Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About Nebraska advertiser. (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 8, 1881)
EH K , r -A Wr THE ADVERTISER. Subscription,' $2.00 per War, iu Advance. orririA-i. I'Ai'int or tun coustk SLEEPS THRESHOLD. What fontstocp lint hm wandored free- and far Amid that Castle of Sleep whoso walls were plannud Hv no terrestrial craft. i human hand, Wltti towers that po nt to no recorded star? Hero sorrows inuinoi lea and remorses arc, Kniimlnir tho lotiK dim rooms or galleries praii'l: . , t , Here tho lost friends our spirits yot do miuid , , . , 0 lentil through mysterious doorways, half ajar. Dut of tin' uncounted tlironj?s that over win 'J'hcso halls where slumber's dusky witch eries rule. Who, after wakening, may rovcnl aright Hv what phantasmal niuans iio entered In "What porch ot cloud, what vapory vestibule. What stairway quarried f mm the mines of ft.'diJr Fawcctt, tn AUanltc MonUilu. J TOUR OF THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS. JVliES VllltXIVS a III AT STOUT. CHAPTKK XII.-Ccvtin"K1). Around tho statuo ro was a group of old fnkirs jumping and tossing thoin solves about convulsively. Smeared with, bands of oohor, covered with cross like cuts, whence their blood escaped drop by drop stupid fanatics, who, in tho great Hindoo ceremonies, precipi tated themselves uador tho wheels of tho car of Juggernaut. Behind them aoi Brahmins, in all tho nm"ninco;J of their Oriental cos tume, wor- lrnKj;iS " woman who could hanty hold herself erect. This vJinun was young, and as fair as aEuro,ean. Her head, Iter neck, her shoulors hor ears. Iter arms, her hands and'101' toos were loaded down with j(J. ols, necklaces, bracelets, ear-rings ,.ul finger-rings. A tunic, embroidered with gold, covered with a light muslin, displayed the outlines of hoi form. Behind this young woman a violent contrast for tho oyes wore guards, armed with naked sabers fastened to their girdles and long damaskeened pistols, carrying a corpse upon a palan quin. It was the body of an old man, dressed in tho rich garments of a Rajah, having, as in life, his turban embroidered with pearls, his robe woven of silk and gold, his sasli of cashmere ornamented with diamonds, and his magnificent arms as an Indian Prince. Then, musicians and a rearguard of amities, whose criessomotimes drowned "tho deafening noise of tho instruments, closed up the cortege. Sim Francis Cromarty looked at all this pomp' with a singularly sad air, and, turning to tho guide, ho said: "A suttee!" The Farseo made an allirmativo sign and put his lingers on his lips. Tno long procession slowly came out from the trees, and soon tho last of it disap peared in tho depths of tho forest. Jittlo by little the chanting died out. There were still tho sounds of distant cries, and finally a profound silence suc ceeded all this tumult. Phileas Fogg had heard tho word ut tered by Sir Francis Cromarty, and, as soon as" the procession hud disappeared, lie asked: 'What is a suttee?" "A suttee, Mr. Fogg," replied tho Brigadier-General, is a iiumiui sacrifice, but a voluntary sacrilico. Tho woman that you have just seen will bo burned to-morrow in the early part of tho day." "Oh the villains!" cried Passepar tout, who could not prevent this cry of indignation. "And this corpse?" asked Mr. Fogg. "It is that of tho Prince, her hus band," replied the guide, "an inde pendent Rajah of Bundelcund. "How," replied Phileas Fogg, with out his voice betraying tho least emo tion, "do these barbarous customs still exist in India, and have not tho English boon able to extirpate thorn?" . " In tho largest part of India," re plied Sir Francis Cromarty, " these sacrifices donot come to pass; but wo have no inlluonco over these wild coun tries, and particularly over this terri tory of Bundelcund. All the northern slope of the Vindhias is tho scene of murders and incessant robberies." "Tho unfortunate woman," mur mured Passepartout, "burned alive!" "Yes," replied tho General, "burn ed, and if sho was not you would not believo to what a miserablo condition sho would bo reduced by her near rela tives. They would shavo hor hair; thoy would scarcely feed her with a few hundsful of rico; they would repulse hor; sho would bo considered as an uu cloan creature, and would dio in some corner liko a sick dog. So that the prospect of this frightful existence fre quently