THE HUD CLOUD UlilWlV. KK.IDAY. MO). 2o. I WW. Y -" "1 V- Y THE RED CLOUD CHIEF, FRIDAY, l)K( 11 1806. 3 I Lk-l DELIRIOUS RITES. WEIRD ARIZONA SNAKE DANCE FOR PENANCE. Ilnrrllilr Kite iif llit Mnl.l liiitlun Wliu Dunce with l.lp IttittlcMr.iluH MiiiicI lug from Tliclr 1 1 it ml mill .Mouth Nnnku UIIIiik IiiiIIiiiin. iff WAV Off lu North ern Arizona, lu one i)( till' UlUSt Mt'M) Into regions (if North Anu't'U'n, llvu the iirlmltlvo Hopl or Moqols, a most Interesting tribe of r4T minium, woo nave " ii lollglous cere- v niony that has boon handed down un changed for centuries. TIiIh Ih the "snnke dance," which occurs usually at nbout tho last of August, on some one of tho three mesas on which their villages are built. In this danco, which Is an Invocation or propitiation of the rain gods, tho performers carry IIvIur lattlosnukcs In their lunuth'i as they circle about In step with the songs. Tho Molds nro an agricultural people, and Arizona Is one of the most arid countries In the world. Naturnlly, their sacred dances are Intended to bring a plentiful supply of rain or moisture upon the crops. The rain gods nro always symbolized as ser pents. To the Mokls the rattlesnake Is tho God of water. The lightning is tho snnko's tnll in the clouds, and the thunder Is his rattle. Tho approach of the biennial per formance of tho rattlesnake dance cer emonies and Its moaning to the Mold nation Is announrcd on n certain af ternoon, ;ornc two weeks previous to tho danco Itself, by the chief priest, Ifol-la-kah, of the tribe, from the round sacred rock In the little plaz.t at Walpl, where such announcements have no doubt been made every alternate sum-1 .jr.i.. )' wMm wgM&Jcza H1HB Jt.-it w Wi THU SNAKE-HITING INDIANS OK ARIZONA DOING THIS 5Ztr- ZjW zft .xl 'rr . m zuwmi i' ' ;uir, 'WittX mcr season for fullj From the timo of the olllclal announce ment tho whole Mold population at Hnno and Walpl makes ready for the ceremonies. There n'e two classes ot warriors who take part In tho ceremo nies. One Is known as the antelope men. They aro young and middle aged men, who number sixty, and llio others ure the mu-ml-pl-kong, the snake priests, who number twenty, and who are selected from tho nntelopo men for their age and experience In tribal wisdom. On the day following the olll clal announcement by the chief priest, die antelope men set out on foot (for there Is not a beast of burden Mthin one hundred miles of the Mokl nation) across the desert to hunt for rattle snakes. They go singly and In every aircction. ' llittlirrliic Ii IliiUlrsiml'CH. Kach Indian carries n bag mado of tnlmal skins In one hand, and a short brush of gaudy eagle feathers In the ather. When u rattlesnauo is iounu die Indian waves his eagle feathers over the colling nnd hissing serpcut for a fow seconds. Then by a sudden ind adroit movement, which his ances tors learned long ago, he snatches the fonomoiiB reptile immediately back of the head, nnd thrusts him In tho bag beforo ono can barely sco the operation. In tho courso of a week soveral liun Ired serpents nro caught and the ante opo men bring thorn to Wnlpl In their Dags of akin, nnd turn the reptiles into & very old receptacle In tho sacred itono chamber known as the klvn. Meanwhile thore aro a dozen bucks who have traveled on foot across the burning desert sands for miles to the San Mlguol Mountains nnd hnvc Drought back bundles of herbs, which aro the chief components of n broth llko f coction that tho snnko dnncers rtrlnlc n preparation for handling the deadly reptiles. The day of the snako danco has come. The old wrinkled broth-squaw Ho-ne-ml-gog who has held this Im portant ofllco for over half n century, Bits on the floor of tho klva at a caldron of steaming and bubbling broth made from tho herbs ns an anti-venom decoc tion known only to the Mokl Indlnns. shn slowly stirs and stirs tho ninss. Meanwhile others of tho Mokls nro prepnrlng tho sceno of tho snnko dunces. Tho rattlesnakes, usually about two hundred nnd fifty In number, nro sprinkled with cornmcal that has been blessed as sacred menl while a cgmpany ot squaws chant n weird air. Tho serpents aro In earthen Jnrs. At exactly sunset tho antelope men, twenty-nine In number, Issue In slnglo fllo from tho estufn (prayer house). Thoy danco and croon, weavo their bodies backwnrd and forward in unison ono with another and In perfect time to their rudo songs and tho sound of tomtoms beaten by a company of young squaws. The nntolopo men nro dressed in nil finery that savago ta3te may conceive. They havo a huge head arrangement of eagle feathers. They wear a sort of rod kilt from tho wal3t to tho knees, but otherwise their logs nro bare. Thoy hao brncelots of shells and silver by tho dozen nbout their wrlstB and ankles. Their fnces nro painted a ghastly white set off by Jet black painted ears and chins. Indeed, tho distinguishing mark of the antelope Jj?ii. .'