Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, October 12, 1895, Page 5

s WITHIN A HAREM'S WALLS| Oriental Beauties mfl n tie Citadel ofj Tangiers, 1 INVESTIGATING THE EUROPEAN VISITOR Gracefal Costames Worn by the Morocco Women—Laws that Rule the Domestic Aftairs of the Kadl . ~Privileges of Wive Wrifing from Tanglers, under date of Sep- tomber 10, Elae Von Schalcelsky, correspond- ent of the Clucinnatt Enquirer, says she had not been In the harem of the kadi of the Tanglers citadel ten minutes when the small army of many-colored beauties, “signoras” (legitimate wives) and slaves, asked her to undress, exclaiming in French, English, Ara- bian and God-knows-whai-tongue-not that it would be no end of a joke to sce me In trous- ers, veil and burnus, or bernouse, as the loose mantle of the Arabs is called hiere. I knew théy were dying to observe the intricacles of the European tollet, and consented the more readily as I had dressed claborately for that very purpose, following the advice of the proprietress of the French hotel In Tanglers, whose Influence had opened the doors of the harem to me. I wore a fashionable dress of changeable silk, cut low in front, the decolle part being covered by laces. It was all new to them. They touched and smelled of the novel material, apparently thinking its luster was produced by some outward cause. The whalebone in the waist struck them as no less grotesque, and when they came to un- fasten my corsets their astonishment knew no bounds, Even the big sleeves, which halt a minute before they had admired so assidu- ously, lost interest, When a woman takes “off her stays she wmsually gives a little cry of relief as the respiratory motion vibrates quicker, because unimpeded, through her body. The day was very hot, and the act of casting off the mod- ern coat of mail, therefore, a genuine com- fort. You should have seen the glances— curiosity mixed with kindness—with which the harem ladies regarded my quivering form. Bome 0f the bolder ones pressed their ears against the flesh to hear my heart beat, and then assured their doubting sisters that my clock of life was really beating. They would not have believed it possible except upon the word of one of them. The garters next attracted their undi- vided attention. “Why compress the flesh Just above the knee?" they asked all at once. “It leaves a nasty mark. Does not your master object to it “The lady wears gloves on her feot.” This astounding announcement by one of the slave girls was offset by another, still more startling: “‘Her feet have two skins—one black and one white.” N UNKNOWN ARTICLES OF APPAREL Stockings and stays are unknown in Mo- *rocco; so is the fashion of exposing any part of the neck or shoulders. When the ladies got through admiring my hose and corsets, and wonderjng at their alleged usefulness, the oldest signora undertook to point out to me that it was very sinful, and indeed horribl to wear low-cut dresses, No noble-born Ara: blan would think of doing that which the slaves were commanded to do. Stlll, herself and friends would be wiliing to try on my dress before the arrival of the kadi. That gentleman's youngest wife, a girl of 14, halt Arab, halt Egyptian, summoned up courage enough to attire herself European fashion. She was a beautiful creatyre, gracetul, lithe of figure, with fine eyes and hair, and o little developed as to be able to slide up my bracelet to under her arm pits. Zuleima, as they called her, threw off all her garments except shift and trousers, but notwithstanding that, all attempts at but- toning tho dress In front were futile. Here then was a figure graceful and classical of outline, one over which artists would rave, and which the greatest connolsseurs would pronounce perfect, that stubbornly refused to submit to the dictates of Mme. La Mode. All the harem’s ladies came to look at the won- der, and demanded to know my age, shak- ing their heads at the information given. No doubt they thought I was fooling them. A woman of 35, having a smaller walst than a girl twenty years younger! “But she does mot breathe, this French woman,” sald one of the slaves. PUT HER TO THE TEST. “Suroly she won't bo able to eat with her things on!" exclaimed another. To put mo to the test, I was allowed to dress again after a little while, whereupon all of us sat down on the pink siik matresses strewn upon the floor in t¥ shadow of the wooden balconles above. The kadl's harem to which I have Introduced you is the best appointed in Tanglers, for the reason that its proprietor, one of the chief tax collectors of the empire, is the richest man in town. It is situated in the midst of the works of fortification on a small hill overlooking the narrows of Gibraltar. A donkey and guide had brought me hither, and a sentinel in a white mantle that seemed to come from the property chest of an American barber shop had admitted us upon payment of a silver b franc plece. The citadel as far as I can Judge consists of a confusion of high and very thick walls, all cleanly whitewashed Even the bulldings