THE MORNING- OEEGONIAN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, I960.
Tft POLVGAMIST'S FATE
OPETCING'OF THE DEBATE IN THE
' ROBERTS OASE.
Plans of the Majority and Minority
of the Committee No Agree
ment for a Vote.
, (Continued from Itrst Page.)
"They would," said Littlefield, "make him
the Boswell of the constitution." (Great
laughter.)
Littlefield said the minority stood -with
Burke, the statesman of the ISth century;
with Jefferson. Madison. Hamilton, Morris
and the men who framed the constitution;
with the decisions of the courts of Mary
land, Montana and Virginia; -with the opin
ions of Storey, Coo ey, Cushing, John Ran
dolph Tucker ana "Webster.
He then challenged Tayler's statement
that no precedent existed against exclu
sion, citing the case of Benjamin Stark,
in the senate of 1SC2, -who was charged
with disloyalty, yet who was seated with
out subject action. The majority, he
pointed out, had cited this case, but had
not informed the house of this fact.
"I believe." said Littlefield, concluding
his comment on this particular case, "that
Mr. Roberts has a full constitutional right
to a seat in this house."
The applause which swept over the floor
In response to this statement extended to
the galleries, many of the ladies there par
ticipating. The Whittemore case; which occurred
Immediately after the war, Littlefield saliT,
was a poor precedent. The passions of the
war had not cooled, and he believed the
action of the house in excluding him at
that time on the ground of selling his
cadetship was unwarranted and 111 ad
vised. Littlefield attacked the proposition of
the majority that Roberts had violated
the compact between Utah and the United
States. He asked where the authority for
the statement that there was an under
standing between. a state and the United
States came from. Eloquently he declared
that the idea of a compact between the
state had been the father of secession,
b.otted out by the lives of half a million
of men.
Littlefleld's defense of the proposition
of the minority that the house had a right
to expel Roberts concluded his argument.
He aroused a great deal of enthusiasm
when he recalled the difficult position in
which ex-Speaker Reed had been placed
in the last congress when General Wheel
er returned from the Spanish war covered
with laurels to resume his seat in the
house, and the difficult task of Speaker
Henderson, then chairman of judiciary,
who was obliged to report against Gen
eral "Wheeler. No mere patriotic senti
ment permitted them to override the plain
dictates of their duty. Proceeding, he
pointed out thTi unquestioned right of
either house to expel a member for any
cause deemed sufficient. This power was
unquestioned, and before it was exercised
Roberts should be sworn in.
"We state upon our consciences and
oaths," saidhe, "that he should have the
full benefit of the fundamental law of the
land." (Great applause.)
Littlefield closed rather abruptly. Tay
ler then renewed his request for an agree
ment for a vote at 4:30 Thursday. Crum
packer (rep. Ind.) objected.
Roberts Defends Polygamy.
Upon the request of Tayler, Roberts
was then given an hour and a half in
which to present his side of the case. He
spoke at first very low. but his voice soon
xose, and he was at ease, apparently.
The two arguments just presented, ho
began, made it appear that there was a
difference of opinion as to the method of
procedure in the -case of the "member
from Utah." From his standpoint, he
could agree -with neither view presented.
"I find -myself In the position," said he,
"where I might' say with propriety, 'A
plague on both your houses since both
propose my undoing, (laughter), but," he
continued, "the situation is not altogether
without its advantages."
He was convinced with the minority that
the hous6 had no right to exclude him,
and with the majority that admitted he
could not he expelled. "Between the two,"
said he, "matters fall out as I would have
them, and substantial justice will be
done." (Renewed laughter.)
Roberts gave notice that he should ap
propriate the arguments of the majority
against expulsion and those of the mi
nority against exclusion. His constitu
tional qualifications were admitted by
both the majority and minority of the
committee, and he declared that the mem
bers of the house, if they had regard to
the constitution of their country, would
call him back to the bar from which he
had been improperly turned away. He
warned the Jbouser that nations fell be
cause they separated from their tradi
tions. If a nation indulged in "constitu
tional Immorality" it died as did the in
dividual who was guilty of physical im
morality. He beseeched the house not to
yield to the clamor of unthinking people.
"What was the emergency for this pro
posed departure from the constitution? A
man who had married in the sanctity of
the church a plurality of wives had been
elected to congress. The cry had gone
up that the American home was endan
gered, and these extraordinary proceed
ings had been Inaugurated against him.