.ffi I Vi men and the snako men among tho Mokls on their trlbnl fete days Is sim ply the coloring of their faces. Klab orate moccasins with bended tassels are on the feet of each of tho antelope iiKii. I'rriilril .Men nml Writhing Niml.es. Next follov. lug lomp a half dozen In dian boys, entirely nude except for a breech cloth of red fabric. Each boy bears small earthen bowls of tho sti ant ing broth from the caldron. The ante lepo men circle past the boys and dialn the bowls at n swallow, only to renew thih- vhni:t and gyrr.tlnns. .Savon, times the antelope men circle the little plaza at Walpl. and as thy pass the snuggling hissing serpents the chief pric.U. an old man painted hideously in red and white from head to foot, blows upon u cattle horn Instrument that produces a sound like distant thunder, followed by a sound tdinllar to those of growling hears and roaring pumas. Another harsh blast from the horn in the chief priest's hand, and the priests suddenly thrusting In their bare hands and arms draw out two or three wrig gling and squirming snakes at a time. Tho serpents aie snatched eagerly by each of the antelope men, nnd the snako danco begins. Tho antelope men and the priests sing n wild pierc ing song, nnd while the tomtoms beat llereor and faster, each of the antelope men bears three and sometimes six rnt tlesnakes, while ho dances about the plaza. In a moment the little plaza of hard, sunbaked eaith becomes a scene of yelling, dancing nnd hldeousl painted, half nude savages, while rat tlesnakes, that arc carelessly let fall, wriggle nnd squirm across the earth In their efforts to escape. The snako priests keep sharp eyes on tho serpents and permit none to get away from the hands of the wild and excited antelope men. The serpents shake their rattles and twist convulsively in the hands and even in the mouths of the antelope men. When they full to the ground they coll In an Instant, and very often strike their fangs deep Into the naked v ..?.?; ''' " '.""" r-.":;7'7 ''''?' ' -XJKrrM - ?.; o ; " '' 'M :'' '.''" VMi-vjfH. ". rf .&&. '" .: v. 'rJfStmm .fi ,; .r'-'-: . j milium .ivy krYYi - Tfti.r jyjir v. i . .- " '.vv'i, tr " utitmuir.-t rr. . W .:' l Jp'i legs and feet of the sen Molds. A Slur Snul.e Clicwer. One dancer carries a venomous snake In each hand, and hns two moro tacked In a belt at his waist, while he holds two squirming and rattling snakes be tween ills teeth. All of the serpents aro deadly. A little old Mokl Indian, who lias evidently participated in ninny snako dances from his early manhood and means to silence dispute as to his prowess, is practically naked, and Is apparently mnd with excitement. He carries a very largo rattlesnake in his mouth, and lets the tall trail on the ground, while ho hops about. Tho rep tile Is fully seven feet long, and as largo around as a boy 'a arm. It Is of tho bull snake species. His fangs aro thrust far out towards tho face of an Indlnn, who has at lenst six serpents dangling from his brown hands and colled about his wrists. As tho per formance goes on you seo snakes en gaged in fierce combat upon tho stone surface of the court. When the snakes light among themselves tho Mokl spec tators regard their actions with su perstitious terror. As the Indlnns hop around In this torpslchorenn deviltry the maidens and old women throw little handfuls of cornmeal upon them and croon dismally all tho while. A feeble old warrior hobbles nbout on n heavy cane. A snako has bitten him upon the hand, hut ho hops nbout unconcerned ly ns tho blood slowly trickles from tho wound. Another man's cheek Is crimsoned with blood from the stlug of a snake, yet on ho goes until the sig nal Is given for the tepulslvo yet fas cinating finale. A priest advances to tho