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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 24, 1898)
12 THE OMAHA DAILY liEEs THURSDAY , FJSBHUATCY 21 , 1898. SWEAT HOUSES IN THE WOODS Where Entuh Columbia Indiana Perspire Before Tnking Cold Baths , ANCIENT CUSTOM WITH THE TRIBES A Jinnllnri nnil Hi-Union * Onlrnl Ini- jMiiM-il on YOIIIIK " 'l Olil IJnooit- L-IOIIH InJnrlcN U by MlHx Tlio N'hla-Kapmuh Indians of tlic Interior tl British Columbia have sweat houses and indulge In a treat somewhat similar to our Turkish bath. When one sees the largo number of these sweat houses and learns of the traditional sea baths on Iho coast , ho bcgk's to nek hlnwelf were the Indians ever cleanly and why are some of them so very nithy nowadays. U Is nn Interesting problem to Investigate and It brings out startling features regarding the methods of some missionaries * In Ilrltlsh Columbia , along the north bank of the foaming Thompson river , near the mouth of the 'Nicola , arc beautiful moun tains. Thg slopes are covered with sagebrush itnd scattering pine trees. Sorno of the juaks are snow clad anil from them trlcklo little streamlets , which , uniting , form rush- Mug , Ice-cold mountain torrents. These are the means of Irrigating the llttlo ranches or headquarters for the cattle , that graze over the'almost ' desert mountain sides among . the Dago brush and cacti , but we are In terested In them becaMe tliuy furnish the dticed her to marry a man In Jail , " said the maid. "It's Just possible- ! returned the matron , "that she wants the satisfaction of knowing where her husband spends his evenings. " And the club , taking It up for debate , de cided after A lengthy wrangle that In at leant one thing she had an advantage over women who married men not In Jail. Still , the consensus of opinion was to the effect that the practice would not become * fad. now SHE suriicmn HIM. The Skeptic .Mnn In Dinvii-Knc-oil li > the Ohl l.nil > 'H Story of Knltli. One of the "Dop't \Vvi-ry" clubs held a meeting last week at the residence of one of Us members , relates the New York Bun. The dlQcueslon concerned the power and limitations of fallti , and the speakers told from time to time of the good which thcj hid derived from their faith or had known other persons tq derive. Some of the ex perience seemed ( o demand ft goo.l ilcdl of faith from the hearers themselves. Their Intensity Incrcaeed , os every sptaivcr felt I It his or her duty to tell a little better story then any that tad been heard. One of tin1 speakers who came rathec late In the even ing was on old lady. She felt the respon- I slbtllty of keeping up the average. "Once I was 111 , " nhe began , "very , very 111. The doctors told me that I could not live and I continued to sink. Finally I was eo near death that I pasaoil out of the world. 1 felt myself going and finally I realized that 1 had really died. When my eyes seemed to open again I found myself In the otbct world. I dad literally dial and passed ouv o ? this world Into the next , and It was" the old lady hesltate'd'a moment after the word "It was a tecrlblo experience. " The symposium had brought out nothing better than this , and the speaker stopped to let the story have Its full effect. In onn corner of the room , sat on elderly man , who had set the bill rolling early In the evening. Ills atory as not nearly so thrilling as this TOtKIiII OATH OF THE HAIDA INDIANS. means for the Ice-cold plunge of the Indians' Turkish bath. Over these mountains a little valley Is nestling among the peaks , looking dowi. Into the depths of the ruining oiuyon. Hen Is located a village of N'hla-Kapmuh In dians , who live by hunting deer In the mountains , fls'lilng salmon In the Thompson and raising small crops on their little Irrigated patches of land. Their houses art- built like the log cabins of our forefathers tui't In that dry climate they are roofed with fir boughs covered with earth. Ntar this village rushes ono of the llttlo mountain torrents , paat the bathing place , through the Irrigated fields and thundering Into the canyon below. WHAT SWEAT HOUS33 AUH LIKE. 'fly ' the side of this llttlo stream of melted snow , at some distance from the village , among the plnrs and firs , are t\\o curious structures. One U made of small poles kct up like the roof of a Hiouse. These art- cover * * ! with fir boughs and finally with oarth. tl'io door , facing the setting sun , has a blanket hanging over it. Within , on the Bouth side , is a circular liole ( in the .ground ) about two feet In dlamoto' and one fctii deep filled with burned and crackled stones The remainder of the floor Is covered deep with a soft bed of fir twigs. In front of the door one will see traces of a good blzeJ fire , and many stones both those that hav * been burned and blackened In the fire and those brought near , but still unused. This Is the men's sweat house , or part of the bathing outfit of the village. The other structure Is similar to this In rsc-ant ala , but at this particular village It is not covered with soil. It is roofed with b anket mata or ekltis when In use. This In the sweat house for the women. When the N'hlaKapmuhenle to take a bath hebulldfl a fire and heats a number o' stones. Th = i > lie rolls Into the hole la