Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, January 3, 1892, Page 9

J TWENTY-FIRST Iy PICTURESQUE ~ LISBON. Po1 fketches of the Seven-Hilled City on the Tagus, PO} UGUESE HABITS AND CUSTOMS AJdo .l A o Their ¥ Portugal's ¢ Rese of the Natives to the Irish, Copyrighted, 1891, Lisnoy, Doe. 16,—[Correspondenco of Tie Ber, | It requires nearly tour days of steam- ship travel from Southampton, England, to §"/ reach Lisbon, the seven hilled city upon the 4 broad Tagus. The first Jand you will see is the grand promontory of Rocs, the last upon which Columbus looked when, nearly 400 years ago, he sailed away from Lisbon with his three misarablo little ships and his 120 men. Like a white dovo's wings spread upon an emerald scarf, fair Cintra gleams against old Roca's sides. Shortly your steamer’s course is changad to tho east. Cascase is passed. You have entered a noblo bay which is alone ri- valed by that of Naples, and the horn of whose southern crescent terminates in lofty and sombre Cape Ispichell, Monntains rise picturesquely to the north and east behind this croscent, purple and far and suggestive of illimitable lands beyond, where the great river makes its way through the heights from its source round about the Spanish capital; emerald or puce where the sun, from its I'quid bed in the west, lights the far forests uud flames the serried hoights. Quaint old outlying forts appear; for- trosses of defense and sawute, Then the outor bay narrows to the Ria de Lisboa, Lis- boa’s mouth, and & narrow mouth and throat they are; bristling with forts, capable of parfect defenso in those days without a fort ab all; and aftor a passage of perhaps six miles through this deep and narrow channel youhave entered an inner harbor, twenty miles long, and from threo to seven in width, whora 20,000 suips could ride at anchor in water scarcely stivred by wave or rippie the whole year long. . Pen Pletures of Lisbon, Lisbon is set upon the hills along the north- ern shore. The entire estuary 1s edged with villages and villas. H :re a church, gray and old, half shows from some verdure-clad de- file. There a fishine town is zheckered with white cottages and splatches of drying nets. Yonder a half rnined moaastery, with 1ts lit- tle hamlet of houses creeping up to its walls like patient beggars for protection and alms, fells its story of suppression and con- version to workaday use. Here and there are quaint and ancient docks, reminders of whore the olden gal- leons were built which bore the most intrepid of all men to conquest and discovery of ut- most lands, What wondrous change upon the whole world’s surface, what mighty rov- olutions in civilization, what volumes of his- tory, had their humble origin here! Not to Rome, nor Bngland, should Americans come, reverentially and with guide books like prayer books in hand, as to the cradlo spot of our race. We were born on tne shores of the lordly Tagus. We are Portuguese in in- ception and conception, Our babyhood was rocked in the three old tubs which bore Co- lumbus from Ria de Lisboa to far San Salva- dor. The harbor scenes of Lisbon are full of color and charm., Towers aud ocastles, churches and monasteries, show from all the surrounding heights. The city itself, alinost as white and luminous a8 Algiers rising from the sea, is fair to look upon. Craft of all na- tions are here. Up through the Ria de Lis- boa the west wind is speedine a fleet of fish- ing smacks and feluccas. The lateen sals are of every color and tint in the yellow sun light. Heups ‘of silvery sardines flash and litter beneath the sails, Myriads of hover- ng gulls bear the vast fleet company, for , their wise instinct tells them the fishermen ¥/ mever begrudge them ashare of their daily harvest from the deep. Seagoing Craft, Every manner of the smaller eraft known to Mediterranean wators are plying back and forth. Boats full of customs officials dart from vesscl to vessel, now and then converg- ing towards a narrow archway at tho water's al]fil‘, where the fruits of the chase are tithed and stored. Gentry and peasantry from the surrounding villas and farms are coming and goinz in the outlundish craft pointed like gondolas av both ends, propellod wurthy boatmen with breasts open and hairy (o the waist. ‘The blue and white flag of Portugal flutters from countless harbor masts. Thero are music and laughter on bopt and on shore. The sky above is tho sky of Ttaly, The waters bencath have toat tint of azure which hints of bloom. And when ono has landed at Lisbon aud is at rest upon some pretty balcony, air and sky, sea and mountain, streat and garden, courts and fountains, men aud beasts, women and voices, all sight and sound and seemiug, prompt to delicious siesta nnd enchant to tender re- poso. Lisbon is neither so fair as Florence, so dazzling as Palermo, so brilliant as Puris, nor by any means so impressive as Rome. But its situation, its surroundings and its strik- ing contrasts lend the city and environs a deep and lasting cuarm. Palace, church, mouastery, convent, public building, homo and shop are jumbled togetherin picturesque confusion. Iis parks are many and pleasant, somnolent and restful, rather thap brilliant d grand, Black Horse Square, Down by the water's edge is the fiue broad quadrangle, Praca de Commercio, or Black Horse square, as the English have called it. T'his is bordered by the nuge Stock » exchange, the lndia house, the “‘Alfandega’ or Custom house, the splendid naval ursenal, and the broad quay at the shore of the Tagus. In the center Is the hugest memorial iu Lis- bon, the heroic stutue of King Jose I, whose bistario rolgu was contomporary with our revolution, Forty tons of bronze are in the statuc ulone,supported by a marble horso and ephant curved of equal sizo for symmetry. Leading out of this square to the north isa magnificent triumphal atch; and within the quadrangle, from river to arch, aro Flaulng studios of the great city's commercial lifo in its relution to tho tradé and affairs of foreign nations: while picturesque groupings of Lis- bon boatmen mingied with Portuguese of- * flcials, officers from forelgn war ships, de- lurkhui and embarkiug steamer passengers, with all manoer of strange sailors and men- of-wars' men in thelr various strange cos- tumes, continually change and euliven the scene. To the east a little distance along the broad flue quay is the Pruca dos Romulares, which leads intathe Attero, 8 magnificent seaside trafic thoronghfare of perhaps two miles in length. [u the former are denser crowds of * boatmen and waterside folk, and bere is lo- cated the Caes do Sodve wherestrangers are usually landed. ~Atall hours of day aud night it is ‘an interesting locality, The Lisbon bortmon bave no otherhomes but their boats, {;I them thoy cook their meals and sleep. ‘atil long after midoight you can come upon ' 'a fleets of from & dozén to a scoro of grouped neighborly together, their by owners eating, drinking and singing . & utter abandon of contentment