deciama- tion, H. W. Payne; paper, J. E. Smith; reading, Miss Whitsell: debate, with R. 8. Pugh and R. H. Merriwether, affirmative and negative speakers respectively, on topic, “Resolved, That intemperance has been more destructive than war.” Last evening, under the auspices of the Alpha Phi Literary Society, Professor G. W. Cook read a paper entitled “Shakes- peare’s King Lear.” The officers of the society are I. Thomas Gillan, president; R. Dawson Brister, vice president; I. T. Fox, secretary. Invitation cards were issued for the occasion and mailed to the friends of the university. A public debate will be given by the Alpha Phi Society some time next month. Georgetown University. The solemn reception of the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary occurred at the university Wednesday and thirty-two new members received diplomas. ‘The junior law class elected officers for the year last Saturday night after the regular lecture, as follows: President, Mr. Herron; vice. presidents, Messrs. Doyle and Ralph; secretary, Mr. O'Donoghue; treas- urer, Mr. Kirby. ‘The dramatic club will probably take a trip to Baltimore the latter part of the winter. ‘The Merrick debate will be held on the t Saturday evening a meet- ing of the Law School Debating Society was held. This evening there be a —— —_ ad Messrs. Ji negative, as speakers, upon ques- ticn, “Resolved, That the wailan Should Be Annexed to the United States.” THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, DECEMBER ii, 1897-26 PAGES. “Resolved, That Monopolies Should Be Abolished.” Indoor practice by the base ball team will be commenced next month. The Dramatic Society contemplates pre- senting Richard B. Sheridan’s “Critic” in the near future. The Philonomosian Society at its next meeting will take up for discusston the subject of the recent action of the Georgia legislature in prohibiting within that state the game of foot ball. The affirmative speakers for the occasion will be~ Messrs. Henning and Duffy, while Messrs. Murphy and Gracey will uphold the action of the governor in vetoing the measure. A_new student's library, to be located under tre study hall, is to be instituted by Father Richards, and besides being used as a reading room it will have also on exhibition the various trophies won by Georgetcwn athletes. The senior class presented their first pa- pers for honors in physics this afternoon, and on Thursday and Friday next will undergo their first examination in me- chanics. A number of Georgetown’s athletes are in indoor training, and intend to contest at the various indoor meets held during the winter. The schoo) will adjourn for the Christ- mas holidays on the 22d and will not return to their studies until Monday of the new year” Immediately after reopening examin- ations will be held in the lower schools. Examinations in the law school com- Tence on the 17th. Catholic University. Thursday, before one of the largest au- diences of the season, Gen. Greely, chief of the United States signal service bureau, lectured on “The Settlement and Civiliza- tion of Alaska.” Next Thursday will be the last day for these public addresses,when Gen. Greely will again speak, his subject being “The Gold Fields of Alaska.” Last Wednesday was the patronal feast day of the university; and was observed with appropriate ceremonies, Cardinal Gib- bens pontificating, and Very Rev. P. J. Garrigan, vice rector of the university, act- ing as assistant priest. The rector, Rt. Rev. Mgr. Conaty and Rt. Rev. Mer. Mc- Mahon occupied seats in the sanctuary. The same evening the university club gave an entertainment consisting of musical and Uterary features Among those who took part were Rev. J. J. Fox, Mr. J. P. Mur- phy, Mr. Philip J. Gerry, Mr. James J. Igoe, Mr. William K. Naulty, Mr. J. J. Murray, Rev. Francis P. Murphy and Rev. J. F. O'Meara. The exercises concluded with an address by Mer. Conaty. The ex- Queen of Hawaii and the delegates from that place who are here to oppose the pro- Pesed annexation of the islands were among those present. The regular course of dogmatic sermons are delivered every Sunday at the univer- sity. Rev. B. Haberstrough will preach to- morrow at 3:30. Among the visitors to the university were Rt. Rev. Innocent Wolf, 0.8.B., of Atchi- son, Kan., and the Rt. Hon. Horace Plun- kett, memter of parliament for County Dublin, Ireland, and privy counsellor to the Queen of England. Columbian University. Last Tuesday afternoon Miss Jessie Ack- erman delivered a lecture on “The Women of Asia,” Rev. Samuel L. Beller, vice chan- cellor of the American University, presid- ing. The Anthropological Society met Tuesday evening at the Cosmos Club. A meeting of the senior law class has been called for next Thursday. A meeting of the students of the Corcoran Scientific School will be held this evening for