the floor of the village sweat houae. Ho then enters , clones the door with his blanket and icellncs on the sew bed of fir boughs. Hen he- lies until In the close oma'l ' hut with IK opening for ven'llatlon cad claio to tin roasted rocko ho pcruplres as freely as do the stokers In tho.hold of an ocean llnei. Ho then rushes from the house and leapt Into the melted snow of the mountain tor rent. Itctuiiii'ing to the sweathouse he re peats the operation until satisfied that everj pore of his skin hail been cleaned by the vlgoroiu treatment. Tarae Indians Bay they take ths ! hath about once a month , and we may well Imag- luo that that Is Eiifllcient , for It Is not hard 1o lu'll&vo that the absence of sick people at the village la dueto this trying custom. A MUANS OF PURIFICATION. This thorough bath is one of the meatvi eaiplojcd to purify young men who are ii.derROlng the ceremonies attendant on their entering the < - < oclety of men , Hcaldes bath- lliff , they must test their patience mnd cu- duratici. ' . courage , strength , etc. I'utUnce Is iometUnes exhibited by pecking numer ous cuD'Slmped holes In the hard rocks , and by inaK'Ihg outline pa'ntlngs on the rocku with led ochre mixed In boar grease. In Eomp trllnfl courage Is tested In such ccre- monleaby remaining near a lonely grave several days and night ! : . Endurance U taught In moat trlbitj by fnstlng , gong without water , and by endurtag torture. The glrltt , too , at maturity have similar ceremonies before they c.'ei make their debut Icito Hoclety. The N'hla-Kupmuh girls test their Imtlence by picking fir needles oft numerous houghs. They bathe frequently In the mountain streams , tultig fir bough towels to purify thomEolvca. All thesn ceremonies are held as secret by the adults , and are not to be told to pcoplu outBlilo the tribal society , so that U Isr difficult ( o learn of them. INJUKY WHOUCIHT UY MISSIONAIUES. When ono hears from the old Indians on the coast .how they took dally and some times mur6 frequent baths In the cool ocean , the question arises , why some of them arc now so filthy ? It has been said that when the early missionaries visited tbo tribes who indulged Ki sea bathing and saw tha sexes mingling inoked In the bath , they at once put a stop to bathing naked and in sisted on the IIBO of bath robes , The In dians , not having bathing suits or disliking to wear them , llnally , under vigorous mis- slcuary supervision , gave up their gea-batlis entirely , until now the young missionaries da not even know that the Indians were once cleanly and that their predecessors caused much of the present filth by discouraging nude bathlrig. After all , these people were not naked lit the Immodest true sense of < ho term , for this bath custom , being the prevail ing fat-hlon , was not thought of In an Immoral " moral way. The poor Indians wore more real mode-sty than many seashore belles pos sess. Perhaps the missionary did not tee that the naked Indian's thoughts clothed him as well as though ho had procured a bathing suit from the trader's store , Let us hope ho did , ntjt mean to cause any of the tilth we eeo today In the villages along the coast of Urltlsh Columbia , After ll , the dirtiest of these Indians are no more unclean than the lowest of our aluia dwellers , nnd many of them were once pure , Had Columbus never found them , perhaps their sweat house might have developed Into luxurious baths as > their cul ture grew to bo more llko that of the great hath lovlif ( ) ( latloni. It might have ) taken a long tlino for. them to develop , yet a people who can endure the sweat bath of the N'hla Kapmuh must have In them all the clo- mentu ot upward growth. Chicago I'otUi ' ' 1 w wider -what over Jn- L * - - MI u. nuinvd-wBt - - n H i one and the looks of astonishment on the racrs of the "Don't Worry" crowd were too much for him. Maybe It was only curiosity , however , and not envy that Inspired him to ask for further Information coacernlng such i remarkable experience. At all events the Id lady was just preparing to continue when i voice from the corner tald : "Will the nsw member kindly tell us somt 3f the things she saw there ? " This was something fee.- which the new .nombcr was not counting. Tills complete . . .xlt to another world was only an Incident n a longer story. She had not prcrared de- lalls. There was a rustle In the room as the ither members settled in their chairs to Isten to the explanations. There was a sug- cstlon of doubt In the atmosphere which he old lady plainly felt. The "Don't Worry" lub seemed to be against her to n man. ' 3ut nhe plucked victory out of Impending t\i- \ V-it by a marvel of strategy. Ignoring every Jther eye In the room , ttie turned a stern azo toward that corner In which the In- inhltor eat. Then she plnlemed him to his seat with a glance. "Tho things I saw there ? " she sold , with scorn In lice voice and In her look. "Why hey were ut'erly beyoud your power of ccui- .rohenslon. " Ti.o sympathy of the club went out to the speaker with the same unanimity that It turns toward the conductor of a cable car when an offensive passenger n ks him to pen the ventilators and rescue the par- villPrt travelers. They may be hot , but they iympathl7.9 with the conductor. The man In the > corner