side of tho danco rock. There ho draws a circle with tho Biicred meal and makes mys tic symbols In Its center. Then thoro Is a grand rush towards this circle. Rvery nntelopo man hurries thoro with a bunch of snnkes, which ho throws Into tho circle. It Is n blood-chllllng sight that mass of wriggling, hissing snnkes. A slgnnl Is given by the high priest, and tho antelope men nnd priests rush In among tho squirming nnd maddened serpents, nnd each man snatches up as many snukes as ho can carry, and then runs with his horrid burden to tho east and south side of tho llttlo mesn, pueblo of Wnlpl, where tho reptiles nro liberated with parting shouts to tho effect that they shall go homo and tell tho great rain god sor pont how tho Mokls havo dono honor to his offspring to lnterccdo for bless ings upon the Mold lands and crops. In n few minutes moro tho savnges come running at full speed back to tho klva or sacred chamber. A dozen wo men go thoro, and bowls of tho nntl vonom broth aro served to tho perspir ing and panting men. Those who have been bitten by tho serpents aro bathed by tho women nnd their bleeding wounds nro anointed with a salvo that the Mokls have annually mado for bov- j-.ii-.Hmf&jN,i!ar ,.-':pa' vxassmmm live hundred years. I t.F&Z U.Uv'VftSVttX., !.,- -VOftUI "oS&QBillBil nl-Insane danciii;; rlK-ftiL-v-Vifpjv ?& oral centuries. Often a Mold Indian may bo sevorely 111 for several days following tho barbarous rites, hut sel dom does one die from tho effects of the snako pol.'on. IRVING'S HOME BARREL.. A TlmriiiiKlifiiri' t etl fur Neurly 800 Yeiirt Now t'locil. The conimtiulty of Tarrytown nro figuratively up In nun. Sunnysl.le lane has been fenced off. Washington Irvlng's historic old mansion has been closed Vo'tlio public. Isn't thai enough? Tile famous obi hoino Is midway be tween Irvlngtou and Tarrytown. There Irving lived and died. There he wrote nbout Tom O'Shnntcr ami Sleepy Hol low and Hip Van Winkle. There he wrote his life of Mahomet nnd his vivid descriptions of the Alhanibra. And when ho died Suunslde went to two of his nieces, th" Misses Irving. None loved lrlng more than they. Ills mem ory was everythim; to thein. as It was to the village hi '"'n1' famous. Sun nytfldo was to Im kept just as ho left It -stuccoed. Ivy-crown and romantic. The room he liven In was to be kept Just ns he left It forever. And tho pub 11c were to have free access to It nil. Suunyslde became a visiting place for hundreds of pilgrims. Some walked off with relics, to be sure, but more Dowers grew nnd more gruss came up. The old ladles wero getting along In life. Hoth pnssed eighty last year and the burden of the historic place became too much for them. So when Mr. Ir ving, their cousin, offered n good sum they wero glad to take It. That was lu .Juno Inst. Mr. Irving started at once to change things. One day Howard .Inffrny, whose extensive grounds and line house reach up the hill abovo Suu nyslde, started to go down to his boat house on the river through old Sun n.vslde lano made famoim by Irving. It wasn't there. The undent highway, tread by thousands of feet on their way to Irvlng's house, was barred off, raked up and seeded over with grass to form a part of the new Mr. living's lawn. RATTLESNAKE DANCE. Worpo yet, down at tho foot and skirt ing the railroad tuick wasu high hoard fence. Sunnyslde lano was gone. Tar rytown and Irvlngton heard It that night. Scores besieged the town au thorities. Something must bo done to keep that old lane ever open. Next day Insult wiih added to Injury. Across tho entrance to the lano where the Irving property begnn was an unsightly three barred fence, on which was posted this legend: "No Trespassing on Theso Premises Under Penalty of tho Iiw," nnd a little farther In, "Howaro of tho Dog." P.Hiiilri'n In ICiikIiiiiiI. Esquires follow tho younger sons of the knights of tho various orders aud are themselves succeeded by gcntlomcu entitled to benr arms. EDUCATIONAL. Wellesley college, Mass., has regis tered 722 students. Tho freshman class numbers 181. Tho preachers of tho Pittsburg con ference subscribed, nt the last session, 5.1,755 to tho American university. Prof. Henjamln Ide Wheeler, of Cor nell university, declines tho call to the presidency of Hochcster university, New York. The Modem Language Association of America