where the officlals live have no outside windows. ~Hera and there the walls are broken by small doors of iron and wood, plentifully decorated with metal, For twenty minctes I rode through the narrow lanes without meeting a living soul, man or horse, mule or dog. There were 1o signs of life anywhere, Having reached the kadi's house my guide used the knocker with much energy, pro- ducing sounds that in the interior were echoed by a shrill bell. After five minutes a negro servant opened the door and after glaucing at our sealed credentials bade us enter. We walked about thirty paces in daerkness, when suddenly we found ourselves in the faner court, which was steeped In brightest sunlight. The inner court may be called the living apartment of an Arabian house. All the windows and rooms received light and air from it. The floor is usually covered with granite, or in the more pre- tentlous houses with mosaic. The inner court 1n the kadi’s house was gorgeous with rich car- pets, flowers, a fountain, looking glasses and vases. The walls, up to the second floor, were covered with tiles and the balconies in front of all the windows were richly carved and gilded. The roof of the house was flat and as clean and white as the walls, The ladies of the harem used the roofs to prom- ~ enade and visit each other by bridging over the distance from one roof to another with boards. PLENTY OF WIV In the #hadows of the balconies, on small silk covered mattresses, the ladies of the house were found, six full fledged wives “signoras,” as they aro called, each at. tended by two or three female slaves. All of the ladies were of the purest Arabian blood, with occasionally an intermixture of Egyption. They had small, delicate fea- tures, the lines of their faces were regularly drawn, their halr was long and silky and their eyes were almond-shaped. The ladies, according to the prevaiting ett- quette, did not at once when I entered, and for a moment or s0 I thought them to be wax figures, so pale and bloodless were their cheeks and foreheads. From the pallid background red lips and deep black brows showed with conspicuous vivacity. At last the oldest wifo Invited me to a seat among them, and all at once each began to jabber in the tongues which I was known to under- stand—French, English and Arabic. It was a veritable Babel of voices, as the slave ‘women, who lived on a footing of perfect equality with their mistresses, unceremo- | nlously joined in when they felt like doing 50. Of servants there were twelve or fifteen, repreienting all shades and differences of color, black, yellow, red, olive and chocolate. Most of the slave girls were young and all pret- ty. They wore nothing but a sort of white pantaloons, and over them a shirt without slecves, made of trausparent guaze. Some few wore a sash around the walst, and a colored cloth over their hair. One of the younger girls, who, I was told, is an Egyptian, had an in- describably sweet face, a classical nose and luminous eyes. She wore her silky black hair in two thick braids around the top of her head like a Tyrolean. Place her upon a music hall stage In Parls or New York and her for- tune is made, me o strip as above related. Poor Arab woman, In spite of the tropical clime, she I8 about as thoroughly covered as one of Senator Bradley's Ocean Grove camp meet- Ing belles minus her stockings. The first garment she puts on is a pair of heavy satin trousers, gold-embroldered and lined with chintz. ‘Theso trousers are very wide around the upper part of the leg, but narrow down considerably at the knees, where they termi- nate. Over these unmentionables a long shirt of white silk or linen or wool, with long slecves, full from the elbow down, is worn. When I saw them I concluded that our mod- ern puft slecves, It a change was wanted, might be reversed a la Moroceo, with good grace and without anybody being the loser, the same amount of materlal, but not so much room, belug required WORE VESTS GALORE. Then follow a succession of vests, three, four or more, all made of heavy silk, lined and embroidered, and tly a number of loose garments in the fashion of very superior wrappers with wide flowing sleeves. Most of the signoras lad on a wrapper of gold bro- cade or heavy silk and over that one of gauze or China silk. A girdle over a foot broad and very stiff finishes the toflet. In place of It many women wear a sash and bind it three or four times sround the body just below the bosom The legs and feet are uncovered, and an Arab woman would never hesitate to ex- pose her legs to the gaze of hundreds of strange men as long as her face was veiled. When the signora leaves the house she puts on a clumsy pair of shoes, a bernouse and hood. The bernouse s a garment worn alike by men and women, and Is made of white linen, wool or silk. The hood is drawn over the forehead, and mouth and nose are ed with a silk handkerchief, so that only the eyes remain visible All Arab women, the poorest and the rich- est, are passionately fond of jewelry. Gold, ver, precious glass balls, figures of