The Abbeville press and banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, January 10, 1894, Image 6
p
THE UKt'Lt 1 UNi
BT AUGUST GHAT.
*Mld glided walls and stately hulls
I paso the time away;
>. 1 have great wealth, enjoy good health.
And many servants pay.
2 have a wife to share my life,
Whom servants wait npon,
And by my side doth ever bide
Ad unseen skeleton.
ny wlfe'6 fair face doth match the grace
And beauty of her form;
With pleasant smiles, through many mile*
We've passed, of calm and storm.
Each well-aimed stroke some barrier broke,
Each eem more friends have won.
And each success hath come to bless
Me and my skeleton.
Sometimes I cry "O God. draw nigh
And drive this fiend from me!"
He never leaves, but closer cleaves
And laughs ezultingly.
Oh. aching heart I 'tis but your part
To bear till life Is done;
Will I be free, when they bury me,
From this grim skeleton?
Vhe poor pass by, and gaze and sigh,
And wish they might exchange.
Toll on! Thank God you have to plod,
Nor wish for guest so strange.
Canst thou find he who lived to see
A youth's and manhood's sun.
Who hath not sighed, looked back, and tried
\ To hide a skeleton?
These words hath pain burned In my brain:
"-'J t
TO struggle on til] life is gone,
Or give the victor's shout.
<Jh, God! Abide close by my side,
As thou hast ever done.
Though rich, how poor! behind gold doori
: I dwell with a skeleton.
j Linden, Wis.
MfcteiMissioi
fl Remark! Romance.
BY EMILY THORNTON.
1 CHAPTER XI.
A B1KQULAR KEQtTEST.
Has she come?" asked Sir Reginald
Glendenning of Lady Constance, as he
distinctly heard a carriage stop before
the door, and his own coachman's voice
peaking to the horses.
"She has; shall she he brought directly
to your presence?"
"Yes; and see to it that no one enters
this room until they are summoned, as I
?. wish to see this girl alone. Do you hear?
Alone! entirely alone!" replied the Barooet.
"You will be obeyed. No one shall disturb
you. Shall 3 order Matthew to put
up the hor9es?"
"No; tell him to wait for further notice!"
Lady Constance withdrew, and very
soon reopened tne aoor, ic usner in ?nu
present to her sick husband Ethel Nevergail,
his sister's adopted niece, then instantly
retired, closing the door behind
her.
Very beautiful looked the young girl
fts she stood by the side of the bed, her
heavy crape veil thrown back, revealing
her sad, sweet face and large, pitying
eyes.
"Oh! sir," said she, after an eager, yet
half-haughty greeting, "I grieve to see
you so helpless! Have you just been inJudre?"
"Yes; this morning I was thrown from
my horse, and am to lie here helpless for
months. I sent for you, then, in answer
15 a letter received a few moments before
the accident from my sister, written
before her death. In that she asks me
to give you a home for four months in
return for any service I may wish rendered.
I sent, because I need assistance
Immediately of a very peculiar nature.
Are you willing to undertake it, at a fair
salary?"
"Probably I can tell better when 1
hear what the duties will be."
' "Before I tell you that I wish you to
hand me the small Bible you see upon
that table."
With wondering eyes Ethel reached
him the book.
"The duties to be performed are of a
purely confidential nature. No human
being must know what I tell you, whether
you accept the charge or not. Wife,
nephew, niece, man servant nor maid
servant must ever know that you do more
than read to and amuse me, write my
letters, and attend to my daily business
affairs. Tbe true duties will be performed
in half an hour each evening
alone. Will yon swear on this book to
keep my secret?"
"I will swear if you will assure me that
these duties can be done with a pure conscience,
and that they are perfectly
proper for me to do."
"I assure you you can do them with
perfect propriety. Will you take the
oattb?"
i' '"I will," came from the lips of the
trembling girl, reluctantly, it must be
confessed, but still it came, because of
the promise given to her dying aunt that
Bue wuuju uui reiusc m? unci.
"Then kiS9 that book and repeat after
me these words: 'I, Ethel Nevergail.
ewear I will tell no person the nature of
my nightly duties, and that I will perform
them to the best of my ability.' "
Again Ethel shuddered, yet did as he
required; and, after kissing the book, repeated
the words.
"Sit down, now. and come very close.
bo you can hear, while 1 whisper the secret,
for 'even walls have ears' has
sometimes been said.
"How," he continued, "listen to me
intently. I have in my possession a very
rare animal, one entirely unknown. It
is the property of a friend, and I am secretly
taking care of it for him. He is
absent now abroad searching for more
wonders to add to a collection. On his
return he is going to exhibit all, and expects
to realize a fortune by doing so,
which I am to share. Now. although
. wealthy. I love money, and always have;
therefore I take every care of this
creature is order to obtain more gold.