and good naturo. Thoy are a wild and bairy lot, but the Lisbon police tell me they are wholl eaceable, and are governed in all their doal- ngs and relations among themselves by an- elent and unbroken customs and laws. In Lhis respect they are most strikivgly like the fishermen of Claddagh, at Galway, Ireland. They also bear strong physical and facial re- somblance to the latter, which is not to be woudered at, since the iatter, as well as many of the other Lalway Irish folk of the present day, are descended from Spauish and Portu- §UOs0 parent stook. The Business District, Three fine, wide streets extend north from Freco 4o Vommerelo, or Commercial square. YEAR. | Their names correspond in English to Gold, Silver and Cloth streets, from coucentration of traders and trading in ma ared arti- cles from these commodities. This section of the city was entively rebuilt since the great earthquake of 1775, and forms, with the great edifices about Commercial square, what may be properly termed the business district of Lisbon, The northern end of these business streets tern es in another praca, cr park or square ‘tho Praca do Rocio In common pariance 1t is known as Dom Pedro square, 1t is a spiendid quadrangle curiously paved with many colored stones, The Theater de Donna Maria, on the site of the inquisition, forms its northern facade. The tremendous pedestal and plinth of an unfinished monu- ment to Dom Podro 1. stands 1n the center, ‘This square is the favorite evening resort of Lisbon people. It is dominated on the one band by the grand ruins of the Carmo, the monastry of the Carmolite monks, built in the fourteenth century, and on the other by tho castello, or vast castle of St. George from whoso mighty wulls tho most glorious view of the city and envirous can be en- joyed. Haunts of Besutifal Women, IParther toward the mountain heights is the lovely Passcio Publico, This s tho great resort of the better classes of the city, sum- mer and wi It is not large, but, it is e clesod and exquisitely laid out in serpen tine walks, shaded with’ numberless troes, and os 4 wealth of statues, fountains, s and birds. Itisa sweet and song- 0 the year through, The birds never At no hour of nightor day is it dcsertad by gay promenaders, And 1t is here of all places in Portugal, that her beautiful women can be seen at their best. Their faces are less languorous and sensual than those of Spain. Thoy may not have the sauciness und Hash of the French. The melancholy of tho Italian women is lacking. But they are still beautiful and whoiesomo women, with sweetness of mouth, liquidity of eyes and a kindly and honest light in the whole face that compoensate in geuuine admiration and respect any 1oss on the line of seusually sen- timental interost, Besides theso there is thointeresting Praca aa Figueira, or flower market, one of the most attractive places in Lisbon; the Campo Grande, over a mile in length, just av the edge of the the- riding and driv- ing of the aristocracy may bs seen; the Campo da Santa Anua, where the noted Lis- bon rag fair is held weekly; the Praco do Sao Pedro, d'Alcantara, a magniticently shaded promonade, with a shell grotto and fountains, overlooking tho city and harbor, and a score of lesser pracas, squares, gar- dens and parks, where tho ‘wayfarer may tarry, rest and enjoy. Lisbon 13 peoplea by perhiaps 300,000 souls. None of its parks can compare with Central park, New York, or Lincoln aud Jackson parks, Chicago, But Lhavo never visited any city in Iurope in which I have found so great a number of tiny resort places, each different from any other, and every one so interesting in its scparato individuality, beauty and charm, Some Notable Buildings, Architecturally Lisbon in detail is vastly more interesting than beautiful. As you approach it from the sea with its domes and, towors, all flanked by ocastel- lated heights ana purple mountains henind, it is imposing and grand. When you come to wander within it, vou are never astonished or even greatly impressed by its edifices, Iis churches are less intevesting than those of any other city of equal sizc in Europe, The Church of tho Hoart of Jesus, on the sum- mit of Estrella hill,in imitation of St. Peter's at Rome, without the colonnade, is the most pretentious in Lisbon. The Church of Sao Domingo, the see of the Cardinal Patriarch, near the Rocio, is vast in_proportions. The mortuary charch of Sao Viceute is interest- 1ng chiefly from 1ts containing, in curious gilt boxes, the remains of the iliustrious dead of the royal house of Braganca, The tiny cburch of Sun Roque,with its famous chapal of St. John, attracts all visitors on account of its marvelous mosaics. These, forming the back and sides of the structure,ara copies in veritable size of Raphael Urbino’s De- scent of tho Holy Ghost, Guido’s Aununcia- tion of Michael Angelo's Baptism of Christ. The wonderful perfection of this work is shown in the fact that from any ordinary voint of observation, uo difference between them and the originals can be detected. More curious still the entire chapol and its interior decorations were first set up in Rome, blessed by Pope Benedict XIV., taken down and transferred to its present sito, Its cost has been millions and there 1s probably not in the whole world such treasure in art work, silver, gold and precious stones, 1 sacred edifico of equal diminsion: The Charm of Contrast, It is the charn of extromo coutrast and ondless change which holds and makes one love old Lisbon. There are no two streets, pracas, churches, public uildings, shops or homes ulike. Away from the half dozen mod- ern business streets it is almost the sawe Lisbon that Columbus krew. Here is a shadowy stop of one story where grimy men fzrope about among gritty piles of charcoal. The next building may be a three or ftive story structure housing the richest of waves, whose upper stories are fancifully decovated in gorgeous paints and gilts. Next to this on one side of a dark passage jolly cobblers beat ceaseless staccatos, a cut- ler grinds and hammers on the other, and away in thero @ stream of light slkows ex- quisite stairs leading to some enclosed court where a homo of opulence is embvedded in vines and roses. Everywhere are ponderous base and arch, huge column and tremendous outablature, often supporting buildings whose insignificance is ludicrously startling. In many of tho older public edifices the architecture is Moorish, or semi-Moorish,and the facades are often flanked by square towers and diminutive Saragenic domes. The general plan of shop aad abode in the an- cient portions of tho city is, the shop pelow and the home above; or the lower story is used as a sort of en- trada to walled-in home structures i the rear, or the habitation above. In the latter case theso entradas are tempovary shops for itinerant cobblers, cutlers, saddlers aud the like, or lounging- places for beggars, donkoys and'goats. But however unsayory may seom the ground floor of, or the strest