the purpose of organizing a class for the study of parliamentary law. The December issue of the Columbian Call bears on its first page an illustration of the officers of the Corcoran Society. The American Chemical Society will meet at the university on the 20th, 30th and 31st of the month. The Biblical Research Club held a meet- ing last Saturday night and listened to a paper entitled “Phoenicia, Its Place in His- tory.” The Corcoran Society met last Saturday evening. At the last meeting of the Law School Debating Society the question for debate was, ‘Resolved, That the elective franchise should be limited to those who are able to " and this evening the question will “Resolved, That Cuban_ belligerency should be recognized by the United States,” with Messrs. W. T. Harris, W. U. Varney, jr., and B. C. Perkins as the speakers for the affirmative, and Messrs. A. E. Snow, A. C. Wells and Granville Lewis, jr., negative. Next week there will be a public debate, at which the question, “Resolved, That Con- gress should enact a general anti-trust law," will be discussed by Messrs. J. P. Fontron, F. L. Tarbox and J. 8. Reader, affirmative, and Messrs. J. P. Gray, C. E. Phelps and A. W. Patterson, negativ A movement is on foot looking to the or- ganization of a glee, banjo and mandolin club among the students of the university. American University. At the senfi-annual meeting of the board of trustees held Wednesday in this city reports of the several committees were heard and discussed, plans formulated for the ccnduct of affairs and resolutions passed concerning the dedication of the new college of history, which, although It is expected will be completed by the first of next month, will not be formally dedl- cated until next fall,-when that department will be organized. Rev. Dr. Charles 8. Payne presided at the meeting, and among others present were Prof. W. W. Smith, president of Randelph-Macon College; Rev. Dr. David H_ Carroll, Bishop Hurst, Rev. Dr. W. H. Milburn, Rev. Samuel H. ‘Beiler and Rev. Charles W. Baldwin. Among the rare pieces of furniture re- cently acquired by the university are the wardrobe formerly belonging to George Bancroft, the eminent historian; a heavy extension table and set of chairs formerly the property of Charles Sumner, and the desk of Secretery Edwin M. Stanton. National University. Prof. Cole delivered his first lecture on “Statutory Law” last Saturday evening. Owing to the meetings of the Debating So- ciety, which take place Saturday evenings, Prof. Cole wil! deliver his lectures on Wed- nesday, instead of Saturday, as heretofore. The appeliate court, consisting of Profs. Williamson, Thomas and Siddons, held the first sion last evening. It will continue in session each Friday until the docket is clear. Friday, December 17, 1897, will take place the first jury trial in the moot court. It Is a case of murder, and the attorneys for the prosecution are Messrs. Brown, White and Sanders, and for the defense Messrs. Rogers, Porch and Pinney. Owing to the fact that this trial will be public, it has teen decided to hold court in the main lec- ture hall. The jury has been selected from the junior class. Friday night will be de- voted to the hearing of testimony, and the following Tuesday arguments to the jury will take place. Judge Tucker will be on the bench. ‘The public debate to take place on Sat- urday, the 18th ingtant, will undoubtedly be one of the most successful ever given by the society. One of the features of its program is the musical part, which is un- der the supervision of Mr. S. B. Fowler of the senior class, who has secured some of the best local talent for this occasion. The judges selected for this debate are Prof. Eugene Carusi, Prof. H. E. Davis and Prof. J. H. Ralston. —_>—_ “The Heathen C! ee is Pecultar.” From the Loulaville Times. “Gee Joe,” the Chinese gentleman who has found Jordan a hard road to travel lately, once presided over a laundry on the corner of 6th and Broadway, where his gifts as a singer of queer, outlandish songs attracted the children of the neighbor- hood to his place, and made him a prime favorite with the young people. “Gee Joe” speaks some English, and his remarks are always accompanied by a bland, childJike smile, such as Bret Harte mentions in his poem about Chinese free labor. One day the Chinaman was talking about “Are you a Christian, Gee Joe?” ed a lady, curiously. “Oh, yes; I go churchee; I one very good man, I real Melican man.” “And where do you go?” asked the lady, who was ch: to find that the influ- last wa ences of religion and civil mm had con- verted the heathen. “Oh,” remarked Joe, Warren Me- gO churchee where it do me most good. Gee Joe real Melican man.” And the ie wer oven. tee soe cone ae bos heathens or not. SECOND-HAND BOOK + Often Tell the Stories.of Their For- 7 A VST 0 SOME OLD SH0PS Se