drives these unfortunates to tho sacrilico much more than love or relig ious fanaticism. Sometimes, however, tho sacrilico is really voluntary and tho energetic intervention of tho Govern ment is necessary to prevent it. Some years ago I was living at Bombay, when a young widow came to tho Gov ernor to ask nis authority for hor to bo burned with tho body of hor husband. As you may think, the Governor re fusod. Then tho widow loft tho city, took reftigo with an independent Rnjuh, ami there sho accomplished tho sacri fice " During tho narrative of tho General, tho guide shook his head, and when ho was through, said: "Tho sacrifice which takes placo to morrow is not voluntary." " How do you know?!' " It is a story which everybody in Bundelcund knows," replied tho guide. "But this unfortunate did not seem to make any resistance," romarkod Sir Francis Cromarty. " Because sho was intoxicated with tho fumes of homp and opium." "But where are thoy talcing hor?" "To tho pagoda of Pillaji. two miles from here. Thoro sho will pass tho night in waiting for tho sacrilico." "And this sacrifice will tako placo? " "At tho first appearance of day." After this answer tho guide brought the elephant out of the dense thicket and jumped on his neck. But nt tho moment that he was going to start Mini oil' by a peculiar whistle Mr. Fogg stopped him, and, uddrossingSir Francis Cromarty, said: " If wo could save this worn an I" "Savo this woman, Mr. Fogg!" cried tho Brigadior-Goncral. "1 have still twelve hours to spare. I can dovoto them to hor." " Why you are a man of heart!" said Sir Francis Cromarty. "Sometimes," replied Phileas Fogg, simply, " when I havo time." CHAPTER Xttl. IN WHICH IMS.SKPAUTOUT IMIOVRS AOA1N THAT KOIlTUNi: NMII.KM UPON TIIK 1101.11. Tho design was bold, full of difficul ties, perhaps impracticable. Mr. Fogg was going to risk his life, or at least his liberty, and, consequently, the suc cess of his plans, but ho did not hesi tate. Ho found, besides, a decided ally in Sir Francis Cromarty. As to Passepartout, ho was ready and could be depended upon. His master's idea excited him. Ho felt that thoro was a heart and soul under this icy cov ering. Ho almost loved Phileas Fogg. Tlion there was tho guide. What part would ho tako in tho matter? Would ho not bo with tho Indians? In default of his aid, it was at least neces sary to bo sure of his neutrality. Sir Franc's Cromarty put tho question to him frankly. "Officer,'' ropliod tho guide, " I am a Parsee, and that woman is a Parsoe. Make use of mo." " Very well, guide," replied Mr. Fog". "However, do you know," replied the Parsee, "that wo not only risk our lives, but horriblo punishments if wo are taken? So see." "That is seen," replied Mr. Fogg. "I think that wo shall havo to wait for night to net." "I think so, too," replied tho guide. The bravo Hindoo then gave some do tails as to tho victim. Sho was an In dian of celebrated beauty, of the Parsoe race, tho daughter of a rich merchant of Bombay. She had received in that city an absolutely English education, and from her manners and cultivation sho would havo been thought a European. Her name was Aouda. An orphan, sho was married against her will to this old Rajah of Bundel cund. Three months after sho was a widow. Knowing tho fato that awaited her, she fled, was retaken immediately, and the relatives of the Rajah, who had an interest in her death, devoted hor to this sacrilico from which it scorned that she could not escape. This narrative could only strengthen Mr. Fogg and his companions in their generous resolution. It was decided that tho guide should turn tho oleplKint toward tho pagoda of Pilliji, which ho should approach as near as possible. A half hour afterward a halt was made under a thick clump of trees, five hundred paces from the pagoda, which thoy could not see, but they heard dis tinctly the yellings of tho fanatics. The means of reaching the victim wore then discussed. The guido was acquainted with tho pagoda, in which he assorted that tho young woman was imprisoned. Could thoy enter by one of tho doors, when the whole band was plunged in tho sloop of drunken ness, or would thoy havo to make a hole through the wallP This could bo decided only at tho moment and tho placo. But thoro could be no doubt that the abduction must be accom plished this very night, and not when, daylight arrived, the victim would be. led to the