entrauce to, any structure, the upper stovies of the same, or the pretty home nests behind, afford abundant compensation in picturesque group- ings and scenes. Flirting from the Balconles, Balconies_are as universal as in Havana, Valiadolid, Madrid or Seville. Some project from supports of carved stone. Others rest with awry insecurity upon farcifully wroughv timbers, and stil others may be seen in tho daintiest putterns into which brass and iron may be wrought. Many are latticed; and in this lattice work are odd little slides and gates, Behind these the fair Portuguose women eat their dainty salads, of which they are inordinately fond, and sip their wines and ices, And from u partially opened lat- tica as you pass you will cateh glances from lovely éyes, and us often smiles and coquet- tish looks ‘from roguish faces. The Lisbon waidens must be chary of their looks upoa frionds or straugers in the streets; but social custom gives them the somewhat compensn- tive and altogerher biessed right to flit des- porately with vou from the lofty and safe outposts of their balconied alcobas, As one passes towards the outskirts of Lasbon, all of that suggestive of the home is pleasanter still, Lhere is a hint of snugness n the high surrounding, vine-covered walls of yards and courts. Here the open court of the Spaniard and the Moor becomes more common and more beautiful. It shelters the home-gatherings and belongings of the average family. All its membors are more or less within it, or within reach of voice from it. Many lovely flowers and clamber- ing vines light up the place in winter as well as in summer duys. The murmurous fall of water is always ‘heard, for no patio is with- out ita tountain, Aud poor indeed is the home in old Lisbon that has not its walled garden with a wealth of flowers, plants, um- brageous trees aud quaint, tiled, ground- sunken troughs through which the water is ceaselessly whimpering and whispering— for all the gardens are thus irrigated—while every court ana garden is melodions with the songs of xcores of those matchless brown canaries which are weekly brought, hun dreds upou hundreds, from tho summwit isles of the Azores. Evaan L. WAKEMAN, - Phe Chicago papers aupounce Miss Julla Oicer of Council Bluffs, now studying musio i Cnicago, as one of the principals ata rousi- caloto be given in Kenwood unext Friday evenlug. OMAHA, SUNDAY INGENIOUS FINANCIAL SCHEME Lazard, Freres & Co. of Paris Astonish the Moneyed Men of the World, WHY AMERICAN GOLD WAS WITHDRAWN. France Sending the Yellow Metal In Large Amounts to this Country—Startling Disclosures of t Interest, Panis, Dec. 22.-[Special Correspondence of Tnr Bre, |—Although at all times the outflow of gold from the United States to Kurooe has attracted much attention ever since the amount bogan to assume _large proportions, thero has never been so mich attention given to this subject as during the present year, It is a well known fact that the total value of the precious motal exported in this way has greatly exceeded $50,000,000, part of which has come to Kurope in the ordinory course of business aud the remainder has been at- tracted by a scheme so ingenious that it has been the subject of endiess discussion in nearly all countries and all languages. The fact of the matter is that a firm of the highest standing, put little known in Paris, London or Berlin as far as regular exchange or arbitrage business is concerned, has come tothe front with the scheme iu question, which has involved a sum of not less than 185,000,000 francs, or say $37,000,000, the greater part of which has fallon upon France, the country which, -under ordinary circum- stances, would this year not have taken a cent from America, In fact the Paris ex- change in New York has, during the period in which the shipments of gold have taken place, risen from 520 francs to about 523 francs for sixty days’ sight bills, a rate never allowing the withdrawal of the precious metal as tho so- called gold poinc does not. work out higher than about 515. This exchange, of course, means sight bills, so that about 2!¢ francs have to be added for the interest. In other words, the long exchange tn New York or Paris ought to have been quoted at least at 517} in order to allow Paris barkers to take gold from America for the sake of sell- ing it to the Bankof France. Generally apeaking, there 1s no othor buyer or gold in this country than our first credis establish- ment, which pays tho highest price for eagles, viz: 3003 francs 30 centimes per kilo gross weight, making the ity of $100 equal to 516 fraucs and 32 centimes for sight bills, At the same timo the bank takes the Joss of interest during the voyage upon itself, so that only about 8 poer. thous- and forwarding charges have to be taken into cousideration. The gold point through eagles works, therefore, as stated above, at say 515, So much for the technical side of the operation, which, indeed, ought to have been buiit on only the consideration of the rate of exchange. But, strange to say, the more francs rose in New York, or, to be more cor- reet, the more the French currency became depreciated in America the larger were the orders sent from Paris to New York for gold, which apparently was taken from theco with a very beavy loss by this very firm, Lazard, Freres & Co., who worked the business on joint account with their New York and London houses. Then began the inquiries, first from other bankers who could not understand such a losing business, then from tho press, whose bewilderment assumed in the course of time quite astounding proportions, and led to the most extraordinary suppositions, and last but not least from various governments, who went even so far as to racognize in the with- drawal of American gold, so to suy, at any price, the effort to zmass & war treasury on the partof the French government. Itis needless to stato that all these ideas wers quite wrong and that Messrs. Luzard, Freres & Co. were neither acting for tne french treasury nor did they bvear the loss resulting from this losiug business thewselves. With all that, the very nature of th=scheme did not come to light, but in fact remained a mystery to overybody in the new as well as the old world. All the members of the firm maintuined an absolute silence, and neither their competitors nor the press have received any 1oformation whatever from them. The directors of the Bank of France refuse like- wise to answer any questions put to them, but this much became known luter on that this establishment had engaged itself to re- turn to the firm the very same gold in the autumn at the purchasing price without any premium whatever. in other words, Lazard, 1'reros & Co. have the call, as the stockhol ers’ term goes, for s0and so many million dollars 1 cagles at 8,003 francs, 30 centimes per kilo, making the sight exchange equal, as stated bofore, to 516 francs and 82 centimes tor $100. This fact, coupled with some news which T collected from certain corn merchants