No human being, save myself and Its
owner, is aware of its existence. It is
hidden in a ruined part of this house?in
fact, in a concealed room, the existence
of which no one knows but myself, and
in close connection with, but not in, a
place we call 'The Haunted Tower.'
"This tower is not haunted, really, but
3 pretend that it is, in a way i snaii ie;i
you of some other time, in order to kec^
prying eyes from off my treasure.
"Now. what I wish you to do is this:
1 myself have always fed this ape, or
ourang-outang, for it possesses some of
their nature, and If he Is not attended to
he will starve. About ten every evening
you are to do this for me.
"A Dasket is always standing In a certain
place in the ruined part. A person
2 pay well comes every evening, under a
Promise of secrecy, and puts food in it.
ou must get this basket, go through a
long covered corridor that connects this
tower to the main building, and opens
directly into a small hall or passageway
near your room, and the door from your
room is niaaen Dy a wararooe.
"Open Jt and pass through, taking a
JtniTe of a peculiar shape that you win
find in a bookcase drawer in your room,
( together with plenty of candle and
matches for your use. also there; ? nd to
this drawer I will give you the key.
\, y "You will find several of these knives
there, for Ism one mjght accidentals
-
get broken. Take "one, with a lighted
candle, 1 say, go down the passage to the
tower, then count on the wall from the
door that leads up the tower stairs, |
backward, three panels; into a seeming j
crack that you will see there insert the j
knife-point, and then turn it around ;
three times, when the panels will fly !
apart, revealing a small opening, where
a set' of revolving iron shelves will "be
seen.
On these place the food. Water is in
the room, where the creature can help
himself as he wishes it. Keep and restore
the basket to its place; also be sure and
keep the knife. Push then the shelves
and they will turn slowly around and
come back to vou with the plate empty.
' "After this* replace tEe~paneT, and return
to your room silently. That will be
all for about two or three weeks, when I
shall add a small service, such as placing
a light of a certain nature in the
tower, and winding up a little machinery.
Will you do all this?" asked
he, eagerly.
"Yes." half moaned the poor girl, whose
soul shrank in horror from the task, "if
you assure me I will not be harmed by
the beast."
"You never will; he Is chained to a
heavy iron bolt; besides, this room he is
In has no windows or doors (being lighted
from the ceiling), and there is no
mode of reaching him, save by those
shelves. I could not; you can never even
see him or be seen by him. When my
friend returns, and wants him, we will
anscrew the iron shelves, and so take
him hence.
"Will you stay now, as he must be seen
to this very night?" asked Sir Reginald,
after a pause. "You can send for your
trunks when you wish. I will pay you
twenty ponnds a month."
"I will stay."
Then, please ring the bell you see
yonder, as I must inform my fofe."
The bell brought a footman, who took
the desired message, and Lady Constance
soon appeared.
"Miss Nevergail is to remain. She is
to be my amanuensis, reader, and assist
you and the nurse, generally, in my care.
r ttti'cVi tlio T>nnm novt lV>io nrenarftH fnr
ft. TT lOU VU& 1 wui uva v vu>w ww ?v?
her immediate use."
"Why that one? It will not be wise to
put her there."
"Wise or not, there she goes, so have
It in readiness. Also, tell Matthew to
put up the horses, as they will be needed
no more to-day.
CHAPTER XIL
ETHEL AND HER NEW DUTIES.
In about an hour a servant maid en- 1
tered, to say that the room was in readiness,
and she would lead Miss Nevergail
to it, if she wished.
Taking up her bonnet and wraps, the
young girl passed through the front hall
Into the room adjoining, which she found 1
exceedingly beautiful. It had evidently
always been exclusively a guest chamber,
and 60 richly was it furnished that she ,
guessed at once why Lady Constance had ;
objected to its daily use.
As soon as the maid had withdrawn,
Ethel commenced an examination of the ;
Implements Sir Reginald had mentioned.
The bookcase he had spoken of she
Knew nau oeeu carrieu mimci nvui kuv
library for her use 6ince her arrival.
The drawer to which he had given her a
key of a peculiar shape was a secret one,
found, as he had whispered, behind the
books, and remembering his directions, 1
she proceeded to open it, after carefully
locking her door.
There lay the three singularly shaped,
large knives, with long, sharp-pointed (
blades; there, also, was a china candle- i
stick with three or four dozen wax can- 1
dies. Matches were in a large tin box,
ready for constant and instant use. 1
Refastening the drawer and replacing 1
the books, the young girl proceeded to
the wardrobe on the opposite side of the '
room, and unlocking it, Bhe saw at the '
back a door, bolted on her side, which
gave her an immediate feeling of se- 1
curity.