sacrilico. Then no human intervention could savo her. Mr. Fogg and his companions waited for night. As soon as tho shadows fell, toward six o.' clock in tho evening, they detorminod to make a rcconnoissanco around tho pagoda. The last cries of the fakirs had died out. According to their customs, theso Indians wore plunged in the heavy intoxication of "hum," liquid opium mixed with an infusion of hemp, and it would perhaps be possible to slip in between them to the tomplo. Tho Parsee guiding, Mr. Fogg, Sir Francis Cromarty, and Passepartout advanced noiselessly through the for est. After ten minutes creeping under tho branches, they arrived on tho edgo of a small river, and thoro by tho liglit of iron torches at tho end of which was burning pitch, thoy saw a pile of wood. It was tho funeral pilo, made of costly sandal wood, and already saturated with perfumed oil. On its upper part tho embalmed body of tho Rajah was resting, which was to bo burned at tho same time as his widow. At ono hun dred paces from this pilo roso tho pagoda, whoso minarets in tho dark ness pierced tho tons of tho trees. "Come!" said tho guide, in alow voice. Soon tho guido stopped at the end of a clearing, lit up by a tow torches. Tho ground was colored with groups of sleepers, hoavy with drunkonnoss. In the background, among the trees, tho tomplo oi Pillaji stood out indis tinctly. But to tho great disappoint ment of tho guido, tho guards of tho Rajahs, lighted by smoky torches, were watching at tho doors, and pacing up and down with drawn sabers. Phileas Fog" and Sir Francis Cromarty under stood as well as himself that thoy could attempt nothing on this side. Thoy stopped and talked in a low tone. "Let us wait," said tho llrlgndioi General, " it is not eight o'clock yot, and it is possible thutthoso guards may succumb to sleep." " That is possible, indeed," ropliod the Parsee. Phileas Fogg and his companions stretched themselves out at tho foot of a trer. and waited. Thoy waited thus until midnight. The situation did not change. Tho same watching outside. It was evident that thoy could not count on tho drow siness of tho guards. After a final conversation, tho guide saiil he was ready to start. Mr. Fogg, Sir Francis and Passepartout followed him. They mado a pretty long detour, so as to roach tho pagoda by the rear. About a half hour past midnight thoy arrived at the foot of tho walls, without n iving met any ono. No watch had been established on this side, but win dows anil doors wore entirely wanting. But it was not suuiciout tb reach tho foot of tho walls, it was necessary to make an opening thoro. For this oper ation Pinions Fogg and his companions had nothing at all but their pookot knlvos. Fortunately, tho tomplo walls wore composed of a mixture of bricks and wood, which could not bo difficult to make a holo through. The first briok onco taken out. tho others would easily follow. Thoy wont at it, making as littlo noise us possible. The Parsoe, from ono side, and Passepartout, from the other, worked to unfasten tho bricks, so us to got an opening two feet wide. Tho work was progressing, but un fortunate mischance some guards showed themselves at the rear of tho pagoda, and established themselves thoro so as to hinder an approach. It would be ditllcult to describe tliu disappointment of these four men, stopped iu thoir work. " What can wo do but leave?" asked tho General in a low voice. "Wo can only leave," ropliod tho guide. " Wait," said Fogg. " It will do if I reach Allahabad to-morrow before noon." " But what hopo have you?" replied Sir Francis Cromarty. "It will soon bo daylight, and" "Tlio cliunco which escapes us now may return at the last moment." Tho General would have liked to road Phileas Fogg's eyos. What was this cold-blooded English man counting on? Would he, at tho moment of tho sacrilico rush towards tho young woman, and openly tear hor from her murdorcrsP That would havo boon madness, and how could it be admittod that this man was mad to this degree? Nevertheless, Sir Francis Cromarty consented to wait until tho denouement of this terrible scene. However, the guido did not leave his companions at the spot whoro thoy had hid, and ho took them back to tho foreground of tho clearing. Thoro, sheltered by a clump of trees, they could watch tho sleeping groups. In tho moan time Passepartout, perched upon the loivor branches of a tree, was meditating