sandal wood, they employ indiscriminately. A rich woman will wear bracelets as broad as your hand, and at the side of strings of real pearls and rich brilliants the very snidest of trash that may be given away Wwith a pound of tea. Rings are used in pro- fusion around the ankles, the upper and the lower arms, hands and toes. On their head the ladies wear a small cap of gold lace, to which tassels of real pearl are attached in front that hang down upon the forehead. At the other end s a bow of many colored ribbons, the ends of which hang down the back with the many braids and curls. If the Arab woman wants for anything it is for blonde hair. My Euro- pean toggery had Interested my hostesses very much for a time, but they never got through talking of my light tresses as long as I stayed at the harem. At first they dovbted thefr genuineness, speculating whether they were made of flax or silk, as is the custom here. When convinced they were real, they requested me in all sorts of language to let them know the dye I used with such extraordinary success. That blonde was natural with our race they would not hear of, because it was against all tradi- tion. stones, PICTURES OF GOOD HEALTH. The Morocco dame s a very healthy speci- men of humanity. As already Intimated, sho knows nothing of corsets or narrow girdles, and the weight of her clothes rests entirely upon her shoulders, As a conse- quence, the various organs in her chest are all in thelr proper places, and the perform- ance of their several functions is never in- terfered with by want of room. Iliness in the harem, therefore, means a broken leg or ankle, cholera or worse—our modern fe. male diseases are entirely unknown among them. But, I hear it argued by many fair and fashlonable sisters, the Arab woman has no individuality; she is her master's plaything—a mere automaton. From my own observation I am able to. deny these allega- tions, which seem to be accepted as truth all over the Christian world, Tho Morocco woman s her own mistress in her household. She may decide about the education of all her children, and remains mistress of her marrfage portion all through life. If her husband neglects ber, beats her, or refuses to suitably provide for her wants she may sue for divorce and obtain a decree which allows her to marry again. She is not wooed and won for her money; her husband has to part with a great deal of money in favor of her parents before he can possess her. If she decides to be di- vorcad he must not only refund her dot, but also permit her to take along the presents in money, jewels, etc., that he has made her. The ordinary ' courts of justice have no power over the Arab woman. She Is Dnever sent to prison, mnever submits to corporal punishment; even when she be- comes a murderess the family council or her husband decides about her fate. PUNISH SOCIAL OBLIQUITY. The fusband, on the other hand, has the right to sell the unfaithful wife, and it he kil's her uponsfinding her in the arms of another he will be no more punished than a Frenchman under the same circumstances. If he commits adultery the wife may bring him into court, where he is scverely dealt with, risking long Imprisonment and basti- nade, an Eastern mode of punishment by beating the offender on the soles of his fect. The women marry in thelr twelfth, thir- teenth or fourtesnthi year; the men shortly after their fifteenth or sixteenth birthday. An Arab may have as many wives and fe male slaves as he can afford to keep; he has no right to be jealous, neither have the women, but If tha lord of the harem should go astray all his wives and female slaves combine to mako his life a burden to him forever after, The Arab woman retains her beauty much longer than women of the Caucasian races I mentioned in another part of this letter that the kadi's wives were remarkably pale, Thelr paleness, however, is neither the co sequence of fll-health nor of cosmetics. They have a system and a habit to keep their faces always In the shade, so that never a ray of the sun strik:s them. Women at 50 in this country may easily pass for 30 years. 1 met in the kadi's harem that gentleman’s mother, whom I took for one of his wives. She had passed the fifth decade of her life and had borne and nursed eleven children, still she did not look over 30 odd. Of course, rich men's wives do not work in this country, or no more than thelr sis- ters in Europe and America. When work is required of them they show themselves equal to the task. I was pleasantly sar- prised at my first visit to an Arab's house, s0 thoroughly clean and orderly it pre- sented itielf. Kitchen and sleeping apart- ments were well aired, and the white curtains at the beds looked Indeed as if they had just left the store. The wife or wives must cook und scour, must make candles, soap and the clothing for the whole family. They must not only make up the garments, but also weave or spin the material. When they have timo they devote themselves besides to the weaving of carpets and tapestry, in which they are experts. The signoras work