Curious Characters Who Come to Buy or.to Sell. PICKING UP BARGAINS Written for The Evening Star. ANDWICHED IN among the infinite variety of establish- ments in Washington there may be found at frequent intervals unpretentious build- ings, shelf lined in- side and out and fill- ed with books in all stages of wear and tear. These are the Places which make the vision of a well- stocked brary a pleasing reality in the home of the average citizen. For what does it matter to him that the covers of his books be dingy, so that the contents be intact and he secures them for about one-third the price paid when they were new. A visit to the old bockshops of the city brings to light many things of interest never revealed in the spick and span in- teriors of what may be termed “first-hand” stores. There is something individual about the shops themselves, with their profusion of treasures, like diamonds in the rough, ofttimes stained and dust covered. High up near the roof are a lot of shelves whose contents are not much in demand, and which are disturbed even more often by the dust brush than by customers. The dealer rarely ever refuses to take any book offered, however small may be the price he can afford to pay for it. In the course of time it will be called for, and his patience, like that of holders of long-time securities, be rewarded with good profits. Lower down in more accessible shelves, are the school books, which are popular at this season of the year, and in still more conspicuous spots abound novels and scientific and his- torical works. I spent quite a long time one day rum- maging through several of the second-hand stores, and found that while excellent at- tempts are made at classification, the mul- tifarious ways in which the coilection is obtained leave large piles of miscellaneous matter, to be grouped according to range of prices rather than by nature of contents. It seemed queer to find a treatise on dis- eases of the hog next to a dainty booklet of poems; a volume on Aristotelian philos- ophy flanked by the ‘Dead Man of Tony's Gulch” and “The Boy Detective of Blood- thirst Alley,” while “Phomas’ Mineralogy” fixed a stony stare ona dfScourse concern- ing “Infants’ Diet.” " Each to His. Fancy. But it is a case of evéry man to his fancy, ard,if none of these meet your desire you may stir the pile until your,choice comes to the top. If Sherleck Holmes had been turn- ed loose in such a shop'he ould have given the histery of all the owners of the books that had found thel’,'way? there, while a person less versed infhe study of human rature may get a fait inkling of some of their characteristios. (Herd, for instance, is a story of adventure,“slasted and marked at the thrilling passages, with the trail of a lead penell vigorpasly applied. There are even rough Gravel zsh Powis knives and revolvers, uwhich'giveta>perfect:"mind pics ture joerane hamym seprym,;boy who drew them, Then the {guage on the margin of that work on polftftal’economy, all of them full of thought, ‘clésely “written, concisely expressed—others tn-andther volume desui- tcry and vague-tell, respectively, of # mind logical ang well disciplined, and of another that toys with the problems of the day and builds chimerical structures of state policies, as the child fashions his cas- tle blocks. Some of the most interesting discoveries are to be found in the school books. There are few that are not written o’er with childish “scribblings” and the im- mature thoughts of ‘budding America.” From the stereotyped stage when the child delights to write about ‘The Uttle bird in the tree top’ and the “Cat with the soft fur"’—on through the time when he {ssues ferth in such dire warnings as the follow- ing: “Steal not this book, my honest friend, For fear the gallows be your end.” —ard up to that later crude period when he begins to think himself original and learned, when he not only desires to have things. but begins to want to accomplish something, would make material for stories to fill volumes. I picked up an old volume of geometry, which had evidently belonged to some yoting girl, and commenced to ex- amine its pages. It was easy enough to catch the drift of her thoughts and dreams through the school year she had used it by various sentences and quotations scat- tered from cever to cover. Almost Human. How many of the old books we handle so carelessly were once endowed with almost @ personality to their respective owners! How many times the leaves have been thumbed, how the noble ideas expressed have already inspired men to think glorious thoughts and given that impetus to wills which leads to great acts. How many hearts have responded to the chivalrous werds put in the mouths of heroes in those old volumes of romance, the covers of which are dilapidated and ready to fall away; and how joyfully a happy family