"For a few moments," said Roberts, "I
want to pay attention to the nature of
this crime, not with a view of showing
that the American people have not the
right to establish monogamy as a system
of marriage that shall prevail, and not for
the purpose of defending polygamy either;
for In the early debate that took place
with reference ta .this case ori the floor of
the house, I then declared that I was
not here' to represent polygamy, nor to
defend it. "We have long ago passed that
stage, apd the thing Is out of the realm
of discussion. I do not wish my remarks
construed as a defense of polygamy, but
I do want to call attention to the nature
of this crime. In order that we may ascer
tain whether it is so awful in Its aspect
as to warrant a more lawless act than
polygamy itself. In order to .rebuke a man
who has been elected to the house of rep
resentatives. Goes to the Scriptures.
"Take the Jewish people, for instance,
who were made the repository of God's
revelation to humanity. You shall not
find the crime of polygamy referred o
among that people as of the character
it Is described here in the report of the
committee. Evidently it is malum pro
hibitum. It is not malum in se. If it were
you would not find the Jewish law en
folding it under some circumstances, .reg
elating it under other circumstances, and
men after God's own heart sustaining
those relations which are now supposed
to justify you in closing the doors against
the member from Utah. If you go to the
teaching of the great Master, whom, I
take it, we all revere, although he de
nounced every crime, every sin that man
can commit, you shall find no word of
his In condemnation of the conduct of the
patriarchs or the law as it was given to
Moses and ancient Israel.
"Last week, when taking a walk in
the residence portion of your city, I
passed a magnificent heroic statue' of
stern old Martin Luther the nations of
Western Europe and America owe no
man more than they do to him for the
religious and civil liberty that they now
express the founder of Protestant Chris
tendom. And that man, upon this subject
that is Aere so much denounced, declared
in the -early days of Protestant Christen
dom, when be was informed that his dis
ciple. "Carlstadt, was teaching polygamy,
-I indeed must confess that I cannot pro
test when one takes many wives, for It
does not contradict the Scriptures.
"And again, in his letter to Philip, the
landgrave of Hesse, remarking upon the
fact that Philip had taken a second wife,
his first wife being still living, he said:
'In the matter of matrimony, the laws
of Moses are not revoked nor contradict
ed by the gospels.' Yet we build monu
ments to Luther, notwithstanding his tol
eration and defense of that form of mar
riage. "Now, I say all these things,, not for
the purpose of arguing here upon the
rights of polygamy, but I do say what 1
have here remarked for the purpose of
fixing it in the minds of members that
it is merely a crime oecause prohibited
by law. I say that the United States had
the right to make that law if they wished
to. The states have the right to make it
Utah had the right to make it the law
of that state, and has done so. Conse
quently, it is outside of the realm of dis
cussion, further than in this Incidental
way."
Roberts then explained the Mormon be
lief in polygamy, and said the church
thought their creed on this point came
within the constitutional inhibition against
laws prohibiting the free exercise of re
ligious belief. He then continued:
"In 1S76, desiring to put the matter to
a test, and not to be under the odium of
violating the constitution or the laws of
the country, and being confident that the
court would sustain the views that they
had held, the Mormon church themselves
furnished a case, furnished the evidence
and witnesses, and brought that case be-
, fore the courts, carrying it from one court
to another until, in 1S79, the law against
this form of marriage was sustained. It
has been recited as the chief offense both
of the people and of the member from
Utah that, notwithstarding this decision,
the people still continued to maintain the
rightfulness of that institution. The infer
ence seems to be that as soon as the de
cision of the supreme court was rendered
they should have dropped their hands and
instantly conformed to the law of the land.
"Limited, Indeed, must have been the
reading of that man who would suppose
that controversies of this character would
be so instantly disposed of, and that a
groat religious conviction would be Imme
diately given up on the decision of a court.
Worthy cf all respect as the supreme court
of the United States unquestionably is,
and held in hieh esteem, amounting almost
to veneration by my people, still we could
not forget the fact that the court was still
human and liable to fallablllties. Wo
corld not overlook the fact that this court
of ours, high and exalted as It Is, frequent
ly reverses Itself. We remember that It
had sustained the constitutionality of the
fugitive slave law, and that its decisions
had been overturned by the people by rev
olution in tenets as well as revolution In
arms. I see upon the floor of this house
a man belonging to a race, who, if abso
lute submlseiveness to the decisions of the
supreme court was to be the last of con
troversy, would have been but a piece of
goods and chattels In this country Instead
of being the member of the house of rep
resentatives. Applanse and Hisses.
