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The Commoner.
JULY 31, 1903;;
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tional quantities in the village of Brussa, in
Asiatic Turkey, where 2,000 'small mines aro be
. ing worked now. The story continues in this way:
"Most of the miners aro Persians and Kurds.
They dig a hole into the earth till they strike a
toed of red clay in which the meerschaum lies in
kidney-shaped pieces, usually about as big aa a
walnut and rarely larger than an apple. After a
piece is dug out of the clay it is cleaned with a
knife, and is then ready for sale. Every Friday
tho dealers gather, and the meerschaum is sold in
open market There are four qualities tiramali,
birembirlfk, pambukli and dakmo. The buyers
come from Eskieschehr, and about a d,qzen of them
control tho market. They wrap the meerschaum
carefully in cotton and sell it for high prices.
Only about 3,000 pounds of Eskisqhekr meers
chaum are obtained in a year."
AN INTERESTING AND IT MLY BE IM
portant iind wasnnado recently by two ne
groes at tho mouth of the Vermillion river in
Louisiana. Tho finders appeared at tho Bank of
Lafayette and tried to negotiato the sale of a
largo quantity of Spanish gold and,, silver coin
and declared, that these coins had been found by
them in an immense old-fashioned cannon buried
.In the bay. The value of the coin found buried in
this strange hiding place is estimated at about
$100,000. A correspondent of the Cincinnati En
quirer writing from Lafayette, La., says that "this
story has revived the tradition of Lafitte and his
famous band of Corsairs plundering Spanish
treasure ships in the gulf and hiding tho booty
along the coast, or, possibly hot chased by a war
ehip, they threw the cannon overboard in some se
cure nook for future recovery. Hundreds of peo
ple throughout South Louisiana believe that hid
den treasure may bo found on tho coast and even
in- the interior. , Excavations attest tho convic
tion of many that great wealth has been stored
away by the famous old' sea robbers and only
awaits some lucky finder. The nqgroes' find, if
true, wjll confirm the romantic stories and mul
tiply without number seekers after ready-made
fortunes."
sc ft
IT IS REPORTED FROM WASHINGTON THAT
the Manchurian question has been settled
satisfactorily to thitf government .. Tho Washing
ton correspondent for the New Orleans Times
BDemocrat says: "Assurances have been received
from the Chinese government that it will in the
near future open as treaty .ports several ports
now closed to the world's trade. The Russian gov
ernment has conveyed formal assurance to the
JUnited States government that it will not in any
fway oppose such opening. While the ports to be
opened are not yet specified, it is gathered from
the communications that they are Moukden, .the
principal inland port of Manchuria, and Tu Tung
Kao, at the mouth of tho Yalu river. The state
department is highly gratified at this outcome,
feeling that it has secured, not only for American
commerce, but for the commerce of tho world at
large, a very substantial gain."
THE PENDING REVOLUTION IN VENE
zuela has for Its purpose, so tho newspaper
'dispatches report, the establishment of a new re
public to be entirely independent of the Caracas
government A correspondent for the New York
ITribuno says that General Nicholas Rolando was
'declared tho new leader of the revolutionists by
a unanimous vote; that certain English capitalists
aro interested in the establishment of the pro
posed new republic and aro encouraging the pro
ject with promises of financial assistance and se
curing from Great Britain recognition of tho new
government as soon as it is organized. In return
for these considerations the Tribune correspondent
eays that the English capitalists have extorted the
promise of concessions for the navigation of tho
Orinoco river which is within, tho territory of tho
proposed republic Tho new republic if formed
will bo known as Guayana republic aSfc-will com
prise all the eastern part of VenezuolJv'extending
from the Gulf of Paria to tho Kije'r4pSlco includ
ing the River Orinoco territory. "It is proposed
to elect General" Rolando president of the new re
public. Later dispatches, however, do not give
great encouragement to the belief that the revolu
tionists will succeed.