New York and Paris to_the effect that they had instructed Messrs, Lazard, Freres & Co. to cover the F'rench purchases of wheat for delivery in the fall, gave me the cue at once for the whole transaction. To me it was clear divectly that these very same corn merchants bad te bear the brunt of all the losses falling apparently upon Messrs, Lazard, I'reres & Co., and from this point of view there was no longer any mystery about these transactious, which, indeed, havo puzzled the whole world, and which nobody eould understand, With- out a_tempting to give all the details I think the following will give a_correct idea of the principal object in view for all 1nterested 1n the aflair, that is to say ths covering of the French éxchauge in New York, or, what practically comes to tho same thing, of the American exchange for delivery in Paris. In pownt of fact 8s soon asa bargain in wheat was struck on E'rench account Messrs, Lazard, Frores & Co. drew on Paris or Lon- don, at no matter what rate, and shipped the proceeds of these drafts in gold to their 'aris house, whion took them to the bank with the understanding that they would get it returned in the autumn in the same shape and at the same price. In this way & basis for tho establishment of the rate of exchunge for the dollar to serve for the payment of the American wheat had been obtained in the Safest and easiest way possible, and all that Messrs, Lazard, Freres & Co. had to do afterwards was to add the forwarding chargas for the gold from New York to Paris and back again from Paris to New York to this very exchango— in other words, twice three per thousand and a certain loss of interest for the return of the gold, together with a slight bonus claimed by the bank for having a corre- sponding amount of long French bills deliv- ered to it by the firm at the official bank rate, Altogether, thereforo, about 7 per thousand had to be added to this parity of 516 francs and 32 centimes for §100. But here the matter evidently does not eund. Messrs. Lazard, Freres & Co. will, as a matter of course, have claimed a commission from the corn mer- chants, which it does not behoove me to fix, besides the diffevence between the oxshange at which they have been drawing each time on Europe, and the above fixed rate had equally to be borne by them. In this way U per thousand have had to be taken iuto consideration @s sundry charges, togetner with a certain difforence betweaen the two rates of exchungo comlug {nto play, aud on the average the covar of tho IKrench wheat purchases may therefore have cost the corn merchants 523 for sight bills, "This, 4n my opinion, is the exvlanation of the withdrawal of American gold for French account at & time when the New York rate on Paris has been by no means favorable to France, nay, had regularly moved in the other direction, In getting hold of the lever to set this wonderful machinery going, Messrs. Lazard, Freres & Co. have proved quite equal to the situation. On the other hand the Bank of France, in lending its ad to this operation, has actea wisely, for the single reason that part of the gold sent to America in payment for tho wheat bought there on French account has aiready been found at any rawe, ‘The amount iu question, MORNING, JANUARY 3, 1892—SIXTEEN PAGES. e, is only about 135,600,000 fraics, or 000,000, but:this already goes a long as At the same time Frénch bills have been sold for delivery iu Afmerica at conven- fent prices, ] As regards the United States the caso is very simple. All the gold slipped to Irance has in point of fact only been lent, 5o to say, to the bank and will be returncd in due course, tozether with other K'rench gold bars und coin, Of course our American friends must prepare themselves for some troublo with respsst to a certain promium which un- doubtedly will be rstablished in France even ou ordinary 20-franc pieces as timo draws on. At present the monoy changer: buy them ata slight premium, while ths bank pursues an expectant policy. But this much is cortain that ous first credit estup- lishmeat will satisfy all legimate demands and on this occasion’ America will be particu- larly favored. There te a general feeling in our financial circles to the offect that the outflow of gold from Krance to the United States alone wili greatly exceed the total of the sums which have been sent from thero to Europe, gencrally spedkiug, this year. While wo therefore may havo to pass an unpleasant hour here the outlook for America in this re- speet cannot but be very hopeful, OrromMar Haver, ——— HONEY FOR THI LADIES. Straw embroidery on a silik ribbon 18 novel, costly and perishable. Raisod stripes like cords appear on satin reps and peau de soie grounds, Among the novelties in shades ara ‘rine wheat,” & pale straw, and ‘laiton,” brass color* Black moire ribbon promised to be taken up by the fashionable modistes as a dress trunming. A shot green and yellow gauze {s beauti- fully combinod with a train of green velvet lined with lace. Heavy bead fringe is often combined with fur for trimming velvet or plush robes, also for street garments. White tecks, puffs and four-in-hands in white or bright colors af® wora for afternoon affairs or semi-dross, “Refined gall’’ is announced in social cirgles to be the best specific for whitening the sin. Of course the blushes have to be painted in. Rosoettes of all sizes, long bows and tiny ribbons run through' lace neading are some of tho fashionable trimmings appearing abroad. Some of the very new and elegant French evening toilots are cut in extremely old- fashioned style, with low bodices and long sleaves quite to the wrist. A new boot with military heel, glace kid vamps and cloth tops, lined throughout with atin, has beeu christened the “‘Langtry” and is much in fayor for street wear. The boat-shaped hat ip biack felt, trimmed with a flat velvet bow and jet buckle in the front and with three ostrich tips at the back, is a popular style for young 'ladies, Sleeves are less high at the shoulders, but aro made wider; sowme sleeves have the full- noss drawn down in pleats to the elbosw. from thonce to the wrist being very close fitting. ] Therichness and elezauce of the now drass material tends to make the plain styles still preferable, as they show the material to better advantage than a more elaborate style would do. Great muffs of cinnamed bear aro par- ticularly handsome, and there are large satchel purses to match. A mutf of blue fox, v2d fur that is specially pretiy, looking something like moufflon, sellsat $20. A now figure in the cotillon promised for this season is to be daweed v means of hoops covered with tissue paper; through which, at a given signal, each ludy thrusts her head and claims as partner the'geutleman nearest ner. A pretty coat for litfle girls of from 8 to 10 years of age is called tho “Greenaway.” It is made of yellow or old pink, or old green velvet, and is edged and trimmed with sable, The capote is also of velvet and egad with sable. Corduroy