phriink up until he was hardly visible. The old lady finished tier fitoi/ . ivhlch recounted an achievement of faith that vas not to.bo compared to the credulity ( rat her masterly strategics had Inspired In that chapter of the "Don't Worry" club. Beyond a triumphant light In tbo tall of tu-c eye as she sat down , there was no further recognition of ttio man' In the corner that nlgl.t. couiai.vr wi.v THIS KAMI ? . HiiNlinuil I'Ni-il C'olViiIliiuiH for CliliN anil 'HIMVir ' - . . \ ( < - T IK-in. Them IB a certain well known young gen tleman in Washington , relates the Post , whose predilections for the great American Bame of draw poker are known to his better half and seriously objected to. So ntrenuous has been her opposition to this somewhat exciting form of amusement that she ex acted a promise not long ago from her hus band that hi * would not succumb to the seductive wiles of the game except for fun. She did not object to his having fun that way If IIP wanted to , but real gambling didn't go. So lie promised and kept the promise until ono warm night a week ago. Thou the wife had an engagement to go with a little theater party and ho took ad vantage ) of the occasion to Invite half a dozen friends up to the house. "Hut jou mustn't bring any chips , " he Insisted. "i.\ly wife Is suspicious of chips. I'll-havo a lot of coffee berries Instead. " All agreed to accept coffee berries as a substitute for the Ivories and all turnenl up at the house as sron as the wife had Joined her party. The chips , or cofTeo grains , were doled out bythe banker and the game started. Owing to the warmth of the room , a window near- the , host's scat had been railed , l uck was with the host. The game progressed quietly and nearly every pot found Its way .eventually ( o the stack of berries at Tiltt Bide , until ho had enough to make bevirjges ! > for the crowd. Hy 11 o'clock two or three'had dropped out and gone home , and those- who remained had given all their coffee beans to their entertainer , Then the wlfet returned. She noted wjth evident satisfaction that the game was devoid of anything tuinpl- clous as chips and greeted all pleasantly. Then &hu stood leaning on her husband's chair , chatting about the play , As she ) chatted she carelessly fingered the little pi's of coffee beans and at every other word \\oulil e-nrelefsly flip one or two of them out of the window , or Hbsent-mlndolly put ono In her mouth .and bite It In pieces. The > banker saw and grinned with flendUh gloe. Every grain of coffee which ho cast ui the winds or ground up 'between her prett > teeth represented a quarter. At every frcbh flip her husband's eyes opened nlde ; his start * became more maniacal , fly the time the pile had dwindled do\\ci In hnlf IM or'g- ' Inal alze hp was on the vcrK" ° f Inrtcclllty , but ho saved himself and the rest of his pile. Springing up In the middle of a story his wlfo wag telling hn said : "Mary , for heaven' ? sake stop chewing that coffee. You makn me neivous " Mary looked and wondered , anil ( hero was suipte-lan In her eyee as she bade them Kcod-ntght and retired , The husband sadly cashc-d In diminished pllo and the game broke up , north from the end ot the Manufactures I K.MMI-n. y , , .li.fl llp Tl-o < " fyr- * " \ " .ir 1 OLD RUINS OF ZIMBABWE Mystery of > tha Background" " of' Eider Haggard's ctotyi * .1 i ANCIENT FORTRESSES IN SOUTH AFRICA Tin-oil ore llc-nt'n Tliniry ( lint They \\Vrc Unlit by n llnoc of Arab Orlicln Who Werr In. Sctircli of ( ioltl. The mine of Zimbabwe , which form the 'background of Rider Haggard's new South African romance , now appearing In The Sun day Dee , have excited much Interest among archaeologists. They are not picturesque- ; nor have they cyclopcan dimensions ; but In the attributes of mjstcry and sjggcstlvenct-a they arc Interesting relics of the past. They constitute a gleam fium the darkness that surrounds South African history , and as such have puzzled Investigators. Whence tame the powerful race that built them ? What purpose did their masfalve walla and narrow , winding postages serve ? Were they prisons for the confinement of the slaves who worked In the gold mines near by ? Were they fortresses 'built by an Invading army with u view to permanent settlement In a hostile country ? Wore they temples or perhaps palaces of the aborigines of the land ? All four theories have found their supporters. The fltst explorer to examine them thoroughly , relates the New York Sun , lies than thirty years ago , came to the conclunlon' now wholly discredited that cno of the ruins was a reproduction of King Solomon's temple and the other a copy of the queen of Shcba's palace. The latest and best theory , very skillfully set forth by the late Theodore Bent , holda that , they are the ruins of a settlement established and gar risoned by Araby for the sake of the gold they found between the Zambesi and Lim pope rivers. Zimbabwe Is a Hantu word , and means "tho great kraal , " or palace. It Is used to denote any kind of ibulldlng , but especially the residence of * native chief. Among the Kaffirs , Zlmta'bwo ' Is a common noun , and only Buropeans rce It to denote these par ticular ruins in southern Mashonaland. The ruins Ho about fifteen miles ? southwest of I-'ort Victoria , -about 250 miles due west of Uclra on the Indian ocean , and about 200 miles north of the Transvaal. They are the largest and most important , but not by any means the only ruins to be found on the rolling table lands of Matabelcland and Mashonaland. About fifteen euch relics of the past have alieady been discovered in different parts of the plateau , and as the up-country and hilly districts are being gradually explored no doubt more will be mot with. SIMILARITY OP WORKMANSHIP. These ruins all ehow similar workman ship. Most of them are simply fragments of wally built of granite blocks , hewn or chip ped Into fairly uniform size. These 'blocks , which are usually about a foot long by six inches hltli , are strongly and neatly set to gether , though without mortar' ' or any kind of cement. Why the ancient architects ab stained from using cement cannot be con jectured , for the flooring of many of the buildings shows they were acquainted with its manufacture and properties. The build ings arc generally found on the summit of soiiio hill ; the walls are rarely under seventy feet In height and always thinner at the top than at the base. Two more characteristics are common to them all. They are found only near gold mines and they all show the same scheme of ornamen tation. Tlih attempt at decoration Is of the simplest kind and consists In placing some of the layers of blocks at nn acute angle to the layers above and the layers below , thus producing what IP known as the herringbone ring-bone pattern , and the side of the wall , that contains this ornamrtital work Invari ably faces the rising eun. The majority of these ruined walls seem to have been con structed for purposes of defense , though a few have possibly a religious significance. According to Theodore Bent's theory they constitute a chain of forts erected by the conquerors to overawe the native tribes , culminating at Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe ruins are split up Into two buildings , one of which stands on the top of a rocky and precipitous hill and the other on comparatively level ground about a third of a mlle away. The building on the higher ground was obviously a fortress. Its outer defenses consist of a scries of walls , some single , some double , stretching from point to point around the castern'and southeast ern sides of the hill the only skies , that Is , from which an attack was to be feared. The walls , which are built of the small granite blocks already mentioned , are In parts thirty feet high and thirteen feet thick , and deco rated along the top with a succession of monoliths and small , round towers. From opening ! * in them , narrow passages , barely wide enough to allow two people to pass , go zlg/agglng up the side of the hill toward the summit , twisting in 'and out among the rocks , Joining one gigantic boulder with an other , and completely commanding every rofslblo approach. These passages arc llauked In on each side by high walls , and form an Inti lento and bewildering labyrinth Although destitute of any roof , they art dark and gloomy. At the top of the hill are ruins of what was once a temple , anJ close by 'Mr. ' Bent discovered a gold-smelt ing furnace and many curious toolp. WALLS OF GREAT THICKNESS. The other ibulldlng on the lower level frowned down upon by the fortress some what as the Aeropnlls fiowns down en Afiein or Edinburgh castle on the city below , con sists of a wall thirty-five feet high In parts and sixteen feet thick at the base , surround ing about three-quarters of an ac c of ground. The ruin Is rather elllptiean than circular. Here , as In the other -buildings , the wall It- composed of chipped blocks of granite , fitted In perfect symmetry , but without mortar. Where It faces the rising sun it la higher and thicker than at other points , and near the top runs the simple zigzag scheme of decoration described before. It has three entrances , 'the ' principal one facing the fort ress to the north. From this entrance a very narrow passage , fonne'il ' by the great surrounding wall on ono side and an Inner wall of the same height on the other , leads after twenty or thirty yards to an Inclosure , In which stand two solid towers , also of granite blocks , ono of them thirty-five feet high and the other about five feet. The actual approaches to this Inclosuro are de fended with buttresses on either side , In which a rudimentary portcullis could bo and probably was fixed , Obviously this In closure , with Its two bolld towers , was con sidered especially sacred. Such are the main features of the Zimbabwe ruins , They do not amount to much , hut they false some puzzling archaeological questions , What was the significance of this sacred Inclosure and the two solid towers , awj what the meaning of the decoration facing the sun ? Ono thing at least was evident , that the Kafllrs were not responsible for their building ; for the Kaffirs never trim their blocks , but use loose atones , filling up the Interstices with mud. The natives say that some white men erected the walls long , long ago , ami wero-afterward poisoned by the tribes. Mr. 