side by side with the slaves; difference of rank among the middle classes is unknown; the only right denfed to the slaves is to sit on silk cushions gether with those of the legitimate wives and are considered of equal birth, - In a Trance Seven Days. A strange story comes from Bravo, Alle- gan county, Michigan. A week ago Friday a Mr. Condon of Bravo went to work on the state road ditch between that place and Fenn- ville. After working all day he started home, going across the flelds, After going about 100 rods he became o weak from what he supposed was heart disease that he fell in the weeds and brush, where he lay for seven days unconscio He states that he eame to himself once, but was unable to cry for help or help him- self. On the seventh day a party started to hunt for the missing man, but on that morn- ing he came to and got home, and was some- what surprised when he was jnformed that bo had lain there for seven days, he sup- posing that he had been there just over night, The parties that were hunting for him found where he had lain, and they said that he had dug = hole, they supposed, for water, as deep as ho could reach his arm. They have just found out in London, mc- cording to an English woman's weekly, that “in America they send to table, at the be- gluning of dinner, delicate little sticks of celery two inches or so in length, very crisp, served on Ice, and the diners eat their celery as they go on from dish to dish, just as we eat bread. Very “appetizing and deliclous,” too, it is pronounced, and it is recommended to be tried by hostesses search- ing for novelties for shooting lunchzons, This Is bétter than another of the same class of publications, which suggests to a correspondent asking for menu ideas for a Of course, first of all we discussed dress, and i is only just to say that the ladies showed me all they had on before requesting garden party that “American cornbread” and “American lemon ple” are ‘“novel dishes, sald to be exceedingly good.” So they are, indeed, but not at gasden parties. THE OMAHA DAILY BEE: ATURDAY, JUSTICE IN PRIMITIVE TOCA Samples of Legal Procedure in the Ozark Beotion of Arkansas, A FRESH NEBRASKAN TAKES A HAND Appalling Dignity of the Justice of the Pence—The Custom of “Cus- sin' Out'=Striking Instances of Jud mplielty, The sobriety of that portion of the Ozark country in Arkansas s apparent. It Is claimed by a correspondent of the St. Louls Globe-Democrat that the high moral tone ex- tends to the rights of personal property. You get 10 key when you are assigned to a room in a hotel. Few of the farm houses have locks on the doors. “I don’t belleve there is any other section of the United States where larceny Is 8o rare a9 it is here,” sald Editor Jones of the Mountain Echo at Yellvilie to the correspond- ent. “I had occasion to write something on this subject not long ago. An article had appeared In an outside paper which seemed to reflect upon our people as regards the safety of property. I said in that article that I had been in this country eight years; that 1 never thought of locking either my smoke housa or my corn crib, and that I had never had anything stolen. The statement was strictly accurate up to that time. I'm sorry to say that about a wosk after I made that boast I lost a load of corn. Still, such things are very rare.' The fact is, criminal trials are such novel- ties in the Ozark country that they serve the purposes of recreation. At Lion Hill the other day the whole community assembled to enjoy the inquiry into a larceny case. Colonel Mix's sawmill was utilized for a court room. n Tripp blew the whistle as the signa! to begin. Constable Schoonover, a tolerably fresh arrival from Nebraska, was interrupted in the midst of an expression of opinion on the relative merits of the two sections, He was just saying: ““A man has to put in a little more muscle making a_crop down here among these rocks toan he does In Nebraska. But up there he has to work harder to make a living. You see he can’t resort to the woods with a gun cvery time he gets out of meat, as he can down here.” “We's ready, Mr. Constable," said a short, stout man in his shirt sleeves, “Oyez! Oyez!" Mr. Schoopover announced sonorously, “‘tfie court of Buffalo township is a-goin’ to take a scat.” Justice Nace, the aforesaid short, stout man in shirt sleeves, carrying a ponderous volume of the Arkansas statutes, walked over and sat down with his back to the buzz saw. Constable Schoonover produced a paper which alleg:d that three men named therein were responsible for the disappearance of a certaip log chain. One of the defendants me forward promptly when his name was lled by the justice. The s:cond manifested not the slightest interest in the proceedings, but stood with his back to the court You'll have to talk louder, judge,” wid choonover. “That man can’t hear nothing.’ “Do you plead guilty or not guilty?" the Justice asked of a man on a log facing him “Not guilty,” said the defendant, with such emphasis that the crowd admired The judge opened_the statutes at a plac ho had marked with a slip of paper ana addressed the constabl “Got any witnesses?"" “I belleve I've got returns on a couple,’ said the constable, as he fumbled over some well-worn gheets of legal cap. He called the names. One of the witnesses spoke up: “I'm not going to appear egainst this man."” The court looked at the witness and then consulted the law book. As there are no witnesses,” he said, “the court discharges the defendant Much obliged to thé court,” sald the de- fendant. He got up from the log, put on his hat and went out of the saw mill, The justice turned his attention to ths other defendant. The constable had been holding communication at short range with the deaf man and now replie “He says he wants a continuance until Saturday to got counsel. The court consulted the statutes and said: “The law allows three days' continuance. The case will be set for Saturday. Then, having looked over the warrant, the Justice turned to the constable and said: “There's one man named here you haven't got. No,"” sald Schoonover, with a grin, “I hain't ‘got him, and I ain't likely to get him. They say he's bad medicine.” Some df the auditors snickered. tice proceeded to write up fhe minutes of the session. While he was s engaged a man rode up hurriedly and dismounted. “What's been done? asKed the newcomer in the tone of one who understood his pro- fessional rights before the court. So-and-so's discharged,” said the judge. On what ground?"" inquired the newcomer. No evidence,” replied the judge. ““What was done with the other ked the newcomer. “He took a continuance until Saturday,” sald the judge. “He had a right to newcomer, turning away. Subsequently the newcomer said if he had arrived in time he should have undertaken the defense of the man asking a_continuanc “And,” he added, “I would have cleared him, too. But as long as the court has sus- taived the motion for a continuance nothing can be done “That's right,” said the judge, reflectively, biting the end of his pencil. The newcomer was identified as the black- smith at Buffalo City. Justices' courts in the Ozark country are great institutions. It is told of one squire in Baxter county who, in passing on a matter submitted to him, said to the array of law- yers on both sides: 3 “Gentlemen, 1 shall decide this case in a pint that none of you have seen. A woman came down to Yellville not long ago to consult a lawyer. She told him that a Justice of the peace over on White river hal Qivorced her, and she wanted to know if the cceedings were all right. *'Of course not,” said the lawyer, “the jus- tice of the peace couldn't give you & divoree.” “Well,” said she, “he done it, all the same. A message was sent to the justice to come over to the county seat and explain what kind of a court he was running. When he put In an appearance he was asked about the diyorce, and at once said he had granted it. “But’ don’t you know you can't divorce people?” expostulated the judge. “By thunder,” retorted the justice, “T mar- rled ‘em, and ‘T guess I had a right to di- vorce ‘em. “Cussin’ out” used to be one of the ways of settling controversies in the Ozark country. It origipated with Uz Findley and John Car- ter, The Findleys came from Georgla, Old Uz took a great interest in politics, and where- ever he went he was followed by a venerable negro named Bosen, whose duty it was to steer his master homeward when he needed help. At one of the carly elections old Uz and Jobn Carter became very angry at each other. It looked as if nothing but a fight could settle the issue between them, when suddenly old Uz shouted: Mr. Carter, stand and be cussed.” Carter removed his hat, walked out about ten paces from the crowd, and told old Uz to go ahead. Findley removed his hat, and, walking out in front of Carter, said, with deliberation and emphasis: Mr. Carter, if this earth was one plece of parchment, and the sea one basin of ink, and every quill upon earth was one quill, and I bad ‘the power to use that quill, that parc ment, and that ink, I would fall short, sir, of being able to describe the corruption of your old heart, sir.” Carter sald never a word, but stood with uncovered head until Uz was through. Then he said: Mr. Findley, stand, sir, until I cuss you.” 0ld Uz bowed his head and Carter said: “Mr. Findley, had I all the talents ever produced in Europe and America combined in solld phalanx, and was to undertake to speak to you, I would then fall short of describing the corruption of your old heart, sir.” This settled the difficulty. The two re- sumed friendly relations. The custom of cussin' out” was thus introduced in the Ozark country. Oue of the famous trials of this region, the memory of which still Lives with some of the old seltlers, was a suit for slander, brought by John P. Houston against Daniel Jeftrey. It took place in Athens, which, in its day, was the seat of learning, of justice, The Jus- man?" it,”” commented th of business and of 'vligion on White river, The basis of the actioniwas (hat Jeffrey, who was sheriff of the gov had called Houston infamous old Athélst.