Softly drawing the bolt, she looked '
out into a small passage that led merely '
from her own room to a similar door in- 1
side a wardrobe she had seen in the bar- 1
onet's.
These two rooms communicated with 1
this little passageway from the inhabited 1
part of the house, and these alone. Di- 1
rectly opposite her door was a smaller '
one, which she at once knew must lead 1
to the Haunted Tower and deserted 1
rooms belonging to this singular old
mansion.
She did not open this, but retreating '
to her own apartment through the ward- '
robe, bathed her face and hands, smooth- J
ad her hair, and once more turned toward '
the room of the invalid.
At the threshold, however, she met old I
Mrs. Fredon, the nurse, who had been <
in the family for years, who whispered 1
that the baronet had fallen asleep, therefore,
the might walk around the grounds
If she chose.
Feeling that the fresh air would revivf
ner poor shrinking spiru, Ethel tripped
down the broad staircase and stepped
upon the piazza.
As she did so, she almost ran against a
gentleman just entering.
Raising her eyes to apologize, she
found herself face to face with Dr. |
Elfenstein, tbe Kind iriena tnat sue uaa
parted with a few weeks before.
He was as much astounded as herself,
It seemed, at her unexpected appearance.
"Is it possible that this can be Miss
Nevergail?"
"It is, indeed; but I can scarcely believe
this my friend, Dr. Elfenstein.
How is it we meet in this unexpected
plaee and manner?"
"I was about calling on my patient,
Sir Reginald Glendenning, when, instead
of being received by a servant, Miss
Nevergail comes flying toward me. How
Is it yon are here? I seo by your black
dress that your aunt must have passed
away! But come out upon the piazza,
* ^
as you were auuut wj uu, uuu ten mo ui
yourself."
Passing from the door to the shadow of
the trained rines, followed by the physician,
the young girl related the occurrences
of the last few weeks.
"Did I understand that you were to
remain here some time?"
"Yes. I am to be Sir Reginald's secretary,
amanuensis, and reader. For
this, and helping to amuse him, I am to
receive a good saJary. Ann will ftave a
home for the summer."
"I am very glad to hear It," exclaimed
Earle, kindly, "It seems like a pleasant
spot, and I think this pure, fresh air
win Deneni your neaun ana spirits, i
also have settled here, having bought a
practice."
"Shall we go to Sir Reginald now?"
returned she, at the end of their animated
conversation. "I presume he is
awake by this time."
"Yes, at once, and I hope I shall find
him more easy than he was this morning."
"Sleep Indicates some degree of ease.
Do you think he will be helpless long?"
"I am sorry to say it will be months
before he can leave his bed. Even then,
I fear he will be a cripple for years."
"Poor man! This has been a sad accident
for him/'Teplied Ethel, in tones
full of sympathy.
Dr. Elfenstein made quite a long call,
as he had much to do to make the
/tamfawinkla #1>a on/?
uai wucu V.U1U1U1 bauiC iUl LUU aiiu
as Ethel saw him handle the injured man
so gently, and soothe him with kind, encouraging
words, she felt that he must
possess a heart of almost womanly feeling,
and her interest and admiration
deepened, even before his visit was concluded.
After Earle Elfenstein withdrew a late
jlinner announced, and in the din;
lng-room Lady Constance presented t
Ethe] her nephew, Robert Glendenninj
and niece, Belle, his sister, the forme
greeting her with rather au insolent loo
of admiration, the latter with a bow ei
pressive of haughty contempt
From that momont Ethel saw tha
neither of these young people wouia pr(
mote her hapoiness while she remaine
under this roof.
Mr. Glendenning did converse with hei
but it was with such an evident air c
condescension that her replies were brie
and cold, while his sister remained silec
during the whole meal, witn the excej
tion of answering one or two question
asked by Lady Constance, which answei
were given in a cold, mechanical wa
thai told of a minci preoccupied and a)
sent.
The truth was this young lady wa
surprised and not at all pleased with tb
introduction of such a rarely beautifi
girl into the home over which she hei
sway.
She was intensely proud and selfisl
and fell that there might be an influenc
exerted upon her few admirers tha
might interfere with her prospects.
The prospects particularly in view a
present were the winning of the heai
and hand of the new physician latel
settled in the place.
She had been introduced to him at th
home of a friend, and had admired hi
Vnft ? !?>/? Vftn/la/Mna f A* a
OiC^OiUU uaxiviQviuu * W^v a*?r
quiet manners, and instantly had ri
solved to Jay siege to hie heart.
With how much success this siege wa
to be carried on time alone could de
termine.
After leaving the table the ladies r?
paired to the piazza, followed by Mr
Glendenning.