an idea which had first crossed his mind liko a flash, and which finally imbedded itsolf in his brain. He had commenced by saying to hini-olf, "What madness!" and now ho repeated, "Why not, after all? it is a chance, perhaps tho only ono. and with such brutes " At all events, Passepartout did not put his thought into any other shape; but he was not slow in sliding down, with tho case of a snake, on tho lower branches of the tree, tho end of which bent toward tho ground. The hours were passing, and soon a fow less somber shades announced tho approach of day. But the darkness was still great. It was tho time fixed. It was liko a resurrection in this slumbering crowd. Tho groups wakened up. Tho beating of turn-turns sounded, songs und cries burst out unow. Tho hour hud como iu which tho unfortunate was to die. Tho doors of tho pagoda wore now opened. A more intense light oamo from tho interior. Mr. Fogg und Sir Francis could sco tho victim, all lighted up, whom two priests wore dragging to tho outside. It seemed to them that, shaking off the drowsiness of in toxication by tho highest instinct of self-preservation, the unfortunate wom an was trying to escape from hor execu tioners. Sir Francis' heart throbbed violently, and, with a convulsive move ment seizing Phileas Fogg's hand, ho folt that it hold an oucii knife. At this moment, tho crowd was agi tated. Tho young woman had fallen again into tho stupor produced by the fumes of tho hemp. She passed be tween tho fakirs, who escorted her with their religious cries. Phileas Fog" and his companions fol lowed her, mingling with tho rear ranks of the crowd. Two minutes after, thoy arrived at tho ed"0 of tho river, and stopped loss than fifty paces from tho funeral pilo, upon which was lying tlio Rajah's body. In the semi-obscurity, thoy saw tho victim, motionless, sti etched near her husband's corpse. Then a torch was brought, and tho wood, impregnated with oil, soon took liro. At this moment, Sir Franois Cromurty und tho guido hold back Phileas Fog", who in an impulse of generous mad ness, was goin to rush toward tho pilo. But Philous Fogg had ulroudy pushqd thorn buck, when tho scene changed suddonly. A erv of terror arose. Tho whole crowd, frightened, cast them selves upon tho ground. The old Rajah was not dead, tlwm; ho was scon suddenly rising upright, liko a phantom, raising tho youii" woman in his arms, descending from tho pilo in tho midst of the clouds of smoke which gave him u spectral appearance. Tho fakirs, tho priests, overwhelmed with u midden fear, woro prostrate, thoir faces to tho ground, not daring to raise their eyos, and look at sucn a miracle! Tho inanimato victim was hold by tho vigorous arms carrying hor, with outseomingto bo much of a weight. Mr. Fogg and Sir Francis hail remained standing. Tho Parsoe had bowed his head, and Passepartout, without doubt, was not less stupiliod. The resuscitated man came near tho spot where Mr. Fogg and Sir Francis Cromarty woro, and said shortly: " Lot us bo oil'!' ' It was Passepartout himself who had slipped on tho pilo in the midst of tiio thick smoke! It was Passepartout who, profiting by tho great darkness still prevailing, had rescued tho young woman from death! It was Passepartout who, playing his part with the boldest good-luck, passed out in tho midst of tho general fright! An instant alter tho four disappeared in the woods, and tho elephant rook thom onwards with a rapid trot. But cries, shouts, and even a ball, piercing Phileas Fogg's hat apprised thom that tho stratagem had boon discovered. Indeed, on tho burning pilo still lay tho bod, of the old Rajah. Tho priests recovered from thoir frigid, teamed that the abduction had taken place. Thoy immediately rushed into the forest. The guards followed thun. Shots wero fired; but the abductors Hod rapidly, and, iu a lew moments thoy woro out of range of balls or arrows. CHAPTKll Xl. IN WHICH Cllll, K IS POflO IIKSCKNIWTIIKr.NTIIti: HI'l.KMHI) VAI.I.KV OP Till: (1AN0P.S WITHOUT i:vi:u tiiinki.no or i.ookino at it. Tho bold abduction had succeeded. An horn after Passepartout was still laughing at his success. Sir Francis Cromarty grasped the hand of the bravo follow. His muster said to him: " Good," which in that gentleman's mouth was equivalent to high praise. To which Passepartout replied in at all tho honor of tho affair belonged to his master. As for himself he had only had