* John P. Houston was a brother of' YWl Houston, president of the republic of Fexas. He wandered into the Ozark country aman of magnificent phy- sical appearance, Well educated, of great natural ability, and"'d drunkard, He was made one of the first officers of Izard county. It was his custom 1o do public business sit- ting with a table 'befween himself and the door. On that table lils books were arranged before him. At bl right hand, and within easy reach, was a smaller table, on which lay, during business houtd,” all kinds of weapons He had dirks, bowle Knives, pistols and rifles of the finest quallfy fos that period. One of his bowle knives he claimed has cost him $15, a high price for'stich a weapon in those days. On one occasion a man named Joss Ever- €tt came into the office about some county business. In the course of the conversation Everett, unmindful of the arsenal, toid Houston he was a liar. Houston arose, se- lected a knife, and started around the table, Everett met him half way and knocked him down. The knife flew across the floor. Houston got on his feet, picked out another knife, and started again, only to meet the same fate. Before this interesting fight could Bo any further it was stopped by outside interference, At another time Houston at- tempted to use his weapons on the sheriff, and then it was that Daniel Jeftrey applied the worst possible epithet in the estimation of the God-fearing community. He called Houston “‘an infamous old athelst.” Hous- ton brought an action for slander. The trial went against him. Toward the end of John P. Houston's carecr in the Ozark country Sam Houston was bringing Texas through her troubles and attracting great attention. The amiable brother in Arkansas used to tell people he had but two more journeys to make—one to Texas, to kill Sam Houston, and the other to heaven. In the opinion of the old settlers he made neither, as he died drunk at Athens Questions of eccnomy in public affairs agi- tated the Ozark country in those early days. The county of Izard, which at that time em- braced haif a dozen of tne countles of today, arrived at the dignity of a new court house. The building was of frame instead of logs, and was prebably the first departure from the original architecture of this region. It was twenty feet square. There was a door on the east side and a door on the west side. The judge's bench was on_ the south side of the room, and a space had been left on the north side for &' chimney. Winter ap- proached. The issue which divided the county was whether the proposed chimney should be of stone or of sticks and clay. The county court held a session to hear arguments from inter- ested citizens. Advocates of the stone chim- ney led off with the claim that Peter Young and Sol Hess were gocd stone masons; that they could lay a stone chimney which would look better than one of sticks and last forever. Old Jim Criswell, a big man, weighing 200 pounds, who had settled on Rocky baycu in 1820, led the opposition to the stone chimney. He made a vigorous speech, In which he denounced -those w would “grind the people to death with taxes,” and urged that the county court ho'd fast to the custom of the country and build a stick chimney. The spirit cf progress prevailed The fashiop cf stone chimneys was set. He was a member of the Criswell family, old Harvey Criswell, who left this region filty vears ago to settle fn Texas, saying he was too crowded and would have to hunt a new home, for “the d—d Tennessce renter had taken possession of this country. RECOLLECTIONS OF SHERIDAN, Historieal Istnkes Corrected Ie- garding Hisx Commission ns € onel. In General E. A. Dayles' biography of Gen eral Philip H. Sheridan, recently published, the statement is made: “The one accident of Sheridan's military’ life seems to have been his appointmént s colonel of the Sec ond Michigan cavalry. He himself was neve able to learn to what circumstances it wa dus. ® * & The fact is that through the same period from the heginning to the close of the war he owsd nothing to the help of friend General Sheridad, in his memoirs, m: a similar statzmenf, which was probably th basis of General Davies' error, for error it is, according to General Russell A. Alger, Who probably was Floser to Sherjdan throu; out his marvelous career, from aide quartermaster—on General Haileck’s stafl to the head of the army, man any other comrade in arms. The story that General Alger tells of Sheridan’s first promotion in the volunteer servic2 is a most-interesting one, and the facts were well known to General Sheridan, who often recounted them in social hours He wrote his memoirs during the last two vears of his life, when decaying vitelity had probably weakenied his memory. Hence an error which, though seemingly unimportant, vet seriously misstates a historical fact which was pre importance in shap. military caresr. General Alger thus larly dezcribed to a New York Mall reporter the incidents which led up to Sheridan’s promotion to the coloneley of the Second Michigan cavalry “It was the 26th