AN INTERESTING STORY CONCERNING
King Edward and tho Liberty Bell is told
by tho Illustrated London Nows. The News says I
"A good many years ago, when the king then tho
Prince of Wales visited Philadelphia, his ma
jesty, at his own request, was taken through the
Independence Hall and shown the relics there
treasured tho original copy of tho Declaration of
Independence (now at Washington), portraits of
tho various patriots and many belongings of
Gcorgo Washington. 'But whoro is tho greatest
relic of this important occasion,' inquired the
prince, 'tho Liberty Boll?' Tho official guide was
unablo to answer the question. Ho had never seen
the boll, and did not think it had escaped tho Junk
dealer. Finally an appeal was mado for informa
tion to an old caretaker of tho hall, who said ho
believed tho bell was stored away 'oomowheres up
in tho loft' Whon tho Icing desired to seo or do a
thing it is seen and done, After climbing crooked
stairways and steep, dusty ladders, ho saw re
vealed, through a veil of cobwebs, tho tarnished
relic of tho revolution. 'I seo they have crackod it
getting it up hero,' said tho official guido. 'No
said the prlnco; 'it was cracked about 100 years
ago, and deserves a hotter resting placo than In
an old lumber room.' Tho remarks of tho king
bore fruit, and now tho Liberty Bell hangs undor
a glass caso, tho most cherished relic of tho
revolution. Tho citizens of Boston, Mass., invited
the mayor of Philadelphia, an Englishman, lato
of Stourport, to bring tho Liberty Boll to Boston
to celebrate tho anniversary of Bunker Hill, and
it has helped to celobrato tho anniversary of tlTat
independence for which it rang on July 4, 1776."
Tho London correspondent for tho Philadelphia
Press, commenting upon this story, says that it la
"very pretty, but lacks tho ono great merit of a
good story it isn't true."
SEVERAL AMERICAN WRITERS HAVE RE
cently undertaken to show that when a ne
gro becomes eminent it is becauso ho has moro
or less white blood in his veins. A writer in tho
New York Times denies tho correctness of this
position and in proof of his claim cites tho caroer
of Sir Samuel Lewis, companion of tho orders of
St Michael and at Georgo, who died July 9 In
London. According to the Times writor: "Sir
Samuel was of pure African parentage and was
born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa, In
1843. After passing through tho local grammar
school ho was sent by his father to England to
complete his education He arrived in London in
1866 and entered University College, where ho
gained prizes and certificates in the English lan
guago and zoology. He matriculated in Juno,
1868, having in the previous year entered tho
Middle Temple to study for tho bar; It may bo
mentioned that tho London University examina
tions are tho 'stillest' of any in tho United King
dom." IT IS POINTED OUT BY THIS SAME AUTHOR
Jty that Sir So.muel won in a contest for an
essay on the law of real property in 1870 and hav
ing passed the necessary examinations was called
to tho bar at the Middle Temple in 1871.' Tho
Times writer says: "Returning to his native land
in 1872, he began the practice of his profession,
and earned tho reputation of being an able and
painstaking advocate. He served tho local gov
ernment on several occasions in the capacity eith
er of judge, magistrate, or crown advocate, and
offers of permanent employment in the legal
branch of tho colonial civil service were mado to
him. But not even the high office of chief Justice
of the Gold Coast could tempt him to "leave tho
lucrative practice which he had made for him
self In Sierra Leone. In February, 1882, he was
appointed an unofficial member of the legislative
council, an office which ho continued to fill up to
the time ho left the colony in May last He was
the first mayor of Freetown. He was much re
vered by his countrymen and respected by tho
European element in West Africa, as his efforts
and endeavors were for the welfare, not only of
his native colony, but of the whole of the British
West African colonies. In 18 ho was appointed
companion of tho order of St Michael and St
George, and was created a knight bachelor in 1896.
Sir Samuel went to London to obtain surgical
treatment for cancer."