and velveteen, 112 silky faced kind_ koown as wamekeeper's velveteon, which stands any amount of hard wear and rough usage, is employad by tailors for skuting costumes, shopping suits, storm coats and reefers, The new gronadines are striped with moive in self and contrasting colors. Some of the black gronadines in plain sewing silk weave are striped with a brilliant arvay of colors yellow, red and blue, like the Roman ribbon stripes so popular a score of years ago. A now hair ornament is shown in the form of a diamond.set gold ribbon that fastens about the head like an ordinary ribbon and ties in a bow just a little to the left of the conter. The trinket is 1a two parts and can bo easily converted into #hecklaca and bow knot, pin for the throat. Some beautiful dyes have been added to the winter color _list, which are an effectivo and charming offset to the standard shades, notably a new tint in red gold, a rich russot, deeply tinged with orange; Da Vinci, the ex- quisite tint in violet; some fine wine dyes, and also many mauve, pink and rose cotors. To a beautiful figure nothing is more be- coming than a close, perfectly fitted bodice, with the drapery of the skirt applied to it just o few inches below tho waist and finished with passementerie or other flat trimming, Although mat by any meaus a new fashion, it is not out of date, nor yet likely to bacome so. Tt is still very much the fashion to button the sleeve from the wrist to the elbow, and to fasten the bodice under the arm. Belts, especially in the form of, corselets or girdles, are worn with tailor gowns which are cut in- creasingly in the princesse shape, or pointed coat-tail bodice. All have moderatoly hich f:(‘)llllr and slceves, and the skirts universally ‘dip." Bretelles appear upon many of the new toilets designed both for children, misses and slender matrons. Soma aro made of the dress goods, others of bengaline, surah, etc. Bre- telles of lace, velvet or silkc are seen that are a mere point'at the waist-line, widening to almost cover the shoulders. Thence they pass to the back of the neck in full-flowing ploats like & Stuart frill. Oneof the fashionableevents of the present month at Par:s is the officers’ annual ball and its principal atiraction is the battle of flowers, for which the officers supply the flowers' to the ladies. Two years ago 2,000 bouquets formed the ammunition of this battlo; last year tha mumber rosa to 5.000, but this year no less thaw 20,000 bouguets have been ordared. A maff of Russian imperial sable costs $300. For $40 is shown & chinebilta muff of the darker portions of the fur, charge being made for the waste. Genuine chinchiila is com- paratively scarce, A largeg proportion of the market chinobiila is squirrel. Tho finest chinchilla is said to comé from the north of Germany, though the coat of thesouth Amer- ican animal 1 pretty enough, certainly. A tollet for New Year's day sent to the wifo of a sonator at Washington was of manve and silver brocade, out en princesse, tho +.irt in superb folds at the back and clos: .nd sheath-like in froat, but siashed to the wauist at intervals, aud lined with silver- white silk. The bodice has a Murie An- tolnetta collar of plain mauve satin overlaid with creamy pearl passementerie. This decoration also trims tbe mauve cuffs and Wilton Lackaye has returned from Eng- land, and he remarked to a reporter: ‘‘Now that T am in a position to know their receipts in London I can smila to myself when L hear some returned American stars tell about thoir business and treatmont over there. The truth is that the English do aot like America or Americans, and that whenever and how- ever Lhoy can turn against us, they will. The one charm of London life is that nobody cares what you are doing, so you have freedom from inquisitive peaplo, In winter the place is dreadful. Nearly all the Americans have gone home, and the most of those who are leit are the strikais and beggars who hang around to ‘touch’fhe stray man who turns up in affiuence. Phen you must make your choice botween these and the natives.’’ - A Stradivarius vivlin, dated 1715, has lately beon acquired at Munich by Sin- sheimer for the sum of somo 81,940, The instrument has been restored by Feravezy, :lhu well known violin manufacturer of Ber- o, | TERRITORY ~ OF A Vast Extent of Country Unknown to Average Readers, ALASKA, SEEN THROUGH A NEBRASKAN'S EYES Miner W. Bruce Gives a ric- turo of These Lands—Habits of the People, Graphie ‘ar Northern Jusrav, Alaska, Doc. 1.—[Spacial corres- poudence of I'nk Br t was after my ar- rival at this placo, having settled down to writo the result of my observations, that I first realized the magaitude of this territory, and the great distance I have covered during the past few months As my lotters will, for the prasent, deal with that sectisn far beyond the limits tray- eled by the ordinary Alaska tourist, 1 will designate it by tho term known among tho white residents of this sountry, namoly, “‘to the westward.” Thoy epeak of this territory as “southoast” Alaska ana ‘“‘to the west- ward,” the name Alaska being as indefiuite with them as the genacal term United Statos would ve, if ons was attempting to describe the people, olimate or resources of any par- ticular section, The vwo portions of Alaska are divided at the one hundred and forty-first docree of longitude, Mount St. Elias veing utilized as a corner stake, tho territory to the east containing less than one-sixth as many square miles as that furthor to tko west, While the climato of Southeast Alaska is very similar to that ‘‘to the westward,” there is u great difference in the people and their cnaracteristics. Of this I will speak in tho future. Tho genoral appearance of the country also widely differs. The heavily timbered mountains which follow the coast line from its most southeasterly point, and which continues almiost in ons unbroken strotch as far wost as the dividing line, here suddenly disappear, giviog place to moun- tains which, with fow excoptious, are lass abrupt and whose surface is covered with a thick growth of grass. That portion of the territory known as Southeast Alaska extonds back from tide- water a distance of thirty miles, whila on the other side of the line it is noarly 700 miles from salt water to the northern boun- dary, and this territory is very nearly squara. 