has gathered round the fireside while some member gave expression to the immortal words in that tattered copy of Shakespeare. While I was glancing through the books and thinking about all these things, my attention was diverted at times by the en- trance of a seller cr purchaser. A white- haired old man, shabbily dressed, but with that unmistakable air of one who has seen better days, entered a certain shop with five substantially bound volumes under his arm. His step was halting, uncertain, and he held his treasures tenderly as if they were children, from whom ‘he dreaded a separation. “What can you give me for these?” he asked. They were “Gibbon’s Decline and Fal! of the Roman Empire.” The shopkeeper examined them carefully. “Three dollars for the lot is the best I can do,” he replied, in-kind tones. “Tl take it.” But as he pessed out ‘there was the faint- est suspicion of teargin His weary eyes, Wher: he was gone thd: shéskéeper inform- ed me that the old geiitlerian had, during the past three years, gold tut a handsome library, a few volumes at a'time. “I know him quite well now,” the sa!d; “he comes here frequently and reads afl day. He lives with a widowed daugiiter, who is the sole support of her father and Wer five children. He is too old for worl, but in the winter when the children “to need warm clothes he helps to buy them by selling some of his treasures, “ttlis one of the commonplace tragedies, if?there be any that are commonplace,*of life. He says it takes him hcurs to which of his treasures should go néxt.”” “Was that the largést um you could afford to give him?” F'ingufred. Small Profits. - “The very top notch. » Frequently I do aot make a cent profit on books which 1 take from him and from several others, whoge circumstances I. know and who arouse my sympathy. The profit on many second-hand bcoks is small. There are so many cheap new editions printed, particu- larly of history and fiction, that old ones, however handsome, must go for a mere song.” gE: Just then a young lady came in carrying @ shorthand text beak, ‘The dealer offered Meta she 3125 “Why,” said, “I for it two a Ww, miss, second . it's a book for wi ba je eee, oe A arate shabbily pitieee ‘woman. in after manner of a cgcionepuiing and @ scarce and blowing as if breath Band, ang hich I lom have @ call.” | dear commodity. She paused rest, then spoke in a high, shrill re “Have you got enny ‘standurd’ ir ‘. What class?” “Well, my son’s in an’ he’s want some of Scott's. My son said some- thing about en “Antikerry’ an’ ‘A Bride of “I think we can supply you with all these, madam,” replied the shopkeeper—witaout of a smile. ghost “All right, an’ I want more by the same ‘Arthurs’ you select for me, an’ tell me the price. My boy do spend a lot of time por- ing over books, but maybe he'll be a ‘litera- ture’ himself some day.” “Do you have many such ‘Malapropian’ customers?’ I asked, when she had made her purchases and her exit, both with much flourish and bustle. Queer Customers. “Not many as extremely so as she seems to be. Yet fairly intelligent people get titles of well-known books badly confused. 1 have known persons whose opportunities for culture and reading have been great, ask such questions as the following: ‘Didn't @ man called Ben Hur write the book en- titled Barabbas?’ and ‘Isn't Owen Meredith, Dumas’ nom de plume?’ Such cases, how- ever, are as rare as amusing.” I walted in the store a long time, durhg which a number of customers and sellers passed in and out on their respective mis- sions. Just as I was about to despair .of witnessing more noteworthy scenes, an un- easy looking, cadaverous individual entered and asked for Darwin's “Origin of Species.” The dealer took down from a shelf a vol- ume, which bore signs of hard usage. “This,” he answered, “is the only copy in stock at present.” “Do you—do you know anything about the party who sold it to you?” asked the cus- tomer, putting his hands behind him and edging away a little. ‘Nothing; it came in with a lot purchasca at auction.” “Well, I am undecided about it. 1 am anxious to supply my library, and it is so expensive to buy new buoks—but, really— don’t you think there is great danger from bacilli in old volumes?” The dealer, a stout, healthy speciman of manhood, laughed heartily and said, “if that be the case I must be permeated with disease—I' ve lived nearly all my life among old. books.” The customer seemed reassured. “I'll take it,” he said; “it may be a risk, but I'll burn a sulphur candle near it as soon as 4 get home.” And he passed out, holding his purchase gingerly in his hand. “That ‘germ’ theory,” sald the dealer, “keeps away so many would-be customer: if It could be annihilated trade would in- crease at least by one-third.” Rare and Costly Books. During my visits tc a number of stores I made inquiries concerning rare and