"So we thought," said Roberts, "believ
ing as we did in the righteousness of our
doctrine. We hoped there might spring up
a sentiment which would lead to a re
versal of opinion. But It did not come,"
and Roberts, with arms outstretched, ap
pealed to the country not to be too hard
on the people of Utah. He described the
condition that existed In Utah In 1SS2 as
a reign of terror. The federal courts were
being used, he said, to drive women into
exile. A man was brought before the
court. He was told that he need not go
to prison if he would give up polygamy.
"But then," said Roberts, dramatically,
"I felt it would have been deserting the
cause of God to have agreed."
A wave of applause passed over the gal
leries at this utterance, but it was quickly
drowned with hisses.
"I had rather had my flesh hewn from
my limbs than to have been untrue to my
people. It was this feeling that was the
incentive to the lawlessness, such as it
was.
"But," he continued, "the time came
when the Mormons of Utah were obliged
to submit and did submit Since then
there has not been a single plural mar
riage In Utah. The plural relations had
been broken up In many cases. Death had
kindly solved the problem for some, and
the heartaches it left for some made them
wish the same end had come for them."
He Insisted that the compact with the
United States had been observed; that
J polygamy had practically ceased; that the
Mormon church had given up polygamy
In good faith.
Roberts said he had been In public life
for 20 years, and was not driven to the
defense of his moral character. He was
not here representing the Mormon church.
He had received a greater number of votes
from. Gentiles than from Mormons.
"You can neither exclude nor expel me,"
said Roberts In conclusion. "I will cling
so hard to the pillars or UDerty that you
shall not drag me from them without
bringing down the whole temple. (Ap
plause and hisses). I have lived with a
good conscience until this day, and am
sensible of no act of shame upon my part.
You can brand me with shame and send
me forth, but I shall leave with head erect
and brow undaunted, and walk the earth
as angels walk the clouds."
There was a great outburst of applause
in the galleries when Roberts concluded.
Many of the ladies in the galleries were
especially demonstrative.
At 5:35 P. M. the house adjourned until
H o'clock tomorrow.
THE ALL-ABSORBING QUESTION
To Persons Contemplating:
t East
Trip
Is. which route shall I take? The O. R.
& N. offers the choice of two routes to
the East. The northern route is covered
by lines of the Great Northern railroad.
Through cars are run direct from Port
land to St. Paul via Spokane; they are
modern-equipped cars, with the latest
safety devices, and are exceedingly com
fortable. The second Toute. which traverses the
central portion of the country, Is by way
of Huntington, Granger and Omaha to
Chicago. The already famous "Portland
Chicago Special" Is operated over this
route, and makes the fastest time between
these points ever made by passenger
trains. The trains are new throughout,
and consist of magnificent palace sleep
ers, buffet library and smoking cars, Pull
man diners, free chair-cars, and comfort
able ordinary sleepers. By this complete
service, passengers are enabled to reach
the principal cities between Portland and
Chicago not only In the shortest possible
time, but also in the most comfortable
and enjoyable manner. For any informa
tion in regard to rates, time of trains, etc..
I call on or address.
V. A. SCHILLING.
City Ticket Agent, 254 Washington st.
a i
Alaska Land Ofllcc Changes. "
WASHINGTON,. Jan. 23. Commissioner
Hermann, of the general land office, has
recommended that the two land "offices in
Alaska be abolished and one established.
The effect of this will be to place Western
Alaska In two districts instead of three.
By this arrangement the offices at Peavy,
on the Koyuka river, and at Circle City,
on the Yukon, will be discontinued and an
.office at St. Nicholas will be created. The
office at Rampart City will remain.
o
Nominations Confirmed.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 23. The senate to
day confirmed the following nominations
of postmasters:
Montana W. Alderson, Red Lodge; J.
C. Rlcker. Havre.
Oregon J. R. Smith, Lebanon; E. B.
Woodward, Newberg.
California W. C. Campbell, Los Gatos.
a C
Professor Hnzen Dead.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23. Henry A. Ha
zen, one of the chief forecasters of the
weather bureau, died here tonight as the
result of the Injuries received last night
by a bicycle collision with a negrp pedestrian-
RUSS1ANPR0GRESSINASIA
RAILROAD TRAVEL SOUTHWARD IX
TURKESTAN.
Sketch of Russia's Military Opera
tions in Central Asiatic Provinces
-Never a Retreat.