As Belle paused to pluck from one o
the vines a few flowers for her belt
Lady Constance turned to Ethel and re
marked:
"I suppose you have no friends in thi
vicinity, having just arrived."
Ethel hesitated, while a faint blusl
suffused brow and cheek as she replied:
"I have found one here very unex
pectedly."
"Ah! whom may thai be?" asked he
ittuyaujjA
"Dr. Elfensteln. "We crossed the At
lantic on the same vessel, and as m;
aunt was taken very ill.during the voy
ape he attended her, and, consequently
we became well acquainted."
Instantly Belle's attention was rivetet
by these remarks, aDd with a sneer sh<
exclaimed:
"I presume, then, you waylaid bin
this afternoon in order to renew the ac
quaintance."
"Pardon me!" replied Ethel, with dig
Dity. "I waylay no one. We met casu
ally on this piazza as he was about enter
Ing to see Sir Reginald, and converse*
for a few momenta "
"It seems to me for the future, whei
my uncle's physician visits him, it woul<
be well for you to remember that yoi
dow occupy the position of a subordi
ehaiilr! wa4 *mi+ ni
Uai)C, UUU VIAVIVXKJIK; OUVUIU llUl }/UV u<
the airs of an equal to attract his atten
tionl" was the rudo and unladylike re
ply.
"Belle," interposed Lady Constance
who, with all her faults, was naturall;
kind-hearted and just, "you forget thai
Miss Nevergail in coming to us does no
;ease to be a gentlewoman."
"Or, a gentlewoman's poor relation!1
was the cutting answer.
"A remarkably beautiful one, howev
sr," said the brother. "Say, Belle," hi
idded, teasingly, "you must take care o
she will carry off some ol your beaux.1
The Indignant girt gave~hlm a glanci
Df withering scorn, but merely said, witl
in angry toss of her head;
"Let her beware how she interfere
with me in any way. A word to the wi?
is snffio.iAnt."
Ethel could scarcely control her indig
3ant feelings, as she listened to thesi
Insulting remarks issuing from the lovel;
lips of the girlish speaker, but after ai
jffort she did control them, and withou
i word turned away, and again sough
the side of the invalid.
But she found him irritable and bar<
to please, and the moments passed in hi:
room became intolerably long, and sh<
jighed for the time to come when sh<
jould retire to her own apartment, evei
though she knew a strange and annoy
Ing duty would follow her there.
Finally the baronet told her if she wa
weary to go, adding harshly: "I an
Lired already of gazing at your pal<
face," then more kindly, as he saw sh<
was startled by his rough way of speak
ng:
"I hope I shall feel better In the mom
ng: If so, 1 should like to have you rea<
,o me, or, as you understand music, wil
isten to a song."
[to be continued.]
TEMPERANCE,
K
w0bbe than wasted.
It fs said that the wage earner? of til
United States annually pay $600,000,000 fo
liquor?a sum so large that 11 it were savei
for a few years, unci properly invested, i
fund would be oreated that, under wise man
agement, would render destitution atnoai
the poor of thin country forever impossifcJ"
pbogtiess of tejutebaxce.
From many quarters cocnes confirmator;
evidence or the steady growtn 01 a pubii
sentiment against the use of intoxicatini
liquors, and in favor of u closer restricttoi
of tbe liquor traffic. No testimony, perhaps
is more telling tbau the comparison bet wee:
the drinking habits of the people to-day an
those of two generations ago. Every man o
sixty reared in tbe country districts recall
the free use made In his youth of intoxicant
in the harvest -field. Spirits in some fore
were as much a part of tbe provisions madfor
farm laborers during th? season as wer
tbe implements with which the grain wa
cut. Nearly every agricultural centre ha*
its distillery. Now no farmer thinks of sup
plying liquor to his employes, and its use b;
a farm hand greatly diminishes his cbauce!
of employment. Distilleries have disap
paared from country towns, and are seldon
found outside of great industrial centres.
In the village* and towns the change nai
been Equally marked. Fifty years ago dran
drinking was a comparatively venial offence
Occasional intoxication was tolerated, an.
neither social nor business ostracism fol
lowed the offence. ]t was quite possible fo
an habitual drinker to maintain both a fail
social position and good business standing
Now even moderate drinking is frowned
down, the offence, when continued, provinj
a oar to soeiul recognition. Society in th?
town and village, always more exciting as
respects good morals than that of the city
has set its face against it. and in the clost
intimacy of small localities, no offender cau
hope to escape detection. In its effect upoi
progress in business and the professions,
the drink habit is everywhere a bar. Th?