holds Its annual meeting with Western Reserve university at tho Christians holidays. Prof. T. 1 Crane hns presented to Cornell university, Ithaca, N. Y., a val tinlilo collection of 2110 books relating to the society of Franco and Italy. Ilowdoln college, UriuiBwlck, Me., has entered upon its one hundred and sec ond year with a larger nttendnnco of students than at any time In Its his tory. At a meeting of tho regents for the college year, President Angell, of Ann Arbor, In reviewing tho work of tho past year, said: "If we aro really to prepare men and women for conspicu ous positions, wo must carry them be yond tho boundaries of tho undergradu ate curriculum. Especially Is this truo of thoso who aro aiming to occupy prominent places ns teachers." ML Holyoko college, nt South Had ley, Mass., tho pioneer Institution for tho higher education of women, re ceived a severe blow Sopt. 27, In tho burning of tho main building, with a probablo loss of 1150,000. Tho building had cost over 1300,000, and could not bo replaced to-day for less than $300,000. Fortunately, none of the 100 Btudonts or faculty were Injured, thero bolng ample tlmo for their escapo with part of their personal effects. . iMxtrMteijm IS AKA1K AMKRICAN. MRS. PAGET, IS A LONDON SOCIETY LEADER. Her llnine One nf Hie rinenl In the ToWI I'lne ili'Ht'N, i:tilNlte (lntin, l.llier.il CIi.ii lllen, I'morlle Spnrln ii till Interest liij; I'mnlli. nlllceiit house lu ltelgraw square Is frequented by all who are celebrated In the world of fashion, llteratuie nnd art, says the Uuidon Madame. She Is a great put ion of all whe are clever; genius espt'flntb appeals to her artis tic temperament and she deiif.hts lu surround herself with cultured people. "I like to talk to cleer men or women; they are so large minded and view life from such a different standpoint to people who never think for theimelves but lei their friends fonu their opin ions for them. Narrow mindednesi Is akin to snobbishness and I have no y input h for either. Yes. 1 ant a gieat reader; It Is one thing 1 always man ago to find time for. One must lefresh one's self with the bright thoughts of gieat thlnkeis. Dull hooks are not my faorltes; I like biilllancy and wit. True, the combination h not always to be met with. French literature Is more fascinating on thlf account." she sail, as wo sat In her luxurious room. In which weie all the best editions of cilebrnted writers, she looking like a beautiful plctuie, her wondroim ecs responding to her thoughts. Mrs. Pa get Is the only child of the late Mrs. Paian Stevens, who was remarkable for being the only American who had u salon. It Is from her that she Inher its her keen sense of humor, splendid vivacity and appreciation of talent. Her conversation sparkles with ep igrams; she surprises with her rapid lllghts fiom grave to ga ; she Is always original and at times daring in her outspoken frankness against pretense of any kind. "I am vrry fond of society and enjoy all the pleasures of life. The opera Is one of my moht cherished auuiseinenta; music I delight lu. Oh, yes! 1 am fond of dancing," she added, gayly, as I ie ferred to tho surprise pait slio and Lord Charles Montagu organized nt tho duchess of Devonshire's ball. Mrs. Pngot'H box at the opeiu Is the ren dezvous of the elite of London. She holds quite a llttlo coutt and few can compare with her lu looks or dnw. Her gowns como from Paris. She Is chin, without exaggeiatiou. Her col lection of gems Is quite unique; her pearls are extremely line, both as to shape aud color. A string three yards kng forms three lopes wound around her neck; but nho also has three sepa rate ropes of very large pearls. Her Jewelry Is so renowned that It has on several occasions tempted the cupidity of burglars. Once a man was discov ered concealed in her bedroom lu the middle of tho night. Col. Paget went for him, but he escaped over roofs of houses. Her fine suite of reception rooms Is admirably suited for en tertaining. Tho furniture Is chief ly of Louis XV. nnd XVI. pc rinds, upholstered In costly bro cade. Scatteied on beautiful cabi nets nnd tables aro rare specimens of china, antique silver and old Ivories; and each piece has some historical In terest to enhanco Its value. In ono drawing-room the chairs are In tapes try and tho decorations are moro se vere