or 27th of May, 1862, that the Second Michigan cavalry, of whi I was captain, lay at Farmington, one of t oul s of the union army then drawing its lines arbund Corinth, Miss., in which lay Beauregard and what was left of the army that struck Grant at Pittsburg Landing six wecks before. The Second Michigan had just lost its colonel by the promotion of Gordon Granger to brigadier. Our lieutenant colonel had just left the service in disgracs, and our two majors were too inefficient to be trusted with command of the regiment. In fact, both left the service soon afterward. “On the day named I had just finished a tour of duty twenty-four hours long as fleld officer of the day: Of course, cavalry furnished the outposts, videttes and pickets nearest the enemy, and the line of guards of which I had charge stretched out several miles, and required such_constant vigilance on the part of the fleld officer of the day that T spent those twenty-four hours in the saddle or afoot visiting the outposts, and witlout a minute for siesp. When I arrived at General Granger's headquarters to make my report of the previous day I was almost tired out, and hoped for the usual day cff duty in which to rest, As soon as I had made my report Ganeral Granger told me that Governor Blair of Michigan and his adjutant general, John Robertson, had visited him the previous day. “ “They mpoke of the condition of the Sec- ond Michigan cavalry,’ said Gen:ral Granger, ‘without a_commanding oficer and without a field officer capable of setting a squadron in the field. They asked me if 1 could suggest any officer qualified for its command. I knew that Blair was prejudiced against regular army officers, deeming them too severe in their discipline of a citizen soldiery, and had said that he would not commission one of them. I could not think of any suitable officzr Just then, but after they went away the very man occurred to me. He is captain Phil Sheridan of Halleck’s staff. Possibly Blair would listen to you if you tell him that we are on the evelof very active opera- tions, and that the:Second Michigan, officered as it is, may become hopelessly demoralized. Blair will be at Plitsburg Landing at 3:30 this afternoon to take-the steamer down the river. You will hava,time by hard riding to catch him there, and perhaps he will lis to you and commissjon Sherida “Granger had thiughtfully told his orderly to feed my horse gnd, get breakfast for me. While we were breakfasting Adjutant Wal- bridge, of the Second Michigan, rode up with the regimental report, and was told of my proposed mission, ; He asked and obtained leave to accompany jme. Shortly after § a. m. we rode off toward Pittsburg Landing, thirty miles away, with only a margin of five hours to do-it.) 11 “Our route took' s through the Shiloh battlefield, the unbueted bodies of hundreds of hor:es still tainting the air, long rows of fresh graves showihg ‘Where the blue and the gray were awaiting ‘the final roll call. We arrived at Pittsbiirg * Landing and found Governor Blair and” General Robertson al- ready aboard-the stéamer, which was soon to start. I was on exceedingly friendly terms with the governor, and opened my subject to him at once. When I sald that Captain Sheridan was the man that General Granger recommended the governor promptly declared that he would not commission any regular officer. I remonstrated, telling him that the efficiency of the regiment and its usefulness (o the state and to the caute hung upon his decision, He said that he would appoint and commission a certain captain of the regiment. I polnted out that the promo- tion of the captain named over the heads of fleld officers would breed disaffection. He clung to bis views, and we left the boat, and, going ashore, sat down on some com- missary boxes and continued the discus- sion, Really the declding volce was that of Adjutant General Robertson, a clear minded Bcotchman, who was generally right whon OCTOBER 12, | he wrote 1893 called upon for advice. He strongly urged Blair to commission 8heridan at once. The governor finally ylelded a relnctant assent, and going aboard the steamer procured a shoet of paper. Dating it Lansing, Mich, ‘You are hereby appointed Colonel of the Second Michigan cavalry, and will take command at once, regarding this as your commission until one in due form is forwarded to you.' “Our stay at Pittsburg Landing probably lasted an hour and a half, during which our horses were fed and rubbed down and we made a hasty meal. It was after 4 p. m when Lieutenant Walbridge and myself sot out on our feturn journey to Farmington After we had crossed the battlefield again we met a native, who told us that we could save several miles by taking a certain route, which he described. It was then nearly dark, but we took his advice and got lost. My horse, after nearly two diys of almost continuous work, was now so weary that we were compelled o bring our gait down to a walk. Instead of our new road being shorter it really prolonged our journey by at least ten miles. We reached our camp in the early