costly volumes which are offered for sale. Only @ few of the establishments in Washington have such books in stock. It is said that the demand for them here 1s very small, that is, in comparison with other large cities. There are book connoisseurs galore, but somehow it happens that many of the most cultured of them are men of great learning and small pocket books. One dealer knew of at least fifty such who would be liberal purchasers if they possessed the wherewithal. “When we take into consid- eration the cultured character of the Wash- ington population,” he said, “it is aston- ishing that there are so few purchasers for this kind of books among wealthy classes.” The ways in which literary treasures fall into the hands of dealers are as varied as interesting. Some families, which have owned a certain valuable work for genera- tions and have learned to prize it for asso- ciation’s sake, are compelled by reverses of fortune to stifle sentiment and convert the volumes into hard cash. In such cases the money price is insignificant in compar- ison with the heartaches it costs to give up the treasures. Other valuable books are sold by those who care naught for any- thing but the money obtained in return for them, while yet others fall into the dealer's hands through ignorance on the part of the scllers as to their real value. Such books are frequently bought for a few cents and sel for hundreds of dollars. Collectors, too, frequently have similar windfalls. The story is told of a collector who wanted to secure a copy of a rare book, printed in 1850. The price asked by a rogular deal- er was.far in excess ef what he could af- ford to pay. Passirg along the street one day, he was meditating on the coveted vol- ume, and planning to cut down his ex- penses sufficiently to enable him to buy it. Suddenly glancing up, he looked through the window of a cobbler’s stall and saw the book on a shelf. He entered and asked the cobbler if he would sell his copy. The transaction was speedily effected, and the collector received the treasure in exchange for a few pence. Both he and the cobbler thought the deai a fine stroke of business, and on the part of the former its expediency cannot be denied; yet a nice ethical problem might be raised in the minds of those who would question his honesty in taking ad- vantage of the cobbler’s ignorance. By taking a similar advantage of the sellers of President Monrce’s library, a man se- cured a copy of Purchas’ Pilgrims, in nine velumes, for $27. An inferior copy of thé same work had previously sold in London for £735. Typical Bookworm. Most of the second-hand book dealers of today are up-to-date business men, with a keen appreciation of the commercial value of every volume which falls into their hands; but occasionally in some antiquated shop one finds the typical bookworm dealer, a man who proves to be one of the most unique and interesting features of his es tablishment. He is usually an aged man and has spent his life among books. He lives in a world all his own—a world that may hold him spellbound in primeval ages, gazing with wonder and delight at man’s first efforts to leave behind some symbol, some record of his first reach toward cul- ture; a world that may thrill with stirring scenes of mediaeval strife or be suddenly replete with the peace, independence, glory, of free nations, the outgrowth of former struggle, the flower of civilization. For such a man loneliness has its antidote, since he is surrounded by friends that-are never false and that never lie. Some of his treas- ures he puts aside on a separates shelf and refuses to sell; others he must sell; but often his desire to make a living is far surpassed by the fear that some cus- tomer will call for a volume which he wants to keep. The second-hand book store has another function which is entirely foreign to all others. It acts as a kind of circulating li- brary, through which the great varieties of printed matter pass and repass on their mission of cultivating the people's minds. It keekps knowledge moving and makes small amounts do a great work just as rapidity of circulation in the money market does as much good as an increase in vol- ume. Altogether, these old shops are about as useful institutions as could be devised, and people in ordinary circumstances would find it a great deprivation to be compelled to do without them. —$_.