in style, though not less hand some. On an Angelica Knuffmnnn writing table Is a beautiful portrait of tho Princess of Wnles and tho duke and duchess of Connnught aro close by it. Among tho paintings I noticed n group of sheep by Hosa Honhour, a Melsson ler and a head by Rubens; a largo painting of Mrs. Paget, which scurcely Gcromo; several by Culverhoiise, does her Justice; an Albanian chief by chiefly domestic scenes; a wonderful painting of the Last Judgment, by Isa bey, etc.; caskets lu capo ill Monti; miniatures. Everything that Is choice and dainty Is to bo found lu this ltixu iIoiib home. Mrs. Pagot's bedroom Is like the pnlace of a fulry princess. All the toilet accessories nro In beaten gold. The beautifully carved white enumelcd furniture, upholstered n pale-pink satin, looks too dcllcato for ubo. This scheme of coloring is car ried out In nil tho detnlls, tho bed spread of whlto sntln bolng exquisitely embroidered In bouquets nnd festoons of flowers, pink being the prevailing color. Two rooms havo been thrown Into one, so that thoro Ib amplo spneo for tho display of theso pretty things. A well-fllled wcrKaday-looklng writ ing table attracted my attention, for It was In such serious contrast to the oth er surroundings, alio said: "I do all my hard work here, for I nm cortnln to bo undisturbed. There is so much to bo thought of. I havo a great amount of correspondence to keep up in Franco and other countries, where I havo many friends, aud I havo my proper ties In America to manage." Success ful as Mrs. Paget Is socially, sho also oxcols In her business capacities. She Ib vory practical, ns well as vory learned; and, having a great share f shrewdness, a person must be very sharp t Impose on her. Ono of her most gcieroua enterprises Is tho sys tem she 6ns organized for looking af ter tho wives of tho non-commlBslonod ofllcors lu her husband's regiment, who mnrry without permission, Theso poor women havo no accommodation In tho hnrr.'lcks, nnd when tho regiment Is sent away there Is no provision tnndo for them by the military authorities. Mrs. Paget sees that they want for nothing; her large-hearted sympathy .rj p HS. ART lll'lt fj jU l'(!i:T Is uiiiloilbt $WjAZ Hi r.. -l.il'.llunt -and CT7 7iV oilfdnal leadris of (.,' vW FV . widely; her mag- 'o grrntly appreciated, not only by rea son of the help she gives, but tho way in which she gives It. A liberal nup poiter of the charities in the land of her adoption, Mrs. Paget does not for get those in the laud of her birth, her luteiest In which is both piarthal and genet mis. You want to know my fa oilte pursuits.? Oolf ami fishing 1 i are most for. but I loe all outdoor n(iiis. and hive, ns ou suggoMt, be come a vlitlin t.) the cycle. You know that I skate mid tuvlui ami tide, ami that Is all. 1 renll.i do not think there H anything left to tell jou." she said qiKHllo'is. Her prcltj. clever git I promises to be a worthy daughter to her brilliant, gifted mother. The oldest boy Is at Eaton; two small boxs twins com plete the lainlly. Col. Paget, who Is Hist cousin of the marquis of Anglesey, Is colonel of Mm1 First tutt ill lion of the Scots guards ami has served through mI. campaigns. THE USEFUL PEANUT. (hue I'd lielim, tl Im Nim Dxulleil li MletlolN nml Cmili". The humble plebeian peanut Ih In a fair way to be wiested fiom Its ob scure sphere and to be placid lu the front ranks or popular and pleasing o.itnblcn. Physicians have declined that the nut Is "rich in albumen, con taining Mi per cent of it. and that It also contains 20 pi r cent of fill and nou-nltrogenoiis extnutlve matters." All kinds of dishes are now being prrpiucd of peanuts, soup being espe cially recommended, it Is made us split pen t-oup Is made, soaking the pennutH over night. Peanut sandwlehen aie said to be excellent, nniilo by pounding tin. Hldtiiied nuts and Bpicad Ing thickly on slices of liuttored bread. Mayonnaise dieting may bo mixed with tlio uiiin or grated chcchc. Rolled In sailed water, roasted and salted, pounded, or grated, the peanut Is be coming a staple food. ItinilieM of tlliiaN. Science Is ever adapting materinlii from the anl laboiatorbo of nature to practical use. We have aliiuwt nrilved at u lediscoveiy of malleable glass. At all events, glass Is now ranked among our textile fabilcs. In Venice u man ufacturer