prent business interests of the country have
combined with the social form!- in opposition
to it. lu the majority of large mauufac
turing establishments no man known to In
an habitual drinker can secure employment
Owners will not trust their valuabk
machinery to employes whose senses art
>i?ii?ri nr ut 11 riAfind with drink. The same i*
true of commercial establishments and o:
office businesses where a large force o
dorks is employed. On the railroads, whi^l
in the aggregate, are next to the agrieul
tural interest. tht> largest employer? o!
labor in the land, habitual driuking is- ai
absolute 4is(jualifIcation for position. Oi
many of them merely visiting saloons sub
jects the offender to discharge. The rule
moreover, is being enforced more rigorously
every year, the growing public seutimeni
forcing railway managers to greater care ir
the selection and watoh over the men tc
whom they intrust tbeir trains. Busineei
men to whom the mere suspicion of th<
drink habit attaches are watched closely bj
-_i. - en i? orwl firnu with whinli ihpi
I>illi ft uiuuiaio ii
have connections, and their prospects o
sn-jiTss are always heavily discounted in ad
v.in?5.?New York Ot/server. ?
. r
I
ol KT\ K (IK QP A T> A**
f, JUili'AUiiuunjLi, th
* fn
t. PEOPLE AND WAYS OF THE BIG Oi
ISLAND. gc
A- di
v. hi
, The Two Leading Tribea? Dress and
Diet, of the Natives? Peculiar ftI
r> Marriage Customs?'-Blood ^
if Brothership."
!t bi
y "I ~T EW people realize the vast
g \=/ area of Madagascar, bays a cl.
p _| writer in the San Francisco wy
6"" Chronicle. It ie the largest 61
> island in the world, counting Anstralia
among the continents. Its great- aT
est length is 400 miles, with nn aver
j age "Wiatn 01 zou miies, ana me popu^
lation is variously estimated at from b(
1,000,000 to 1,250,000. The general in
j name of the inhabitant^ is Malagasy, tb
e but they are divided into at least si:
tt forty-five tribes. It is a popular idea of
that the MalagasyB are Africans, as a m
matter of fact they are Malays, and tl
j **
%
a ^ "WOMEN -WATERthough
only 300 miles from the Afri- w;
- can coast the African element is small, ca
- The few Africans among them are im- th
' ported slaves. The Malagasys are aj
3 Asiatics in appearance, though they ui
have developed in their long separation
from the present race manners di
a and characteristics 01 tneir own. xne in
. theory is that Madagascar was once ri
a joined to India, with a people, plants fr
- and animals in common. This theory p<
i- is borne out by the fact that the es
plants and animals of Madagascar are m
? like those of India and entirely dif- w
? ferent from those of Africa. The ef
^ Malagasys have brown skins and some cc
are quite light. The ruling family ct
? are of about the same complexion as tb
the lightest skinned Japanese. ai
There is a wide difference between R
e the tribes of Madagascar. The most ei
f numerous tribe comprises about one- in
third of the population. The tribal e\
0 name is Sakalava and they are the tb
A most savage and warlike of any of the re
9 island peoples. They are averse to tb
e civilization, xney are not. cumiiututj,
but they are naturally lazy and stupid, tr
They have a fine phyBiqoe and aver- ca
b age over six feet in height, but:they m
7 are by far the darkest aborigines, ra
3 from much mixing with the slave popu- bi
* lation. \ sa
The Hovas, the second largest tribe pi
j on the island, comprise about two- ei<
8 ninths of the whole population. They ai
3 are much smaller than the Sakalavae, fa
a averaging only a little above five feet, th
i They have straight, regular features, in
- and take very kindly to civilization, tii
They are intelligent and quick to learn, g<
9 and have preserved the strong feeling n<
j of caste that exists among the natives hi
3 of India. The Hovas are the ruling vt
. tribe, all the Kings and Queens of di
Madagascar having been Hovas. The T]
- Hovas do not mix largely with the ai
i other tribes. When a marriage is ar- ci
J ranged between a Hova and a member oi
of another tribe, the latter becomes a bi
Hova, unless the barbarian happens to in
be very wealthy, in whioh case an im- si
pocunious Hova foregoes his titles and ri
glory for the pleasure of enjoying tem- ti
poral blessings. The Hovas have tl
straight, dark hair, very long, fine si
? and abundant, while the Sakalavas w:
I have kinky hair, though it cannot be ti
i called woolly. The Hova women wear m
" their hair in two long plaits and it is ci
- > - - ii ? i?ii.