'Bent ' Is believed to have got upon the right track when ho made careful observations of the Makalangas who live near Zimbabwe and 'found ' among them evidences of Semitic descent. Their faces , which are distinctly Semitic ; their religion , which Is a mcnothclsm , their habit of laying out food for the dead , of taking a day of rest during the ploughing season , of bacilflclng goats to ward off pestilence and famine , thtlr wooden pillows which resemble the hrad testa uu-d by the ( Egyptians , their musical instruments , their drinks even , all pointed to some far-off Arabian Influence. Turilng to the ruins , Mr. 'Bent found that the decorations on the wall facing the cast suggested a worship of the sun as a re productive power a common Oriental re- llglonAs to i to tawt ? within tint In- closure Mr. 'Dent ' hud n dlillculty In plac ing them among the objects which the- Arabians used to worship. Allusions t ? similar toners uie constant In the bible , and the ruins In Sardinia , Malta and Mesopotamia prove there U authority for saying that strum have at some ( line or other -been worshipped In every country reached > by I'hooulclan Influence. Other In dications of a northern origin were found lit the discovery of some utonss decorated la Arnoia'B uromo i ; iery cured the c.-nventlonal Phoenician style and of part of a vase with letters on It resembling the proto-ArabUn style of lettering used In the earlier Sabaean Inscriptions ; and Mr. Hent concluded therefore by naming the Arabs as the builders of Zimbabwe. There Is nothing historically Inconsistent In this supposition.i It Is known from Egyptian monuments that a trade In gold be tween the H d sea and southeast Africa existed 1,500 years before- Christ : and much later the Hook of Kings tells of Solomon's commercial adventures In the country of Ophlr , which Is believed to be south of the Zambesi. All ove-r Matabeleland and Mashonaland are discovered ancient gold mines , some of which show architecture AS simple and venerable as that of Zimbabwe. It seems , then , ai If nt some time a race of men , probably fronn Arabia , went down Into the country now called Hhodesla , subdued the native Kaffirs ) llred In the midst of them In garrison towns nnd carried on a trade in gold with the Hcd sea. When they came Is at present nnlinrtwn , except that It must have been beforA' Mohammed. The genera ] tendency Is to "compromise on Solomon's reign. is TIII : DAV. HO\VIM ; i.oxcintf St-lciitlflc IU-IINIIIIN lii Support of Ilio Tlicorjr that U In. Ono of the most ! Interesting subjects dU- cusfied by Prof , George Uarwln during h ! recent visit to 'this country , says Youth's Companion , xvaitltUat of the possible and probable Increascrln the length of the day. When once the earth Is In motion about an axis , no matter how the motion came about , It would continue forever , and at the sime rate , thus making the day always of the came length , unless something Is happen ing or will happen to Interfere with that motlcti. Now.- there arc seve-rnl causes In operation which affect ( tie period of the earth's rotation , some of which tend to make the period less and others to make It greater. Fortunately the Influence of each of the causes Is very email. They are generally easy to understand , and a simple experiment will Illustrate one of them. Tlo n stone to ono end of a string , and , holding the other In the hand , whirl It < yromi as nearly as may bo In the circumference of n circle. When Ita speed Is nearly uniform allow the string to wind up MI ttio finger. It will bo noticed that as the string short ens the angular velocity Increases. Inthe B-iine way , If the matter forming the earth fibould In atiy way be drawn nearer the axis or rotation , It would turn faster , and the day would be shortened. Uy cciitlnual loss of heat a shrinkage of the earth Is probably In progress nnd al though the process Is exceedingly slow , It certainly tends to diminish the period of rotation. On the other hand , aay addition of matter from the outside will tend to In crease that period ecid make the day longer. Undoubtedly slight additions to the mass of the earth are constantly made by the arrest of meteoric bodies passing through the at- mcsphere. Their Influence Is opposed to an-1 tends to neutralize that of any earth shrink age that may be going on. The most Important Interference with tl.e rotatlen of the earth that we know of Is that of the tidal wave , which Is due to tha at traction of the fun and moon , but more largely to the latter. H Is enay to see that this Is a resistance against which the earth turrs and Its effect is to Increase the length of the day. Astronomical otservatlcns extending over about 2,000 years have failed to show any sensible change dn the day , but the Influence of the tides must become evident alter the lapse of a great many years. Prof. Darwta declares that the day may lengthen until it Is at last fifty-five times as long as It Is at present and that would be also the period of the revolution of the mocn about the earth. A day of 1,320 hours , such hours as wo now have , would offer many interesting advan tages , but there would be some tlilnss about it not altogether agreeable. As It Is not likely to come for some rnilllcu vears It IB not a matter for immediate anxiety. THE QUISUX MAI.L.KU HKX. KKJTS ArtI , aid In 11 Creiit Mound and lliilflifil liy < ln- Sun The strangest bird