morning, and I threw myself on my camp bed for the first sleep I had taken n forty-eight hours, with one long tour of duty and a ride of seventy miles interven- ing. “The sun was high in alr when I awoke and reported to General Granger. He was greatly rejoiced at the success of our mis slon, and ordered me to carry the commigsion to Sheridan at once. governor’ 1 had never seen that officer. General Granger described him as very short, slender, and welghing not over 126 pounds. Lieutenant Walbridge went with me to General Halleck's headquar- ters. Asking for Sheridan, u young captain answering the description was pointed out to ws. 1 rode up to him, and, saluting, asked Is this Colonel Sheridan? ‘I am Captain Sheridan of the regular army,’ he responded with a snap. ‘Excuse me, but you are Colonel Sheridan of the Second Michigan cavalry, as this docu- ment will show you,’ I rgjoined, handing him Governor Blaii’s missive. Sheridan read it and stood for a few moments like a man dazed, and then shouted ‘Hurrah!" with a vim that brought up a number of officers who were lounging around with nothing particular to do. Sheridan showed them the commis- sion, and then invited us to his quarters, where he brough' out glasses and whisky to celebrate his promotion. Sheridan drank very little during his active eer in the army, but he always had liquor with him On this occasion he poured out for himself barely enough to carry the complimeng. I mysclf, took only water, but the glasses were filled, and somo one proposed the toast, “That his promotion might prove the steppiug stone to a brigadier's star.' ‘No,’ sald Sheri- dan, ‘a regiment is all I aspire to. “Next morning Sheridan joined his regi- ment wearing a captain’s dress uniform coat, with the straps of an infantry colonel. That Is the true history of his first volunteer pro- motion, and one with which he was perfectly familiar until his memory became clouded. « Some Washington people want L P. Morton for our mext presisent, for no other reason than that Mrs. Morton, when in Wash- ington, lends her high sanction to an effort to form a fashionable carria meet at the White Lot—a sort of park back of the white house. Fashionable folk want to make a second Rotten Row of the place, they haven't exactly susceeded as yet. A Chlcago soclety girl, daughter of a millionaire, took a ride in a police patrol wagon one day last week through the shop- ping district. S| was seen and recognized by many acquaintances and others who' knew her by sight only, and the incident caused a greal sensation. The presence of the young woman in the wagon was a herofc deed on her part. As she was promenading State street her curiosity was attracted by a crowd. Drawing near she found that it had collected around a little boy who had slipped and broken his leg. She recognized in the little sufferer her cousin’s son. Two policemen had sent for the patrol wagon. The young woman told where the boy lived and offered to take him home in a cab. The police were obdurate. Police rulgs called for trans- portation in the patrol wagon. “We will take him wherever you say, but he must go in the wagon.” ~ Finally the society girl gave up. ell,’” she said, “if he must %0 home in a patrol wagon I'll go home in it, too.” So lifted the small boy in and the society girl climbed in after him, and the policcmen mounted guard on each side, “You have been wildly extravagant in your headgear this year, It seems to me,” said one of her friends to a fashionable girl, who appeared to have a new hat to wear with every gown. “My dear,” exclaimed the other, “I have made a wonderful discovery. One of Mme L.'s former workwomen has hit upon a new idea that is a perfect godsend to those of us whose purses are Inadequate to our needs. She comes to the house, looks over all your old scraps, collects all your old hats, trim- mings, etc, and with a few extra shapes and accessories turns them out altogether lifferent, in the latest fashion, and as good as new, at 50 cents to $1 for the hat,” This is a new industry which bids fair to be a very popwlar one, for almost every woman in society must necessarily collect a great deal of excellent material, which 1s too good to be thrown away, and which she es not know how to use, but which, under e deft fingers of a skillful modiste, may be used over again with charming results, “In fact, I find my ‘madeovers’ my most be coming hats,” concluded mademoiselle, after accounting for the numerous confections, “and I generally like them better than when they were new.” Tyen men are taking up this industry of the most successful of these perip milliners being a man who lives out of town, and who has all he can do during his periodical visits in remaking the hats of fashionable custome: The police of a Paris suburb recently ar- rested a woman for sctting Off fireworks without a permit, and found that the occa- sion for the display was a small fete which she was giving to a number of her friends in celebration of her husband’s death. 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