3 With all "hat has been said about Alaska since it passed into the possession of the United States in 1867, there are compara- tively few people who will think you are serious when you tell them that the extent of Alaska in square miles will equal that of the eustern, middle and southern states, and when, to further show the vastness of this unknown land, you teli them that 1f they will undertake to travel from the most easterly to the most westerly point of the American pos- sessions, alter they have veached Sau k'ran- cisco they have not gotten half way by nearly 400 milos, thoy will open their eyes ‘and ex- claim, “Is it possiblel” And when you fuvthor add that horses, catile, sheep and swine are turned out to pick their own living during the winter months; that they seldom encounter weather with tho mercury lower than zero, and that they show up in the spring 1n as good condition as thoso upon the great rauges of our western territories, they are liable to accuse you of trying to impose upon them, and set you down as a fit candi- date for a lunatic asylum, Yet, I can vouch for the truthfulness of the statement, and by way of adding a little spice to the story, will embellish it with some forget-me-nots I gatherad in front of a mi: sionary’s houso on the 23th of last month, al- most undor the very shadow of that mighty monarch of tho bills and clouds, Mount S BElias, and to make it more puiatable, will offer them & stem of white and tender celery which I dug up ashort time before, neariy 400 milos further west. Tt is not my purpose just now to discuss the agricultural or horticultural possibilities of this country. Perhaps by acd by I may have occasion t0 make some reference to this subject, and 1f so, skall present a picture taken from, showing what & “‘hay harvest” lools like in Alaska, and what the climate of this country will do for certain kinds of crops, which, like Topsy in “Uncle Tom’s Caoin,” “just'come up,” without the foster- 1ng care of & practicsl busbandman, It may perhaps serve to convince those who still be- lieye Soward’s purchase good for nothing but fur seals and blubber eating savages, to the contrary, “Che seat of government of this territory is located in southeast Alaska. It is situated over 2,200 miles east of the exirene western limt of the territory, and until the first of last July the only communication betweesn the capital and “'to the westwurd” was by & United States revenuo cutter, which once or twice & year mado & cruise to some outlying settlements, or from San Francisco by some vossel engaged in the whaling or Hshing business. But now direct communication 1s had, a mail route having boen established a few months ago which calls for monthly service from April to Octover between Sitka aud Unalaska, the lattor place being thue western terminus, 1,500 iniles from Sitka, A small steam schooner was employed for carrying the mail on this route the past season, and it roquired about thirty days to make tho round trip. My journey to western Alaska was not ac- companied with such comforts as tho average traveler prefers. I took passageona small schooner engagod in the cod fishing business, It was over thirty years old, and although considered perfecily sea worthy, had baraly accommodations for its crew of eight men, most of whom were Norwegians who spoke very little English. Its sailing capacity would not exceod eight miles per hour under the most favorable conditions, Inless than twelve hours after the tug which towed us outside the Golden gate had cast us adrift, and alnost within sight of San Fraucisco, we commenced a strugglo with the elements which, with slight inter- ruption, lasted for thirty days, and during all this time we did not once sixht land, and not & sail or the welcoming smoke from a dis- tant steamer greeted our vision, ‘The lingering fragrance of codfish which pervaded every corner of our little ship was 1orever present, and 1 was by no means ro- leved of the loueiiness of my surroundings after [ discovered, whon but a few days at sea, that there was stowed away in thé for- ward hold several tons of giant powder piled loosely ono box upon another. At times & heavy sea would striko the ves- sel, jarring hor from stem tostern, and I fouud mysclf wondoring whether this pow- der might not explode, as it has often done by coucussion, 1 found a grain of consola- tion, however, in tho thought that if it should we 'would never know what struck us, and probably not a grease spot would be Joft to tell the tale, The monotony of our long trip was ro- lieved by occasional incidents, some of which were ludicrous and others exciting, Almost immediately after passing through the Golden Gate, a dozen or more sea fowls known among the suilors as gurne were observed following in the wake of the vessel. They were about the size of a gooze and of & dark gray color. I noticed whenover any food was thrown overboard they immediately flew towards it, and sowetimes settled with- in a few feet of the vessel, sngerl{ devouring what bad been thrown away. I prepared a book and line, baiting it with a piece of salt pork, and threw it into the water. Immediately a rush was made for the bait, and iu less time than it takes to tell it, I bad hauled a splenaid specimen upon the deck. The point of the hook had caught in its bill, and as long as the line was bhelt taut, the gurney was a prisoner, but when slackoned, it immediately fell oft. The only damage done the fowl, was the surprise it ex- perienced at being dragged out of the water. hen once landed upon the deck, it could oL gather sufliclent alr to furnish propellivg 4 simw | THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE. power for its huge wings, which measured over five fect from tip to tip. They would nip viclously with their bills, but if cars was used 1 picking them up, they could be andlod with little offort. I procured a pieco of canvas six inches square, upon which I printea_ with indelible ink, ‘“Schooner Arago, Latitude 41, Longitude 143, Omana Bie, and aftor cutting a_siit in it, slipped it over the head of one aud threw it overboard, It immodiately flow towards tho east, and finally disappearad. Nothing was seen of it again until the thirteenth day after, when it whs obsorved among some others, and it was still wearing the canvas about its nock. It followed us all that day, but could not be in- duced to touch the bait I threw out to it. One morning beforo breakfast I caught eight of these garneys in less than halt an hour. They were not thought to be good eating but their plumage was soft and downy, and would make & handsome spaci- men i stuffed and mounted. On tho twentieth day, wo saw fur seal. It was lying on its asleap with fts tail oxtending toward its head, and it seomed _to be clasning its tail with'its flippers. \We could ewsily have shot it, but there was a heavy swell on st the time, und it would huve béen aifficuit to havo 1aunched & boat with which to have picked it up. A few nights after this I was awakened by hearing loud calls for help. I immediately rashed on deck and got to the bow of the ship st in time 10 so0 the first inato throw onto tho deck a good sized fur seal. He hip- pened to be looking over the side of the ship and the night bowng dark saw somo object swimming along, leaving in -its whako, bright phosphorescent streaks as it flitted about. The mate inmediatoly throw the ond of a boat hook into the water, and the object swam toward it. Ho swung him- self on to tho chains extending from the bow 1o tho jibboom, and after twoor three at- tempts to thrust the hook into it, finally su coedod. As soon as the sealwas thrown upon the deck, he started for the sailor who nad gone to the mate's assistance, with his mouth open, and would have bitten him had hie not struck it over the head with an oar. Ona would hardiy think a seal could muke much headway out of wator, but it makes such good use of nis tail and flippors, that it becomes one to move lively when a wounded seal starts for him. It was a splendid speci- men of the fur seal, about half grown, its Ivory tipped fur, soft and glossy, mado mo wish for a small ' interest in the fur scal islands about, which there has boon so much talk of late, from the product of which, many men have been made rich, aod many auother covetous. MiNer W. Bruce, R S A PROTEST. our first back fast The People of Wilcox Want way Facilities, WirLcox, Neb., Dec. 30.