known , so far as Itf habits are concerned. Is the malleo Jicn of Australia. It lays Its eggs In a huge mound which Is really a co-operative Incubator , being - ing built by many pairs of blids and serv ing to hatch the CKRS of all the hens. Each year the same flocks repair to the satm mounds , some of which measure fifty yards at the base ana are 150 feet in circumfer ence. The eggs are deposited about six inches below the surface. While each her lays her eggs In 'the family mound , no hen drops her eggs closer than twenty Inches tc that of her neighbor. These eggs are de posited in a cavity made for them in a vortl cal position , carefully covered , and the sur face as carefully smoothed over by the hen before she quits the nest. The eggs of tbo mallee hen are out of al ! proportion to her size. They are as large OR these of a goose and those of large hens are very much larger. The egps thus laid and covered In this great sand oven in the hot districts are never again disturbed by the liens > . The cgss are hatched by the heat the sun bakes Inf- the soil whcro they lay. H has never been known how the young chicks are excavated from their egg grave , for the eggs are de posited fully six Inches below the surface. and the hardening rains do not aid their exit very much. > Bush naturalists have been curious to know how this peculiar fowl builds that nest The birds have been seen working at H and the mounds have been Inspected , but the piling of the dirt Is not from the Immediate vicinity , for that Is undisturbed. These huge cones stand for years , to be annually nested by the F n flock which originally constructed the t.imlly Incubator : CROSS sun.v ox RUAXT'.S TOMII. ' Sinn I > 'orm < - < ! liy n Combi nation ( if Suiillulit ami I'llliit-N. For a few minutes Just at sunset every clear day an enormous cross of dazzling vljlteness may be secin flashing on tha west ern front of Grant's monument In New York City. The cross Is ect near the center of the circular row of polished marble pillars which crown the base of the tomb. This remarkable decoration Is not In the least mysterious or occult. It Is formed by the reflection of the bright sunlight on the curious combinations of pillars and windows dews which the architects of the tomb In advertently arranged for it. The shape ol : ho monument Is such that the cross ap- peara only when the rays of the setting sun have fallen to an almost hoiizon'al line with It as the sun sinks behind the pall- eadeH. The explanation of the appearance of the cross with such regularity Is simple. The upper or cross arm of the cress Is formed In almost exactly the proper proportions by the reflection from the windows upon the marble cylinder which forms the main rurt of the upper structure. These windows are not arranged In n continuous band , but are placed some distance apart , with margins of plain marble between them. Instead of being set with large panes of glass they are covered with nn open lacework of mar ble tare , or cross pieces , The upright sec tion of the cross Is In r allty merely one of the highly pollbhoj pillars of the upper tier of the monument , I'lS IIOI.KS IX TIIK CHECKS. Only ( I n iof HitCnxltlir'N O irlool < i'il liy lhi > KorKvr. In the course of n lecture delivered re cently on cMcmleai tests used In discovering by the Ink the ago of documents , anil whether there have been Interpolations , nnd whether there have been Interpolations , Prof. C. A. Doremus told a curious discov ery In the case of n raised check1 , niado by his father , who Is an expert In chemistry and In documents. . ' Toe interests Involved In this case were. very large , n-lnteH the New York Sun * und It wus not practicable that the original 'check should be tumpi-red with or chemU-uIly treated. For purposes ) of testimony an Enlarged photograph of the check wan tikcn by Dr. Ooremus , who was called IIH an expert' In tha case , The llrst trial resulted In no decision , and on the second end trial , whutiuurported to be the original check wan produced. It VVHH handed O the cashier of the , bnnl < for Identification , Ho examined It anil bald : "This Is not the original check. " "How do you ; know that ? " demanded the u me zed lawyer , "iiec-ause In the . ( heading of the orUlmil thick I pricked ID hole In the center of each o' the 'oV within pin. " was the reply , "Thlb e-ireli luf Jiut these holea.1 In all other rticpeptK the ( -heck nee-rued to bo Identical. Tim. court called for Dr. Ooro- photograph to be produoed It pl.ilnly the jiln hcilow I'lion tils thr lawyer for t'u ilctVnre thiew up hit ) rnet and t o guilty RubHtUuti-r of th" fslsc chtck lied the country. ntnjm w eumviviik w uiujv v MH- > * t . . - rt . . .l.lrt . .I..I- , . T > * - COt'1,11 MIT ltd TIIK Illil.t , . Pnllnrc of n Slronnr Mnn < < > Do n * Knuli-il TrMiK Dili. Homulus , the Italian strong man and the Idol of , thetport lovers of Mexico , attempted last Sunday to repeat the fabled feat of Ursus , the giant Lylan of Slenklwlcz's pop ular romance , by wrestling with and con- qucrffig a gigantic wild bull. Tin battle tock | luce In tl o arena In Cludad Juarez , across the Hlo Grande from Kl 1'aso , and resulted In a victory for the bull. Homulus' failure was not due to lack of courage , , agility or stamina