—__ NEW PUBLICATIONS. regen SE Ia oat Hartford: The American Publiah- ing Company. Washington: R. A. Dinsmore, 621 Seventh street. This is the book that was to have been so named that it would be recognized as a sequel to “Innocents Abroad.” Many rea- sons intervened to prevent such a title, and it is given the name it bears as being as near to the truth as this distinguished manipulator of the English language ever permits himself to come. It ts, in fact, a close cescription of the work. It narrates @ series of incidents in a voyage by Mr. Clemens through many tropical climes, though he did not exactly “follow the equator.” tates with the ways the tropics thst te Is from cover a Mark ‘Twain prod f JAVA, THE GARDEN Hiss Miss entertaining narrative. The book is handsomely bound and profusely illustrated. FACTS AND FAKES ABOUT CUBA; A Review of the Various Stories Circulated in the United States Concerning the Present Insurrection. By George Bronson Rea, field correspondent of the New York Herald.’ Ilustrated. New York: George Munrve's Sons. Herein are contained statements that tend to discredit the force of the Cuban in- surrection. ‘The author, in his capacity as correspondent of the Herald, went over the field and teils now of his adventures in a spirit of protest against the credence given in this country to the insurgent cause. There are touches, here and there, that indicate that the writer has not been wholly fair in his work. He seems to have been seeking trouble with the insurgent leaders, and he tells in graphic terms of an occasion when he was threatened with death by Gen. Maximo Gomez in case he printed certam matters relating to the rebel army. There is too much personal reference in the book and too many allu- sions to newspaper rivalries to make the work of any material value. THE STORY OF JESUS CHRIST; An Interpreta tion. By Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, acthor Singular Life,” ‘The Gates Ajar,” “At *" ete. Boston: Houghton, Miffin & Co. Washington: Brentano's. Mrs. Ward says in her preface that her work is not theology, nor biology, nor his- tory, nor controversy, nor a sermon. In fact, there are many other things that it is not, as explained by its author. It is, how- ever, she says, a mere narrative, and the reader must supplement this fact with the assertion that it is most delightful, up- lifting and inspiring. There is evident a deep sympathy between the writer and her subject. She says she has tried here to “portray the Great Story with loving dccility,” and the pages bear out her effort mcst convincingly. Handsome illustrations add to the material beauty of the bcok, which is issued in most timely fashion at a season when human thoughts in Christen- dom naturally turn to the wonderful exist- ence that began very nearly eighteen hun- dred and ninety-eight years ago. LUMEN. By Camille Flammarion, Authorized Translation from the French by A.A.M. and LM., with portions of the last chapter writ- ten specially for the English edition. New York: Dodd, Mead & Co. Washington: Bren- Flammarion has achieved an interna- tional reputation as a bold writer on sci- entific subjects. He has startled the world with his marvelous prognostications and his speculations. He has in theory con- quered the realms of ether and reduced to exact terms the mysteries of space. This book is a report of a series of conversa- lions between a substan character or what not, called “Lumen,” cternity-wise and bland, and a worldly questioner. Lu- men tells marvelous things about other spheres and gives id descriptions of phases of material existence of which we of earth have no ken. It is enough to say that the work is thoroughly characteristic of the school of extravaganza that has become somewhat popular of late years under the name of science writing. THE SACRIFICE OF A THRONE; Being an Ac- count of the Life of Amadeus, Duke of Aosta, Sometime King of Re Whitehouse, formerly Legation at Madrid, lu ion and consul general ‘to Central Americn, secre- tary of Legs Pun-Asneri recently. sec S. Embassy to Italy. New The story of King Amadeus I of Spain is romantic and interesting, both as a per- sonal study and as an historical narrative. Mr. Whitehouse has “had such experience as to place him in touch with the atmos- phere of the situation and within reach of many valuable sources of material that have not up to this time been utilized for the information of American or English readers. In view-of recent and current events in connection with Cuba the story of the king who sat for such a brief period on the Spanish throne is of particular value at this time. Mr. Whitehouse has written with the precision and balance of a true historian and his work is valuable. OF NEW YORK; or, How Hawaii By J. H. Palmer. New York: ed. F. Tennyson Neely. Here is another of the “glimpses into the future” that just now abound. It pur- ports to give a story of events that might be expected to occur with the United States attacked simultaneously by Spain and Japan, Hawaii's annexation serving to arouse the latter nation to warlike action. Incidentally it touches upon a variety of topics, such as labor disturbances, rela- tions of capital and the masses and the currency. Its narration of the improbabili- ties of which it consists, while smooth