a "droll" idea, and he laughed in thinking that for a few moments he, Passepartout, the former gymnast, the ox-Sorgoant of firemen, had been tho widower of a charming woman, an old embalmed Rajah! As for tho voung Indian widow, sho had no knowledge of what had passed. Wrapped up in -raveling cloaks, she was resting in ono of tho howdahs. Meanwhile tho elephant, guided with tho greatest certainty by the Parsee, moved on rapidly through tho still dark forest. Ono hour after having left tho pagoda of Pillaji, ho shot across an im mense plain. At seven o'clock thoy halted. The young woman was still in a state of complete prostration. Tho guido made hor drink a fow swallows of water and brandy, but tho stupefying influence which overwhelmed hor con tinued for some time longer. Sir Fran cis Cromarty, who know tho efl'ects of intoxication produced by inhalation of the fumes of hemp, had no uneasiness on her account. But if the restoration of tho young woman was not a question in the Gen eral's mind, he was not less assured for the future. Ho did not hesitate to say to Phileas Fog" that if Mrs. Aouda re mained in India sho would inevitably fall again into tho hands of hor execu tioners. These fanatics wore scattered throughout tho entire peninsula, and, notwithstanding tho English police, they would cortainly bo able to recap ture thoir victim, whotltor at Madras, at Bombay, or at Calcutta. And in sup port of this remark Sir Francis quoted i fact of the same nature which had re cently transpired. According to his view tho young woman would really not bo safe until after leaving India. Phileas Fogg replied that ho would nolo theso remarks and think thom over. Towards ten o'clock tho guido an nounced tho station of Allahabad. Tho interrupted line of the railway recom menced thoro, whence trains travorso, iu less than a day and night, the dis tance separating Allahabad from Cal cutta. Phileas Fogg ought then to arrive in time to tako a steamer, which wouK not leave until tho next day, October J5, at noon, for Hong Kong. Tho young woman was placed iu a waiting-room of the station. Passepar tout was directed to purchase for her various articles of dress, such as a robe, shawl, furs, etc., whatever ho would find. I lis master opened an unliinitvd credit for him. Passepartout went out immodhttoJy und run through the streets of the city. Allahabad, that is, tho "City of God," is ono of tho most venerated of India, on account ot its being built at the junc tion of two sacred rivers, tho Ganges and tho Jumna, whoso waters attract pilgrims from the whole peninsula. ill making his purchases, Passepar tout hud hoon seen the city, at one timo defended by a magnificent fort, which had become a State prison. Thoro are no more commerce and no more manu factures in this city, formerly a manu facturing and commercial point. Pas separtout, who vainly sought a variety shop, such as there was iu Regent street, a fow stops oil' from Farmer & Co., found only at u second-hand deal er's, m old whimsical Jow, tho objects which ho needed n dross of Scotch atulV, a largo mantle and a magnificent otter-skin polisso, for which ho did not hesitate to pay seventy-five pounds. Then, quite triumphant, ho roturuod to tho station. Mrs. Aouda commenced to rovivo. Tho inlluonco to which tho priests of Pillaji had subjected her disappeared by degroes and hor beautiful oyes resumed all their Indian softness. 11 o 11K CONTINUED. J A l'erslan Legend Revised Vcndon. When Malok el Adib loft the homo of his childhood that ho might go West and salt a mine and grow up with tho country after unloading upon somo smart fellows down in the provinces, his mother gave him forty pieces of silver, ami made him promise never to toll a lie. "Go, my son," she said, in a voice husky with hairpins, "go; wo may never meet again, and if we do I wHl probably bo marrlod before you come back and It wouldn't bo ploasunt for you to live ut homo and havo to call some squaro-hendod old mufti Pa.'" Tho youth wont, and the party ho traveled with was assaulted by road agents, who shot tho driver, cut open tho mail-bags, blow open tho express box and wont through the passengers. When ono of tho robbers asked the boy how much ho hud, ho ropliod with sur prising candor: " 1 liavo ten dinars sowed up in my garments." Tho robber laughed a hoarse, guttural laugh In tho United States language and passed on to an