on his part , and It was not until the struggle had lasted for two hours that the man , exhausted , bleeding and bruised , finally acknowledged himself beaten. The bull was a magnificent speci men of the bovine tribe , a 4-ycar-old short horn , weighing l.COO pounds. Ho was selected by the city authorities of Ctudad Juarez , who always takes a hand In public exhibitions to see that people get the worth of their money. Two thoasand people , drawn largely from the American side of the river , witnessed the contest , which was full of exciting features , notwithstanding the failure of the man to secure victory. Ko- mulus was assisted by two professional bull fighters. These men aided In maddening the animal and getting him into a fighting mocd , though the Italian was forced to do most of this work himself , as It was necessary for him to keep In thn thick of the melee to get an op portunity to selre the beast by the horns , which were encased In rubber sheathing to give the gladiator a firm hold. When the beast was released Into the ring he charged right and left at the three un armed men , and It was ten minutes before HomulUB succeeded In seizing him by one horti. In a twinkling the brute Jerked hla head up and to one side , throwing the athlete over his back and landing him twenty feet away. The undaunted man leaped up un harmed and returned at once to the conlllct. Again he secured a grip on one horn and again was ho hurled over the animal's head quicker than a flash. Tlino and again the Intrepid athlete ap- proachud the lowered head of the maddened brute , only to be charged , and several times hu was tossed Into the elr , but fortunately he lauded on his feet and was able to leap to one side before the bull could reach him again. Four times during the conflict the man succeeded In grasping both horns , but was shaken off before he could bring his strength to bear. In the midst of the conflict the sheathing was torn from the horns of the animal , and In spltu of the fearless man the authorities Interfered and ordered them re placed. This afforded a ludicrous feature to the program. Two ragged Mexicans clad In the typical garb of their country and armed with ropes entered the arena to lasso the now thoroughly maddened brute. In a flash he charged upon the foremost , knocked him down and trampled him , and then turning upon the other treated him In a similar man ner. Fortunately neither man was seriously hurt and the animal was llnally roped , thrown and the sheaths repluaced upon his horns. Later the coverings were again torn off and the bull In charging the athlete caught him under the knee cap with ono of the sharp points , laming the man so that Itwas useless to continue the struggle further. Then the Mexican rabble leaped into the ring and harassed the creature until the spectators dispersed. Homulus was seen after the battle and asked to relate Iih ex perience. Ho was badly bruised from head to foot. Ono eye was swollen and his thumb had been half severed by one of the sharp pointed horns of his antagonist. He spoke modestly and simply of h G attempt to equal the feat ? of the gladiators of old. He said : "I liavo performed the feat repeatedly In private and tbreo times In public in the in terior of Mexico , and this la my flnt failure. In this contest the conditions were all In favor of the bull. "Tho animal selected by the Juarez author ities was of the short-horn variety and not a typical Mexican bull , which has wide horns , which taper gradually to the ends. The ends of the horns are wide apart and small enough to allow mo to secure a firm grip' ' and I am able to bring my strength to bear and twist the bull's nock In a. short time , as did Ursus In the btory of 'Quo Vadls. ' " "Tho horns of the animal I fought today were so laige that I could not chop my fingers. ( Irmly about them , and the ? ends being so close together I could not get sufficient leverage to keep him from twisting Ills head from side to side and throwing me olT. Furthermore , the bull had fought In the arena before and knew the'tricks ' of the sport , Ho did not waste Ms strength In useless charging. "It is sell known that no professional' bull fighter iwlll meet an anlmil which has once fought in the ring. So you see that con trary to custom in this case it was the man who had no chance. With an ordinary bull with horns of average length and thickness I am more than a match. " Romulus' appearance In the ring did not belle his claims , and no gladlitorlof old Rome could have displayed superior powers of courage and agility , 'in ' which he far excelled the trained bullfighters who were his as sociates. He is short in stature and weighs only 150 pounds , but lie has a chest girth of fifty-one Inches , a chest expansion of eleven Inches and ho measures seventeen and one- half Inches around the biceps. llIlnulH lli'inililleiin Convention. SPUINGFIKUD , 111. , Feb. 23. The repub lican state central committee today decided tfiat the republican state convention will beheld held June 11. Representation was bnscd on the MeKlnley vote , one delepute for each 400 votes. This means n convention of over 1,500 delegates , the largest In the history of the state. OPEN LETTER To MOTHERS. WE ART ! ASSERTING IN THE COURTS OUR RIGHT