—To the Editor of Tue B Wilcox people have at . last reached tho limit of their patience. We have not had a decent train sorvice on either the B, & M. or Union Pacific railroads for over eighteen months. We did not kick last year as we are disposed to be fair, and we realize that tho railroad interests as well as everything else suffered by the failuro of crops. Now it is different, and our citizens are thoroughly aroused by the shameful treatment we have received at the hands of both of our railroads. We practically have no mail service, Trains onthe B. & M. leave Holdrege in the morning just before all trains of importance on the main line arrive and thoy arrive in Holdroge in the evouing just after, and sometimes many hours after, all traius of importance on the main line have departed. The Uniou Pacific makes no connections, east or west, with mlf‘!nhu.', not even with freight trains, The Union Pacitic depot burned’ some time aco and no move has been make as yet to ro- place it. Theold freight car, which now does duty as a depot, i8 a half a miloup town, although land is so cheap in this country. After it was burned down a petition was presented asking the railroad to locate tho depot in town, but although signed by four- fifths of the patrons of the road and the land upon which to construct the depot was of- fered, it was of no avail, and the ofticials say it will be built where it was before. The B. & M. has not had one train in tweaty on time during the past year. The train from the cast is due here between 8 a. m, and 9 a. m. and it arrives here regularly botween 9 p. m. and 9 a. m. People coming from tho east get along all right until they get vo Hastings, or Holdrege, or Blue Hill or some place within fifty miles of here but when they want to get to Wilcox then the trouble begins. Conductors never tell tho passengers how to get hera, simply because there is no way they can do so. We can seo trains north of us every few minutes on the line from Kenesaw to Oxford, and we can hear the whistlo on the road south of us. but we get nothing. One of our business mon had to go to Alma, the terminus of the Union Pacific, twenty-five miles from here, three timos this wee! Once he wont to Minden and ‘*doubled the born” via Oxford; once he drove to Axtell ana doubled ugain, and once he went on & bicycle, He wanted to go an- other night and gov left, Train reported four hours late, but by some scratch it ot in only two hours late. The State bank or- dered currency from Omaha a few days ago and gov it in five days, when it ought to nave received it in forty-eight hours, We have about twenty copies of Tur DaiLy Beg taken in town. Subscribers are afraid they will have to stop them, as by the time they reach them they huve ‘‘whiskers on them,” We are going to make a strong effort to have a star route established from Axtell to this place so thut we can get our mail and expross before 1t gots mouldy. A repre- sentative business man has started for Washingten and will go loaded with petitioas to the United States Mail depart- ment for railway mail service or a star route from Axtell. We mean business and propose to have something or know the freason why. Our business men are enterprising and wide awake, but we have not had half a show. We had to'pay outrageous prices for lots in the first place to the B. & M. officials, and wo supposed we would bave at least decent trastment, but in this we are disappointed, and we don’t propose to put up with it any longer. We propose to have mail and ex- press facilities, and 1f the Postofico depart- ment, railway commission, or some ono el\e, does not take this in hand we will try the courts, At u mass meeting of the citizens of our town recently this lutter was read and unan- ijmulwly approved, and it was resolved to ask Tue Bl mant of the facts, Henry Wilcox, G. D. Coutant, postmaster; G. H. Betz, druggist; L. E. S. Mitchell, George Shetter, lumberman; D, A. Bradford, Merchant; C. G, Nelson, merchant; J. [, sgow, favmer; H, W. Overtake, jeweler; B. L. H. Mitchell, livery and harness; . Snell, dealer in hardware; C. H. Headbury, clerk; D, C, Si lumper dealer; Moore, J C. H. Mowrey, farme . M. Funk, butcher; H. W. Sam- uels, C. E. Davenport, J. F. Coutant, carpen- ter and countractor; M, W. Collins, shoe- maker: R. E. Wright, painter; J. Edgar Black, toller Bank of Wilcox; William T, Boyd, physician; H. 8. Glaze, marblo dealer; T. M. Shelton, €. W, Gisbwiller, farmer, and Gaylord Wright, hardware dealer, Hexgy We Better Rail- 00X, John Madison Morton, author of man. farces, died a few days ago in Londol Theatergoers who are not familiar with Mr. Morton’s same will recognize the titie of many of his piecos. Among his pleces are “Box and Cox,” “A Regular Fix,” **Wood- cock’s Little Game,” “let On Parle Fran- cais,” *Lend Me Five Shillings,” und many others. His plays, generally written in ono aot, are favorites with amateurs and are fre- quently revived by professionals when a cuvtain lifter s required. He began to write for the stage nearly sixty years ago and as atly as 1885 a farce called “Going It was produced at London, In 1881, upon the recommenda- tion of the queen, Mr. Morton was appointed a ‘“poor brother of ths Charterhouse.” Here, in & quiot spot in the heart of London, the veteran playwright passed the last decade of his life, Mr. Morton was born in 1811, His death was caused by old age. A week previous to bis death, conscious of his approaching end, he sent & message of fare- ell to the London playgoers, to publish it as the honest state- | JoW. o l PAGES 9-16. ' NUMBER 200 RUNNING DOWNTHE RUSTLERS Vigorous Treatment of a Dakota Gang Fif- toen Years Ago, SEVERAL OF THEM ''SCARED TO DEATH." The Culbertson Family Sought Trouble and Found It—The Country Purged of Thieves by olo Remedies, Cuumereary, 8. D, Doo. 81.—[Speoial to Tue Bee.