elderly man, think ing tho boy lied. Anothor robber ask odtho boy tho sumo question; and, re ceiving tho sumo answer, laughed us did his comrade. Finally tho Chief called Malok to him and asKcd what he had. Tho boy replied: " I havo already told two of your poo pie that 1 have ten dinars sowed up iu my gray olqthos." The Chief ordered his clothes to be ripped open and found the money. "And how," ho asked "came you to tell thisP" " Bocauso," ropliod the boy, "I would not bo false to my mother, whom 1 solemnly promised to never toll alio." " Aw, cheese that," tho robber chief replied, "that's too diaphanous, strip ling; it won't laundry. Stand him on ids head, follows, and tap him for all he's worth." So the robbers stood Malok on his head, and pounded tho solos of his feet with the bastinados until he disgorged from various secret pockets, bolts, double shoo solos, and from tho straw and cushions of the couch, 125 dinars, a gold watch, a lot of Erie stoek, seven railroad pusses, somo promissory notes, a now Dorrinor, photographs of Maud Granger and Sara Bernhardt, a marked poker deck, a llask of Old Cabinet whisky, some chewing tobacco, a dia mond' pin and a blood-stone ring, a package of counterfeit 10's, and aslung shot. They then cut oil' his nock and tossed him over into the canyon. "That," said tho robbor chief, as ho pocketed tho bulk of tho swag, "will teach him to keep his promise to his mother tho noxt timo. Always play awful eloso on a man who trios tho honest)' lay on a road agent." llur lingtm Hawkey c. , The Garfield Family. Tho splendid weather, so unusual for Washington at midsummer, is favora ble to riding parties, of which the ob served of all observers are those that emerge from tho White House grounds almost ovory line evening about six o'clock or half-pust. The President's two manly sons are both lino riders, and each lias a spirited horse. Hur ry's is n bay, trained to tho saddlo; Jim's, a beautiful black trotter, Mollie, the sister is not much of u rider yot. She has a fine liguro for the saddle, but does not seem "to caro much for tho oxorciso. She has a pretty saddlo ot her own, but as yot no horso. Tho President's saddlo-horso, a splendid dapple-gray named Mars is ridden during his illness sometimes by Mr. Judd, the telegraphic Secretary, some times by Dr. Hawkos, the family tutor. Privato Secretary Brown lias a hand somo horso of his own. Theso gontlo mon make a spirited group in thoir frequent after-dinner sallies. Mrs. Gar fiold drives out almost daily with ono or another lady friend. Mrs. Sheldon ac companied hor husband hero nt this time at Mrs. Garfield's special request. Sho will bo her close companion, and will relieve hor of much fatigue. Sho was hero during tho first fow weeks of tho Administration, und assisted Mrs. Garlicldin rocoiving. Tho Presidential carriage is a very handsome atlair, now and commodious. His carriage horses, bought recently from Congressman Up dograll', of Ohio, are magnificent bays, Albert, tho historic colored driver, who has hold his position since tho days of Grunt, sits on tho box iu livery. Ho is fond of enumerating tho lino horses President Grunt had iu his stables. He used then to drive foiir-m-liand. Since tho Garfield boys und Don Rockwell resumed thoir studies at Colonel Rock well's residence, which is somo distance from tho central portion of tho city, tho President's carriugo is sont every day for Dr. Iiawkes, and brings him homo at ono o'clock when the day's lessons aro over. Tho boys are uow through with thoir classical review, and on Mon day will tako up tho mathematical, embracing arithmetic, algebra, through equations of the first degree, und the first two books of geometry. This pro Dares them for entering as freshmen at Williams in September. A certificate of proiicieney from Dr. Hawkes will bo accepted by tho college authorities iu lieu of the accustomed examination for admission. Tho boys aro lino dancers, as well us versed in outdoor athletics. Thoy are not pre-eminently bookish boys; thoy have not been forced in that direction, but aro bright and capable nevertheless. All the older children havo tho lino physical development of their lather. Mrs. Garliold is small and slight. Washington Cor. riiilauelphia I'oat. A woman iu Philadelphia was bound over tho othor day to answer to a charge of being a common scold, brought against hor by hor winoyed neighbors.