Is turning out bonueta b the thousand from glni cloth. The. have the shimmer and brilliancy of silk and aie of neaii un color. They are Impervious to watir. For a lung time In Russia had existed u tia.'iie manufacture from Hie liber of a pe culiar lllnunioiis clone from Siberia. Ry 'ouie process it la shredded nnd iqiun Into a fabric, cofl to the touch and of exquisite pliability, durable lu the extreme. When soiled, an It Ih In dent rudble by fire. It Is limply sub jected to heat siillitieut to dilve out al! the dirt. In the case of the gluts cl!U howi er, it will not stand such extitmi heat. It may be made clean again bj simply brushing with a hard brush and so.ip aud water, when It Is none the worse for being either stained or soiled. The material Is now to be bad lu white, green, lilac, pink, aud yellow. It bids fair to become fashionable for evening dresses. The new fnbile Is rather costly, 'it Is also made for tuje as table-cloths, napkliiH, and window curtains. It Is even claimed that glass Is capable of being made Into fain If which may bo worn next to the skin without the slightest discomfort. An Austrian Ih the Inventor of this new textile.- London Inventor. AVIien Women I'lny Whlnt. Ilncou : "Did you know thero wero over 7fi3,t)13,t;00 different whist hands lu u pack of cardB?" Egbert: "Yes; my wife tells me about ouch one every time we play." Yonkers Statesmun. WELL-TO-DO ACTRESSES. Tho following nro a few of tho wo men singers und actresses who will settle Into a comfortable old age sur rounded with every luxury thut the sybnrlte flesh Is heir to: Mrs. Lnngtry owns property In tlio United States alono that Is worth $500, 000. Mmo. Mnterna acquired valuable I of tho largest s sufficient rrnl vicinity to live to havo ns rcul estato In Australian cltk Fanny Daven estnto In Now Y in ease nnd ele Lolo Fuller is "thrifty a mind" ns Joni. Gilpin's wife, and to have banked thousands a month, Emma Koines owns Huo property in Paris and Mmo. Albnnl has Invested the Incomo from hor dulcet tones In Can adian real estato. Clara Loulso Kellogg's fortuno Is safely Invested In real estato and bonds and alio Is her own business manager In hor financial enterprises. Surah Ilernhardt's bank account never Iobcb Its portly outlines, and her pictures and brlc-a-bnic aro so well se lected that sho could moro than get her money back on a snlo. Lotta is deemed ono of tho wealth iest women In tho dramatic profession. In spite of her vast Income, sho lives with her mother In a style that Is hum ble rather than pretentious, Lillian Russell owns soveral fine houses In Now York, besides a good voice, a magnificent collection of Jew els und more confidence In herself than any other two women In tho United States. Resides tho beautiful property which Mmo. Calvo owns In the provencal of Franco Bho has at least 1100,000 in stocks and bonds. Calvo started out "to get rich" and sho has kept faith with herself. The delights of Mmo. Pattl's costlo at Cr.ilg-y-nos do not need further ex ploitation. That sho saved money for Its purchase, as well ub for various other Investments in New York, France nnd England, Is well known. TOO SOLID FLESH. lion- It fun Ho lie, lured Without Any Milliner In llenllli. A great many women, convinced that llisii Is Inimical to beauty is the lea:hblow of grace", as an arbitrary critic, puts It Injure health In tho en deavor to icdiicn weigh!. They put tlieinsehes to gieat trouble and In convenience, swallow all sorts of pre ventives aud remedies In older to get thin, ami I hen stand aghast at the spectacle of their wilnkled. tlabby fawn and throats, the result of the (ailing aw.iy of llen.li under the clastic skin. As (t niiulei-of fnvi, (i inuui-cT ul "dm notable women of the world, f.ininus not only for their beauty, but for tho rale charms of Intellect nnd subtle fan (inatlon, women who have helped to make history and been a power lu their day, wero of distinctly generouu pioportloiis. Cleopatra, she whoso "Intlnltu vnrl ct" of eharni and temper could wli steru-hearted warriors to forget their ambitions, wiih small and stout. Mario Antoinette wan of the plump order, though tall and of line healing, and, to come down to the present day, vlavr the widowed Queen Victoria, soveiolgn of the "t'nlted (Jueeiidoin," the In creasing proportions of Queen