nor uncommon 10 wee itiese uraius i hj
reach to the ground. The men wear I ge
7
c
? I
S ^^^ ^ 5
: % TOMB OF A PBIIC
) their hair close-cropped. The Saka- co
i lavaR wear their hair in four great TI
knots, like bath bans, or elue in a m<
myriad of small, tight braids. da
i The natives of Madagascar are es- ne
sentially gregarious. All over the hi
' island ard cluster? of grass houses. An mi
isolated dwelling is indeed a rarity, in
Villages of 100 people are the smallest, i lit
1 and from this size the towns vary all
' the way np to Antonanarivo, the capi- is
tal city, with a population of 100,000. i H<
i All the towns are surrounded by walls ar
J of stone or sun-baked clay. The gate ch
j of each settlement is covered with a ch
large stone. Inside is a moat, thickly ! yo
f planted with prickly pears. The ob- mi
ject is to guard not against surprise,
but against theft, and prickly pears tic
form a good protection againt. bare or
feet. The natives like to live clone to en
each other for sociability's Hake, for wl
; there is but little trade done. Each soi
a native owns hie own rice plot and bh
3 Borne stock, and this, with slaves, con- an
stitntes their entire wealth. The cat- afl
f tie are of the hump-backed variety pr
?nd the milk they give is poor. Thejpu
J . ,v' ' ,
ktaves export them for food-purposes, pre
ie entire eastern coast of Africa being wh
irnished with beef from Madagascar. ad<
scasionally on feast days the natives fac
>rge themselves with beef, but or- ?
narily they eat little meat. On the
gh lands the natives raise sheep also
id both sheep and cattle have a
sculiarity. "When the rains cease the
ass is very rank and abundant. The
ieep and the cattle become very fat,
it the fat does not distribute itself M
1 over the body as in temperate
imates, but goes into the hump J
bich curiously enough is composed
itirely of fat. In the sheep the fat
1 goes to the tail. When the animals
e in poor condition these abnormal >
svelopments almost disappear.
The staple diet of the natives is
>iled rice, served with an herb dressg
which leaves a pungent taste in
ie mouth, like that of half-ripe per- ?;
mmons. They also eat a great deal
! fruit, pineapples, oranges, lemons, C01
angoee, all of "which grow wild in
ie greatest profusion. Chickens run kr:
sel
. ^ an
^^ ha
CARRIERS.
ild 8.11 over the island, and the Can- ne
isiane eat more chiqken than any- ?ni
ling else. Potatoes cost five cents
>iece and flonr and bread are things 7ei
lknown. m
The territory of Madagascar is
vided among the tribes, and per- 2,!*
ission to travel from one tribal ter- :
tory to another must be obtained .
om the chiefs. In this way tribal c!?
jculiarities are strengthened. For *
Lftmple, the Hovas, who are monoga- *ee
ous, have individual property,
hich descends to their children in e
jual shares. The Sakalavas, on the
>ntrary, * hold their .property on a
>mmunistic principle and cling to .
le feudal idea. They are polygamous, ?
id capture their wives much as the ?
A iA fit a flftKinoo TKcv arp
itirely without family feeling, sellg
both wives and children when'er
a buyer presents himself. On ir*
ie death of a Sakalava his property
verts to the tribe, and ie divided as ar<
ie village authorities dictate.
The marriage customs of the various
ibes resemble each other when they 8*'
,n be said to have any marriage cere- 77
ony at all. The ceremony is a ^
ther pretty and effective one. The fv
idegroom usually sends an emis- 5, *
ry, and the marrige is for the most ^
irt performed by proxy on both ^
3es. The groom sends a messenger 7??
id the bride is represented by her .
ther. Often the groom has not met
,e bride, but he chooses her accordg
to her rank, wealth and reputaDn
of family. The groom's messen- ?01
>r goes to the bride's village and an- lea
>unces his master's name, with all Fe
s titles, of which the Malagasys are 18
:ry fond, and his wish to marry the cet
iughter of such and such a man. mc
den follows a list of promises, all vei
mounced after the manner of a town
ier in the open space at the centre
the village. Then the father ol the
ide steps forward and asks all the 1118
habitants of tne village why he va!
lonld not give hie daughter in mar
age to this man, repeating all the
ties. Then he goes down through
le list of promises and asks why he
lonld not take such a son-in-law who 803
ill make such promises. These.ques- str
ons are much like that one in our
arriage service when the officiating 301
ergyman asks if any one knows why .
iese two should not be joined to- W11
ither. These public proceedings so]
on
tr:
to
see
no
I
. . ul
> \ lin
wil
aDC
g^
S MINISTER.
nsume the greater part of a day.
len the bride's father entertains the t
essenger and his retinue, and in a I
.y or two the bride start* out for her |
iw home under the escort of the
isband's messenger and her father's
en. She is carefully guarded durg
the journey. When she meets her
isband it is her first view of him.
Their acquaintance with each other J
of gradual growth, and usually the tt
?va family is a stable oue. Families
e small, and with the birth of each
ild the name of tbe parents is
anged, until with the birth of the
ungest child the name becomes perment.