CHERNAYEVO, Russian Turkestan,
July 19. The traveler who wishes to visit
Both termini of the eastern extension of
the trans-Caspian railway has a day to
spare at this new junction town in the
steppes. a place which reminds me quite
as much of La Junta. Colo., as any place
I have ever seen before. The train from
Samarkand, which arrives at Tashkend
at 10:40 o'clock at night when it is on
time remains there but one hour for
'cleaning and an exchange of crews before
starting on its return journey.
Last night, at Tashkend, the train was
not only an hour late in starting, but all
the places In the secbnd-class car were
filled and no more tickets would be sold,
The result was that I bought a third-class
ticket to this -place, and added to my ex-
perlence with Russian railways. There is
not a great deal of difference In the de-
grees of comfort in the two classes. The
space allotted to each seat in the third city of Tashkend. The defense was stub
class is a little less, the woodwork a little born, and the Russians- were at first re-
LOOKING OVER THE BAZAR OP TH
plainer, the upholstery missing to a high- pulsed, with considerable loss. Then Gen
er degree, and the people are not quite as j oral Tchernaleff employed the strategem
likely to be companionable, but for a j which has seldom failed in . the desert,
night ride that was not of much conse- j He seized a small fort some miles away,
quence. Rolled up In my steamer rug, which guarded the water supply of Tash
with an air pillow, I passed a fairly com- kend, diverted the stream, and a few days
fortable night, and reached here at 7 i later accepted the unconditional surrender
o'clock this morning. Having now trav
eled In Russian sleeping-cars and regular
passenger cars of the first, second and
third class, there remain for me but the
fourth and fifth to complete the gamut of
train equipment in the empire.
The through train for Samarkand loafed
about the junction for an hour and then
drew out across the steppes westward
Chornayevo is not the most uncomfortable
of places to pass the day, even though
there is nothing hare to be seen. I could
not conceive any possible profit or pleas
ure In walking out into the treeless and
houseless prairie, and the snowcapped
mountains which were such a picturesque
sight on the southern horizon are far out
of reach. Instead, I have wandered about i rectlon of General Constantine Kauf
the little village, watching Russian and ' mann, who had come from Russia to or
Mongol workmen on the houses under ganize the government of Turkestan after
construction. , that province had been captured. He de-
There is no bazaar or market street or feated the Bokhariot army in one more
any consequence here, for the town Is campaign, during which the small army
much too small for that, but In front of he had left behind to hold Samarkand
the little shops In the main street gather bad to sustain a very trying siege. That
the camel caravans that come from the was the end of warfare for the time. The
steppes with the merchandise of the no- ' emir of Bokhara signed a treaty ceding
mads, so that there is some activity for ( the fertile valley of the Zerafshan to
a -.few hours In the morning. Not many j Russia, including the city of Samarkand,
ircraians nave come into vnis pari oi tne
country yet, so the races represented are
chiefly Mongolians, Tartars and Russians,
with a few Sarts, who own the stores.
They are the merchant people of this re
gion, and until the Armenians arrive to
enter Into competition with them, they
have a virtual monopoly of the shops.
During the day we have had some ex-
citement 'from the arrival of a construe-
tion train, which Included In its equip
ment the "store" car, which I have de
scribed In another letter, and several car
loads of Immigrants. The people of Cher
nayevo gathered around the store and
bought flour, potatoes, match'es, tobacco,
canned goods, pretzels and Icons most
eagerly, while the train waited, and the
three clerics were as busy as a department
store at Christmas. When the train
pulled put, the little black dog which
seemed to be filling the office of mascot
was sleeping on the lower step of the
stairs that led up to the side door of the
car, apparently fearless of danger.
At present immigration from Russia to
Turkestan is somewhat rapid. Not all the
restless ones go to Siberia from the crowd
ed and famine-stricken districts of the
empire. The government is glad to have
a Russian element established In Central
Asia among the tribesmen, to act as a
quieting factor by Its Influence, and to
be the nucleus of a Russian sentiment
that may be of great value In the event
of threatened uprisings. So the govern
ment Is aiding in every way the move
ment of those who come, giving them the
same concessions as to transportation,
land and cash that are granted to the im
migrants to Siberia, and establishing an
agent In Tashkend, with several-assistants
to advise and direct the strangers as wise
ly as possible.
The accommodations provided for imml-
RAILWAY STATION
grant travel into Turkestan seem primi
tive, but they are quite sufficient and as
comfortable as could be expected in com
parison with what Is available for other
passengers. The Immigrants travel in
ordinary fourth-class cars, which are quite
of the fashion of box cars at home, and,
like all fourth-class cars on the Russian
railways, are inscribed with the significant
lettering: "For eight horses or 40 men."