Margher ita of Italy and the generous outlines of Queen Isabella of Spain. It lit worthy of note that most of the groat Interpreters of nong are stout, or lor ileriitg on that condition, and thero have been lights In the llteinry world decidedly fat, whether tall of stature or the iocrso. "(leorge Sand"' was fat ami small, and likewise Mine. De Stael. Fashion's otarles will doubtless con tinue to strive after tho slendernesrt which scetnii ro desirable. For those willing to s.iciltlce the prompting of appetite for the desired aim, an au thority M'coiiuncuds that they should regulate their days as follows: A tumblerful of hot water must be taken on waking In the morning. Rise e.uly and have a tepid bath, with vigorous rubbing iifterr'irfl with a llesh brush. Avoid ilrhiMnr; al meals and only havo three meals a day. Take one small cup ( f tea at breakfast, some dry toast, boiled Huh or n small cutlet and baked apple or a little ftcph fruit. At dinner, which should bo at midday, take white llsh or meat, dry toast or Male bread, Mgi tables and fruit, either frenh or htewed. For supper, toast, calad, ft tilt and six ounceit of wine or water. lot water with lemon Juice in it In rood for supper. Philadelphia Timet). A PRETTY THEATER RAO. Il.llllt. til I, null lit mill WlV t'l.rflll t Oirrj. A pretty bag intended to be carried to the theater to hold opera-glasses, lualgrette, hnndkei chief, purse, ami bonbonnleie, was a pale green. Tho bottom wan a circle of pale green bro cade, about live inches in diameter The sided, of velvet, meaviiied about LI Inches in depth and about 21 in width., Thefo weie pleated on the circles, tho two ends Joined up, and the top waa turned over three inches to form a frill. IKiow this was a casing, through which was run velvet ribbon ono Inch lu width, to draw up the bag. Decorat ing the sides and concealing tho open ings, where the drawing strings came out, were two bows of wider ribbon, ami over the velvet point d'esprlt laco wan arranged, in double box pleats, the upper edge tacked to the velvot frill to keep It an upright position. The bag was lined with pale green China silk, and the French y decora tion put on us u finishing touch was a spray of pink silk chrysanthemums. Your NelcliliiirH nt Dinner. To avoid the cmburnuHiueut and dis comfort of finding oneself seated next a stranger, with no common Interests, at a dinner party, tho Ingenious French have hit upon a plan of leaving by ench diner's plate, Instead of a menu curJ, a list of tho company, with hints tot down after each name. Thus you are ublo to learn directly, nnd without dangerous questioning, that Miulamo X hns been twice divorced, thnt thert Is a llerco family quart el between the A's and tho Z'h, and that you had bet ter avoid the question of their relation? In conversing with either; that no sat. tBfaotory explanation has ever beon glvon of how Monsieur L. canio by Mr fortune, etc. Somo French commenta tors think this Innovation will take al't the Hplce out of these social adventures, But on h'KR" Offend; of high rank nt the Hus sion court were punished In a singular way by Peter the Great. It was the duty of everybody clso at court to con sider nnd treat tho dollnqueut as a fool. When Anno, tho daughter of Poter'B elder brother, Ivan, came to the throno sho originated an even queerer form of punishment. She do creed that a cerUIn prince should bo como a hen, and for this purpose she had mado a largo basket, stuffed with Hlraw, and hollowed into a nest, with u quantity of eggs In It. This was placed in a conspicuous place In tho queen's pnlnce, and thero under pain of death, tho unfortunnto ptinco was obliged to set day after day. Imitating the cackling of tho fowl he was sup posed to represent. ItHlnfiilM Tli:it Neer Ken eh Hie Kurtli, In tho Colorado desert they havo rainstorms during which not a slnglo drop of water touches tho earth, Tho rain enn bo seen falling from the clouds high above the desort, but when tio water renchea tho strata of hot, dry air beneath tho clouds it Is entirely ab sorbed beforo falling half tho dlstnnco to tho ground. It Is a singular Bight to witness a heavy downpour of ruin, not n drop of which touches tho ground. Theso strunge rainstorms occur in re gions whero tho shndo temperaturo often ranges as high as 128 degrees Fahrenheit.