~
There is a peculiar custom of adop- ^oc
>n among the Malagasys, called blood ^al
othership, which ih accomplished by r*r<
tting the breasts of both the men
10 desire to become related, and
ftking a piece of cotton cloth in the 1
lod of each. These delicate tokens trie
5 then exchanged and swallowed, offii
;er whioli interesting and appetizing rec<
ocese the two are brothers for all beii
rposes, even to the inheritance of for
I \
>perty. Strange as it may seem, the
ite residents of the island are often
>pted by the Malagasys in order to
ilitate trade.
- h
A VILLAGE GATE.
rhe dwellings of the tribes differ
Qsiderably. The Hovas live in snbmtial
honses bnilt of sun-dried
icks, which they manufacture themves.
These houses have partitions
d windows, and are quite comfortle.
The Sakalavae live in bamboo
d grass houses, square, one-roomed
uctures, with sloping roofs. The
or is of dirt and fairly swarms with
__ 1..* 1. ' 1 1 *
as, wmcn are peculiarly ravenous m
idagaecar. When the grass honse
comes too fall of fleas the owner
rns it down.
[n one corner of the Sakalava hnt
i fire is built, and here all the cooky
is done. The furniture is exceedjly
primitive. There are no chairs
d the bed is formed of bamboo
cks. The natives wear no jewelry
i do not care for it. They are all
jeedingly avaricious and prefer, to
ve their wealth in money. They
re no appreciation of the value of
scions stones, and though most of
; -women wear earrings they are freently
of wood or horn. Personally
i natives are very dirty and have a
>ugnance for water. Besides, they
aint their hair with rancid lard, so
it on warm days they are. very odor3.
rhe natives have soft, musical
ices, and are ready speakers. They
re a printed and. a spofcen language,
ich differ almost entirely. Two
wspapers are printed on the island,
9 by the French and one by the
glish, between whom the rivalry is
ykeen. Both papers are printed
Malagasy. The natives read them
I incline first one way and then the
ler, as their own' interests dictate,
e Hovas, who take kindly to the
ristian religion, wear the most
thes, and even wear shoes occasiony,
but when they begin to pinch the
t they take them off and carry them
tnc in their hands. The Hova 'von
wear a single garment?a square
;et of linen, cotton or silk. The
ler natives wear a garment much
e a gunny sack, only that it is made
woven grass, with holes cut for
;s, arms and bead.
rhe Sakalavas bury their dead on
} surface of the ground, with a preface
for high elevations, and over
j body erect a pile of rocks. The
. ?? n V.llil/1 i/>TV%]^CI mOQAni?TT
' V CkO UUJXVi. bULUuo v/i Auwvuij) ttju^vu
? always oblong and run east and
st. The body is wraped in a
imta," or square cloth of silk or
iss, and laid in the family vault,
is considered a great honor to be
i founder of a family tomb. When a
>va dies the relatives put on dark
is clothes and unbind the hair,
e period of active mourning, when
the relatives mourn and wail,
ts one day. Then until the day of
3 funeral the slaves do the monrnThe
funeral does not occur unthe
rum and oxen provided for by
i will of the deceased are entirely
asumed. A wealthy Hova alwaye
,ves a considerable sum to be ex*
tided in a funeral feast The tomb
usually near the house and the proision
thither is exceedingly unceremioue,
the only care being to preQt
the dead body from coming
y where near the presence of royalty,
ben a Hova dies away from home he
L 1 - 1 ???
ouxieu in a Hunace gxnvc quu
J bones are interred in the family
nit.
Daring the funeral ceremonies the
kalavas beat drums made of hollow
i;s with ox hide drawn over the ends.
iey also fire guns, and express their
:row?or joy?with noisy demonations.
These festivities last a
ek, and during that time the divis1
of property takes place. They
ry all the clothes of the deceased
bh him, as his spear and any peraal
property which is not valuable,
rhe Betsimasarka6 bury their dead
top of the ground in a hollow tTee
? ? 4a 1 /%r>on
IBKj one t/liU. Ui Wliiuu id iwiv
allow the spirit to escape. Rice if
ittered about that the spirit may
t go hungry.
Wiiiter Coats.
I. Winter coat with collar of Persian
ib. Jacket is of black cloth and is
ed with silk serge. It is made up
;h one black piece, two side pieces
I front sections, with the right one
)jecting over the left one. Back and
e sections are laid in plaits below
i waist, which are pressed down,
itache-braid trimming. Round
5K618. JDUttonnoiea ure orui*ui?3jui,ou
h passementerie. Revere are front
tions turned over.