|—The vigorous methods boing pur- sued by the cattlemen 1n Wyoming and west- ern South Dakota for the suppression of the numerous bands of catle and horse thieves recalls instances of almost similar character that occurred during early days in eastern Dakota territory and northern Nobraska, At the tume reforred to, about fifteen yoars ago, Dakota and somo portions of northern N braska were but thinly settled, but the men composing the weager population were fully equal to the emorgency, and, when once & be- gioning had been made, soon broke up and routed the different bands that were engaged in running off cattle und Forsos belonging to farme One of the worst bands in existe ence at that time was known as the “Cul- bertson gung.” In 1871 August. Culbertson and family re- moved from Clay county to the vicinity of Springfield, Bon fomame couuty, Dak. In the family were four iboys, Andrew, Han- son, Nolson and August, jr., and a daughter named Sarab, all small children, varying in ago from 2 to 12 year ‘he carcerof the boys was an eventful and well worth recording. KEven at an early age they developed traits that led ther to commit many petty depredations in the nity of their bhome. As early as 1877 farmers in that section began missing cattle and horses, and an investigation fastened the crimes upon the Culbertson boys. On seve eral occasions the oldest boy, Androw, was arrested and lodged in jail, but all this failed to reclaim himeelf and brotuers from the evil path thoy had chosen. Finally the peo- ple became weary of the failuro of tho efforts to reform the boys, and the farmers put guards over tho cattle aua horses, as well as over the boys. Findiue that things were be- comng too warm for them, the boys and s number of their followers went to northern Nebraska. Establishing headquarters in @ convenient spot, the boys and their frionds continued their operations. Their modo of working was to come into tne counties of Yankton, Bon Homme and Charles Mix, on the Dakota side of the river, steal cattile and borses from the scattering farmers through this territory aud run them off to Nebraska where they would be disposod of. They also operated in the Niobrara valloy in Nebraska, aud 1n addition were charged with stealing ponies from the Iudiaus on tke Sioux reser- vation. The notorious Doc Middleton aud gung hud previousty operated in the Niobrara valley, ana the farmors there were very bif ter against the *‘rustiers” who had well nigh vuined them. Accordingly, when the presence of the new gang of thieves had become known, the farmers in order to protect themsclves were compelled to organize a vigilunce committee. They soon got after tho Culberison boys, succeeded 1 capturing two of thom, Andrew and Hanson. While preparations were being made to hang Audrew, who was the groatest coward in the gang, ho bogged for his life and promised to tell tne names of all persons balonging to the band aud point out, as far s possible, stolen stock then in poss session of the thieves, provided the commit~ teo would spare his life. The vigilants finally coneluded that if he would give thom the 1nformation promised thoy would tufd him over to the proper authoritios, where he could be doalt with according to law. He gave the names of Weatherwax, Hoyt, old man Wade, his brothers, “Kid” Wade and others, who' liad been suspected of horse stoaling for many years and wqre then in that section of the country. It was also re- ported that bo pointed out'some sixty head of horses and ponies that the gang had se- croted in various gulchos in that vicinity, vreparatory to runaing them off and selling them. Andrew was then turned over to the stato officers by the vigilauts, together witi™ tho information he had divulged. He w afterwards sentenced to eight years st ha labor in the Nobraska peuitenti Hanson Culbertson, the other brother captured by the vigilance committes, was found a few days nfterward hanging to & tree with his body mddled with bullets, and his legs eaten off by coyotes or some other wid animals. ‘The vigilance committee ook possession of the horses aud ponies recov- ered from the thieves, and the animals were returned to their owners as fast as possible, The committea then huntea down the bal« ance of the band, capturing Weatherwax, Hoyt and old man Wade. The three d poradoes were promptly executed, Weather wax and ald man Wade being shot to death and Hoyt being, hung. Hoyts father re- sided in the valley, and the vigilants know- ing him to have frequently bharbored the thieves, rode to his house, st fire to it and told the old man to leave the country forth= with or suffer the conseauences, “Kid Wade, one of the worst and most daring of the thieves, was captured in Iowa a year or two afterwards. He was brought back and turned over to the sheriff of Holt county, Nobraska, who took him to a hotel in a small town on the Kikhorn road to remain over night prior to placing him 1 jail the next day. During the night a small crowa as- sembled at the hotel, took Wade from the sheriff, aud proceoding to a whistlng post noar the town, threw a rope over the oross piece of the post, placed it around tho neck of the doomed man and pulled him up., His body was found hangiog to the post the next morning. ‘The vigorous crusade of the vigilance com- mitteo thoroaghly cieaned the thieves from the valley, ~the escaped desperadoes going to different portions of the west. This committee was probably one of the best ever organized in the west. It was not known who was tho leader or who any of the men were who composed it, but they did their work in a wanner thag wou the praise of all frontier peoplo. T commenced their duties in w systematio fashion, und the first taste of blood did not ¢xcite them to deeds of brutality on 1nnocent porsons, but they pursued their work of purging tho country of thisves in a quiet but determined manner that left no doubt but that they were in dead earnest and would brook no interferance. After ridding the valey of the ‘‘rustlers” tho committeafjwas disbanded, and the members quiotly returned to their homes and resumeds the irregulap occupations, Andrew Culbertson, after serving his term in the Nebraska penitentiary, wandered wesh to the Black Hills country, and the next heard of him und bis brother August, who had in the meantime joined him, was last winter during the closing days of the ludl?n trouble at Pine Ridge agenvy. It will still readily be rememberea that an Indian named Few Tails, who with two or three members of his family were returning from a hunting trip in that sectics, wero fived upon by white men in Meade county last January, the old Indian being one of those who wero killed by the bullets of the murderers. Tne Culbert- s0n boys wero said to be implicated in the killing, and they were arrestad for the orime, But although they practically admitted the killing they wero acquitted on the ground that war existed at that time with the Sioux nation, and that the killing was an act of war, one, ol e Followling the report that two members of the Casino company, which recently played M lo Celestin’’ 1n Omaba, I ged partly on account of suonymous ors received rogarding them, comes $he statement that the company playing “‘Mi Helyott" iu New York isin a ferment bes cacso of similar opistles received by twe members of the organization,