TO TUB EXCLUSIVE USE OF THE WORD "CASTORIA , " AND " PITCHER'S OASTORIA , " AS OUR TRADE MARK. / , DR , SAMUEL PITCHER , of Hyannis , Massachusetts , was the originator of "PITCHER'S CASTORIA , " the eamo that has berne and does now x ' ' x/jjr . : " " " on every bear the fnc-similo signature of ( z& % 7'2c&b ! wr p/iar. > This is the original "PITCHER'S CASTORIA" which has boon used in the homos of the mothers of America for over thirty years. LOOK CAREFULLY at the \vrappor \ and GOO that it is the kind you have always bought , . jf - - - - on the and has the signature of ( &a&ff&c&/M wrapper - per , No one has authority from mo to use my name e.v cept The Gojitaur Company of which Clias , H. Flotohor fa * President , Maroh 8SS7. . Qf&f tA * THE OKNTAUN COMPANY. TT MUHMAV TntKT * NEMt VOMtt OTT I TO THEIR 1 OFFER JRELIEF LESS FORTUNATE Sr SISTERS Sr HiVm' P V&v i. ' 2 i ' k fe , ; ifure $ ead tc The justly famed Complexion Specialists , The Misses Bell , ol No. 73 Fifth Avenue , New York , now offer the public generally the Complexion Tonic which they have so long used successfully in personal tieatmcnl un der the patronage of the leaders of New York's elite society. It was only after the repeated solicitations of friends and acquaintances that The Misses Bell were induced to make known the secret they had for years held so sacred. ILL d ulrll ! is entirely different and far superior to anything ever before offered in that it has almost immediate effect in clearing and brightening the skin. It is not a cosmetic in any sense of the word , as it does not cover up the blemishes as powders and pastes do , but is a colorless liquid tint , when ap > lied to the skin , does not show , but its effect is marvelous , as it cleanses 'he pores of the skin of all poisonous and foreign fiHings and dissohes cnlitely freckles , pimples , blackheads , moth patches , excessive oiliness or redness in the skin. Its use is so simple tint a child can follow directions and pet the bi-st result. Tiie Misses Bell have placed the price of their wonderful Complexion Tonic at Si.00 per bottle , whiph is stiflicient to clear the ordinary skin. The Misses Bell expect to sell thousands of bottles fn > m this an nouncement , andin order to satisfy the most skeptical that their Complexion Tonic is exactly as they represent it and that they have absolute confidence in its wonderful merit , they will send it to you safely pacxed in plain wrap per , free fiom observation of the curious , so that " i Settle csts lieu if the effect is not exactly as claimed , so that you take no risk in sending for this wonderful complexion purifier. ir The price , $1.00 , places it within the reach of all. It will absolutely clear a poor complexion and beautify a Rood one. It is indeed a boon to women , and this generous offer should be accepted by all. Ladies can address The Misses Bell on all matters of complexion and hygiene in the strictest confidence , and satisfactory advice will be given promptly without charge. An interesting pamphlet will be sent upon re ceipt of stamp. Address all communications and send all orders to TIIE MISSES BELL , or 78 FIFTH NEW YORK "BREVITY IS THE SOUL OF WIT. " GOOD WIFE I YOU NEED ALHXANDRIA , Ind. , Nov. 8th. 1897. t lave been greatly afflicted. ' suffered eight years with terrible bearing-down pains , dragging sensation in the limbs , and soreness ! n the lower bowels. I could hardly stand on my feet. My menses stopped entirely for five months at a time. I began to bloat , and some thought I had dropsy. Three physicians that I consulted did not benefit me much. In reading the Ladies' Birthday Almanac one day I saw what McElree's Wine of Cardui had done for other suffering women , and I wrote you about it. You advised metotake LADIES' ADVISORY DEPARTMENT. Wine of Kor ad Ice In cases requiring epe- < clal direction * , addresi.Rlvln. . 7rop- Car dill turns , LaMti' Aiviiorv Department , andThed- ThcCbutlannoKulUeUlclueCa. ' Cbnttanooga , Tcun. ford's Black- Draught. I got the medicine from tny drug- suffering woman knew about What agonies women doaifferl Those terrible , bearing-down , dragging pains , with the accompanying drains upon the system 1 People would be ton- shed to know how many womqn die of these troubles every year. Thousands suffering. They are usually martyrs to ther , of others never have a day free from own modesty. They don't like to say anything about this kind of sickness. he will want to examine them , and prob- Thev think if they Ko to a physician som ! abhorrent local treatment. They keep silent , ud suffer on and on. making themselves and their families very unhappy. What a change 1 It has brought real happiness a little Wine of Cardui makes for such a woman ness to more homes than any other medicine that woman can buy. It cures falling of the womb and " whites , and painful and irregular mens roation. It i condition. Then she is fitted for all the duties HI in perfect physical nuts a woman Sf wifehood and motherhood. Wine of Cardui does all this wonderful work ' home. No private examinations or local he privacy of a woman's own n trUtmeS are necessary for the adoption of this treatment. You can get the medicine at any drug store. Ask for Wine of Cardui. The Price IB 81.OO Per Bottle.