erough, is replete with errors of fact. The most remarkable naval campaigns are out- lined, while the “invasion of New York,” which forms the titular incident, is as- toundingly conceived. IMPRESSIONS OF SOUTH AFRICA. By James Bryce, author of “The American Common- * wealth,” “*Transcaucasia_and Ararat,” “The Holy Roman Empire.” New York: The Cen- tury Company. hington: Brentano's. So much commercial and political atten- tion has been directed to South Africa of late years that the subject is well worth the study of so close an observer and so clear a writer as James Bryce. It is a topic suited to his temperament and his style. He describes its many phases with confident strokes and touches in the course of his expansive work, which has had previous magazine publication, the geo- graphical, physical, raciai, geological, com- mercial and political aspects of this rapidly developing area. It is today beyond doubt the best work en South Africa that has appeared. THE DISTRICT SCHOOL AS IT WAS. By One Who Went to It. Biited by Clifton Johnson. Boston: & ‘Shepard. Washington: Wm. Ballantyne & Sons. This quaint little volume affords a direct glimpse into the past of district school days, more direct than is usually possible, for it is in fact a reissue of a book pub- Ushed first in 1833 and thus refiects the exact lights of the time. The author of “The District School” was Rev. Warren Burton, whose work passed through sev- eral editions, and is now given a handsome form with such editing as the times make necessary for the sole purpose of condensa- tion. Appended are specimens of early School Uterature, together with a humor- ously written petition for the preserva- tion of the purity of pronunciation. BESIDE OLD HEARTSTONES; Footprints of the Patriots hitherto obscure features of the lives of the American patriots who formed the 23 IN THE CHURCHES ‘The third sermon in the Advent series at the Church of St. Michael's and All Angels ‘will be preached tomorrow evening by Rev. R. P. Williams of Trinity. These sermons by different pastors have excited unusual interest and are listened to by large con- gregations. Rev. Richard Henry Poynter of Bedford and Elston, England, who is sometimes called the “second John Bunyan,” will speak at the 4 o'clock meeting tomorrow afternoon at the Young Men's Christian Association. Mr. Poynter is regarded as an authority on everything relating to*the life of Bunyan. The ladies of St. Thomas’ P. E. Church have organized a guild and will carry os various branches of church work. Rev. George 8. Duncan, Ph.D. Eckington Presbyterian Church will begin Sunday evening a series of four sermons on the practical teaching of the Book of Jonah. A. R. Sevren, esq., of the civil service commission will deliver a public lecture in the Eckington Presbyterian Church on “Banks and Banking,” December 17. The Bible Class Club connected with that church, taught by H. G. Kimball, will have an “Evening with Sir Walter Scott,” De- cember 15. The following have been selected by the local council of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew as officers for the ensuing term: 3 . Evans o1 St. “hureh; vice president, Col. Cecil Andrew's; corresponding secre- tary and treasurer, M P. Currie of sion; recording secretary, Mr. A. 8. Bayles of ‘St. Thomas. Executive council: Messrs. J. H. Gordon of Christ Church, Georgetown; A. K. Parris of Epiphany; Mr. George Salter of St. John’s, Washing- ton, and Richard Hamilton of the Pro- Cathedral, St. Mark's. The committee having charge of the se- lection of a place of meeting for the next annual national convention of the Brother- hood of St. Andrew has decided that it will be held elsewhere than in Washington, not- withstanding the fact that a previous con- vention of the brotherhood, which was held here, was unusually well attended. As heretofore stated in The Star, the great triennial convention of the Protestant Epis- copal Church of America will meet in Washington next fall. Mother Mary Joseph Hermanna, mother general of the Order of School Sisters of Notre Dame, the headquarters of which afe at Mumich, Bavaria, is expected to visit this city soon. She is now making a tour of inspection to all the convents of the order ir America. Mother Mary ar- rived in New York about two weeks ago, accompanied by Sister Mary Sanctina of the mother house at Munich, and Sister Mary Gisela, director of novices of tng- land. Mother Mary is now in Philadelphia, where she will remain a week, when she will go to Baltimore, and after staying there a short time will, it is exp scjourn for a few days with fr: Washington. After concluding her vacation, which wtil terminate in this city, she will begin ner visitation of the entire country, wi divided into three provinces: The ern, mother house in Baltimore; the southern, mother house in St. Louis, and