AN INTERESTING ILLUSTRATION OF THE
development in newspaper methods during
the last one hundred years is given by the Lon
don Times and attention is directed to it by a
writer in tho New York Times. The London Times
each day prints a quotation from its issue of tho
same day one hundred years ago. The writer in
the New York Times says: "At this period in
tho last century Napoleon Bonaparte was busily
preparing to invade England with an immense
army. Ono can Imagine how a modern newspaper
would have treated such a 'story' as this. Here is
how the Times referred to it in 1803: 'We yes
terday received the Paris papers to the 3d instant
inclusive. They continue to be filled with addresses
to tho flrat consul, and offers of gun-boats for thi
invasion of this country. They also contain di
rections for tho ceremonial to bo observed by thm
clergy of tho .forcnt towns, which is to sonctlfyi
the reception of the first consul. Among othor
forms, the bishop of the placo is to present tho
cross to him to bo kissed, on his arrival at tho
gatxjs; that cross which ho so grossly degraded
and insulted in Egypt, by displaying It as subject
to tho spiritual predominance of tho crescent Ac-
. counui from Dunkirk Btat that the preparations
making for tho expedition against this country are
on a very extensivo scale a is said,- that a
-camp of 100,000 men is to bo formed near Bt
SPSS ?nf,?'0??,?t Crbourg, and another of
40,000 In Holland.' "
JN K TREATY ENTERED INTO RECENTLY;
1 betweon tho Cuban authorities and tho rop
, rcsontatlvea of tho United States, all claim to tho
Islo of Pines was relinguished by this government
and tho sovereignty ovor that island was passed
to tho Cuban republic. The question concerning
tho sovereignty of this particular island was held
An aboyanco at tho tlmo of tho formulation of tho
, peace treaty, but that question has now been dis
posed .of in accordance with the general under
standing of what is tho correct decision. A writer ,
in tho Des Moines Capital says: "Tho Islo of
Pines was named by Columbus 'Evangelist Island
and belongs to the judicial district of Bojucal. It
la about slx.ty miles from tho cast to west, with
,a maximum breadth of fifty-five miles, and an
,area of about 800 square miles. Tho population as
jgiven by tho Anuario dol Comerclo for 189a la 2,
.000. Communication with tho main island is kept
up through tho port of Batabano, sixty miles dis
tant. Tho principal town is Nueva Gerona, which
iWas founded In 1853, and now has 900 inhabitant.
.Tho village of Santa Fo, fourteen miles distant, la
much frequented on account of its wonderful hot
springs. Tho Islo of Pines consists in reality of
two Islands, separated by a tidal swamp. Toward
tho eastern end of this swamp a few rocky ledges,
flush with tho water, have been utilized to con
struct a stone causoway between the two sections.
These present a marked contrast The north side
is wooded and mountainous and its soil extreme
ly fertile, while the southern section is low,
rocky and barren. The principal products aro
, marble-many1 beautiful Varieties of which exist in
.largo quantities rock crystal,, tortoise shells, pine
and turpentine), cedar, manogany and other val
uable woods. , There aro also deposits of silver,
mercury and Iron."' ' '
it tr -
TOM REED IS CREDITED WITH THE STATE
ment that the state of Maine could furnish
moro statesmen, foxes, water, deer, and peculiar
names than any other state in tho Union. A
writer in tho Kansas City Journal says tha.t on
ono occasion when Mr. Reed had an idle mo
ment, he prepared tho following list: Ezek
Smith, Hassasiah Jones, Liberty Brown, Calvary
Thomas, Hopestill Waters, Bana Bullock, Kilah
Manley, Galon Kirk, Summer Allflend, Generous
Pascal, Uzza Fellowes, Zophan Harum, Dlodamla
Gilmore, Mesbach Carson, Cotton Mllliken, Piram
Sproull, Deluva Dickson and Barclllai Sawyer.
These men were all personally known to him.
P IP
AN IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY IS REPORTED
by the Guthrie, Okfa., correspondent for the
Chicago Chronicle. This relates to the baptizing
of tho aged Geronimo and a dozen of his Apache
warriors recently before a large crowd of Indians
and whites. The ceremony was performed by a
Methodist minister and the correspondent says:
"With the Comanches sitting on ono side of tho
tabernacle and tho Apaches on the other, each
tribe, with its interpreter standing in the fore
ground repeating tho words of tho white preacher,
the minister told the story of Christ, of how tho
Indian could have full and free salvation and pass
through death toft'raljhappy hunting grounds.'
At tho closo of thwrswpn the minister 'opened
the doors of tho church'Jand Geronimo and twelve
of his warriors, prisoners of war at Fort Sill, went
forward and, through their Interpreter, told of
their lovo for the white man's Christ and asked to
be received into Lis church in order that hencefor
ward they might travel the 'Jesus road.' In the
afternoon the baptismal ceremony occurred. The
minister sprinkled tho clear water over the aged
chief's head, repeating tho words: 'In tho namo
of tho Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, amen,'
and Geronimo became a Methodist Geronimo and
200 of his warriors, captured twenty years ago by
Generals Miles and Lawton, are still retained as
prisoners of war at Fort Sill Geronimo was con
sidered the most blood-thirsty Indian of his time,"
BraS