!. Jacket is of black cloth and is
ed black serge. Has back, side and
nt sections. Closes in front with
?? ? ? 1
>kB. Cape is composed of six pieces. ]
nb's-wool-braid trimming with a j
;lot-fringe. Laid-down collar. Bal- ]
n sleeves.?New York Ledger. i
M f
"he cancellation of stamps by elec
:ity is being adopted by the Post;e
Department of the United States, 1
sntly patented stamping machines ]
ag used for that purpose and also 1
the postmarking of letters. j *
-a,/-vv
'' :
' > , ; fijSwfrJj
. jmm
=?t
A.. 01^>_1. Unnaa .
jxix uiorniv iiuuov*
The famous house where the first'
American flag wad made is yet standing
in Arch street, Philadelphia. Ab
will be seen from the accompanying
cat, which is from a recent photograph,
the structure is a tiny briok
dwelling of colonial times. Apart
from the historic associations which _ !
attach to the place in connection withi.
the Stars and Stripes, the house is.
also interesting in being built of English
brick brought over in 1682 in the 'A
W/l1/tA?VlA ill A flAVMA AIM V\ IrrrVt 1/MkWI/lPI'
?? KUC cauic Dilinm\/u wcu^^u 4>
William Penn. The structure haa
therefore been standing more than
210 years, being one of the most
ancient in the country. It was
already nearly - a century old when
Mrs. Betsy Boss in June, 1776, under,
the supervision of General Washing- I
ton, fashioned the banner which a
month later was flung to the breeze,
and from a mere piece of bunting became
the standard of a hew Nation, as
the State House bell proclaimed .
liberty throughout the land.
il . ;
BETSY BOSS'S HOUSE.
I ' *
Mrs. Rose was a seamstress, and her,
connection with the flag was probably; y
due to the fact that she did 4ne sew-;
ing for the leading Philadelphia
families, and being well known as an
excellent needle-woman, Bhe was ,
selected to carry out the ideas of
Washington and Robert Morris, .who . x-rJ
together called upon her, and watched ^
the flag grow under - her nimble
fingers. Her descendants are yet living
in Philadelphia.?Detroit Free
Press.
' 7 S-SSse
Eolalie's Span Glass Dress. '
The wonderful spun glass dress
which the Princess Eulalie - ordered
during her visit to the Crystal Palace
PBINCE88 BULAME'S GLASS DRESS.
. ? .
at the World's Fair, "was made by a 1
New York dressmaker. It cost $2500,
and is one of the most unique costumes
ever made.
The glass fibre was spun from solid
glass cones three-eighths of an inch in '1
diameter, whose aggregate was 760,3
feet and total weight 9 pounds 15$
onnePB. This srlass cloth fibre was
spun in 37 hours 30 minutes, and was
woven on a loom one vard wide. The v
continuous length of the yard threads
would be 1914 3-11 miles, and the aggregate
weight of the silk threads was'
33.5 pound'. The warp was of silk >
thread, the woof of glass threads and
silk threads in the ratio of 260 to 1 respectively.
With the exception of
the glass fringe trimmings the total
weight of the dress is 13 pounds 8J
ounces. ?Herald.
Food As an Aid to Sleep.
Many persons, says Dr. W. T. Cathell,
an eminent physician, though
not actually sick, keep below par in 4
strength and general tone through
fasting during the long intervals be<
A ? VvAolrfoof Thfl
twee ii tsajjpci auu un.aai<??,
complete emptiness of the stomach
during sleep adds greatly to the amount
of emaciation, sleeplessness and general
weakness. All beings except man
are governed by natural instinct, and
every being with a stomach except
man eats before sleep, and even the
human infant, guided by the same instinct,
sucks frequently day and night,
and if its stomach is empty for any j
prolonged period it cries long and '
loud. Digestion requires no interval
of rest, and if the amount of food during
the twenty-four hours is, in quantity
and aualitv. not beyond the phy* t
Biological limit, it makes no hurtful r
difference to the^omach ho* few or
how short are '%he intervals between
eating; b\jt It does make a vast
difference in the weak and emaciated
one's welfare to have a modicum of
food in the stomach during the time
of sleep, that instead of being consumed
by bod?iy action it may during,
the interval improve the lowered 3ys-(
tem. and were the weakly, the emaci- K
ited and the sleepless to take a light
' 1 1 mn4?UiAna>
I linen or iueui Ui cjhijjjic-, Jiuuivivuu
Food before going to bed for a pro- *
longed period, nine in ten of tbem:
should be thereby lifted into a better!
standard.
The turkeys of the United States are'
mnually flavored with over 1,200,000
bushels of cranberries, grown mostly. dd
n Massachusetts, New Jersey and Wis-: fl
:onsin. ? *" ' S