the w: motaer house in Milwaukee. Moth will spend about one year in visiting the convents of the three districts The order of which Mother Mary is the nds in head is one of the largest of t male orders in the Catholic Church. The mem- b of devote their lives in chiag in convent schools. after: service will tak morrow at the Church of the Cx pastor. », invitation Aine; Rey. Dr. Teunis S. Hamlin, program will be: Organ prelu¢ to worship; hymn; responsive hymn; Scripture lesson; pra FE itation of Apostles’ Creed; offgping; solo; sermon; solo; prayer and c Rev. Milburn, pastor of No Cap- itol M. E. Church, has gone south for a brief vacation. Mr. A. O. Latham has been elected a m™ per of the official board of McKendree M. . Church, vice Mr. Zephaniah Jones, who was killed by being run_o by a bicyclist a few mont go. Most of the other officers of the church have been re- ted for other year. “The members of the E Street Raptiet The : Church, Rev. J Muir, pastor, ha ceeded in reducing the mortgage debt their edifice by $1,000 during the f fest closed. ‘The Christian Ende: y is preparing to hold fts anni prsary. Muir is preaching a series of sorme titled, respectively, “The Sealess Worl, hi ight! Realm.” Sinless Condition," “The Deathless Existence “The Countless Throng. Chapel Sunday school, Rev. J. Fred. Heisse, pr, have been elected for the ensuing ¥ vs: rintendent, Mr. Woo a Mr. John S. Bar- Jennie Bar- Carrie Strat- and Officers of Wesley M. ker, Miss Edith McKe secretary, Mi ant, Fred. McKee; treasurer, A. H. Hiller; libiarian, Mr. Thomas P. Woodward. The senior school of Wesley Church will have ite Christmas services the morning of the 25th at 10:30 o'clock. The comunittee in charge is composed of Messrs, William Redin Woodward, Frank Woodward and Fred. McKee, Miss Jennie Barker and Miss Edith McKee. The intermediate and primary departments of the school will have their annual Christmas festival some afternoon during the holidays. A series of sermons will be preached during the remaining Sundays of December, as f lows: Morning, “A Religion of Joy, “Christmas Sermon_N i, “hristmas: Sermon No. Evening, “Toilers for Bread” and “Practical Religion.” The last Sunday evening of this yeur there will be “A Festival of Music” by the choir, with an address by the pastor. Miss Jessie A. Ackerman of the W. C. T. U., who spoke Tuesday last at a meeting at the Columbian University, has, since engaging in her work, traveled (200,000 miles; has been around the world; held 1,417 meetings, delivered 570 lectures and 447 in- formal addresses. She spoke for temper- ance and purity on forty-one steamers and vessels of war, and in 182 pulpits. She visited 1,140 Sunday schools and 176 day schools; tied the white ribbon on 9,000 women and girls, and received 20,000 pledges of men. She wrote 5,949 letters and 420 newspaper articles, besides 220 letters to home papers; printed 60,000 leafiets and 2,000 manuals, and was seven years em- ployed on her first white ribbon mission. Officers for the Mount Pleasant Congrega- ticnal Sunday school, Rev. M. Ross Fish- burn, pastor, have been elected to serve for the ensuing year, as follows: Superintend- ent, W. J. Bowman; assistant, E. 8. Peck; superintendent of primary department, Miss Jennie Appleby; treasurer, John B. Sleman, jr.; librarian, Paul E. Sleman; chorister, Clarence Exley; pianist, Miss Clara Young; secretary, Miss Imogene Ickis. The bazaar held recently by the ladies of the Mt. Pleasant churth resulted in a net gain to the treasury cf over $300, which will be devoted to the fund for completii the furnishing of the supper room an kitchen of the church. Rev. Dr. 8. Domer, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, will preach an appro- priate sermon before the members of Anchor Lodge, Independent Order of Amer- ‘can Mechanics, at his church tomorrow evening. At a meeting of the Kindergar- ten Club of that church, held this week, @ program was rendered as follows: Pray- er, Rev. Dr. Domer; song, kindergarten training class; club report, Miss Susan P. Pollock; song, Miss Maude Paul; paper, entitled, “Kindergarten Ethics,” Miss Lou- Me Busbee; song, kindergarten training class; Swiss song, Miss Marie Kuhnel; “Stars and Kings,” Lutheran Sunday school class; remarks, Rev. Dr. Domer; paper, “The Vocations of Wife, Mother and Teacher Are Commonly Those for Which We Receive No Training,” Miss Grace Hall; song, Miss Elizabeth Tyler; “The Wheel of the Year,” game, Normal class; song, “Good-bye, Sweet Day,"’ Miss Maude Paul. The officers of the club are: President, Mrs. Louise Pollock; secretary, Miss Mabel to Columbia, Mrs. Belva A. Lockwood. ‘An ¢ evening of sacred music, consisting te rea by Washington talent in St. be rendered v John’s Catholic Church, Forest Glen, to- morrow evening. Rev. Father Mackin of St. Paul's Catho- Providence