In the immigrant service, however, they
are not that crowded. Across each end j was prompt and definite. The khan him
of the car are built two or three wide self rode out to meet the conqueror, and
shelves of rough boards, which serve as
seats in the day or as beds at night. In
the middle of the car is a stove for heat
ing and cooking. The rest of the space
is the living-room of the family to which
the car is assigned, and in another car
of the train are carried the household
goods of the family.
I have seen some of these cars arranged
most comfortably, with rocking-chairs
and a kitchen table Included in the fur
nishings, the Icon hung upon the wall and
the samovar steaming merrily. Often a
family Is permitted the use of this con
venient home for several days, after
reaching its destination, until some other
shelter is provided. The journey itself,
however from the Caspian sea to the re- j
glon of Turkestan, where most of the set
tlement Is centering, requires a full week.
by the slow trains which carry the immi
grants, so it Is necessary that they be ac
commodated In some such fashion as this.
It is easier to emigrate to Turkestan
than it was when the Russians began to
move into Central Asia. Years passed
, after the tragedy of the Perovski expedl-
tion against the Khlvans before it was
salt iu iiiivci iiiiu mu lumuiw:, uuiiug
which time the Russians were sending'
! varIous unsuccessful missions. Find ly
in response to an English question, the
reed to leave the khanates of Central
Asia to serve as a neutral zone between
Russia and India. Russia therefore turned
her attention to a 'more eastern road,
and moved toward Tashkend by the rdute
from Orenburg and Siberia, extending her
llne of communications and m.lltary pcsf3
through the country of the Kirghiz horde
m wo""eni lureesmu. in ie -hs ana
'50s these Psts were advanced well Up .
tne Slr Daria river, by way of the Oren-
bur5 road and the Aral sea thus virtually
inS around the khanates of Khiva and ,
Bokhara on the way to Tashkend. i
Progress was interrupted by the Crl- !
mean war. After that conflict ended the '
Asiatics began to take active measures
to expel the northern invaders who were
slowly but surely encroaching on their
territory. That was the fatal move. The
ruler of Khokand, Khanalat Shah, with
an army of 15,000 men, advanced against
the Russians on the steppes. The Kho-
kandians were defeated, and the definite .
excuse-was created for a war of Invasion
and reprisal. In 1S64 the Russians cap- ,
tured Chemkend. capital of Turkestan, and
then pushed on to attack the famous I
E NATIVE CITY OP SAMARKAND.
of the city at the hands of a delegation
of citizens.
Military Progress Sontlrvrard.
In December of the same year the peo
ple of Turkestan made an effort to re
capture their holy city, and the emir ot
Bokhara formed an alliance with the
Khokandiane, marched against the Rus
sJa"s aild sent home word that they must
become Mohammedans at once. The Bok-
harlots were defeated in battle, and Khod
jend was occupied by the Russians. The
victorious forces continued their advance,
this time toward Samarkand, which was
taken without opposition on May 14, 1E6S.
This later campaigning was under the di-
"" "o ituuuua cupuui oi xa.ineria.ne re'
verted to his successors' in Asiatic power.
Just as this campaign was ended, shift
ing conditions in the province of Jungarla
of the Chinese empire turned attention In
that direction. A Mohammedan insurrec
tion in that province had proved too
strong to be put down by the Chinese
troops, and the Chinese had abandoned
I the territory in disorder. The Mohamme
dans were in possession of the district of
III and the city of Kulja. At once a Rus
sian army of 2000 men departed for the
scene of difficulties, on the pretense of
quieting a disorderly neighbor, occupied
the province without serious opposition,
and settled down to administer It as Rus
sian territory. It is true that a prompt
notification was sent to the emperor of
China that the Russians were holding the
province only as a measure of peace and
In trust for him, and that they would be
glad to evacuate whenever he was ready
to resume authority. Nevertheless, the
fact remains that it was only after 10
years of occupation and several years of
negotiations, which included at the end
some excellent Chinese concessions 10
Russian trade, that the peacemakers act
ually did evacuate their temporary quar
ters In 1SS1.
It was In 1876 that the rich valley of
Ferghana was annexed to Russia after a
war with Khokand. The conflict had be
gun as a civil war In which the Kirghiz
subjects of Khokand rebelled against the
payment of certain taxes. The worried
khan fled to the Russians when the up
rising outgrew his power to resist, and his
son became ruler. The latter sent mes
sages of peace to the Russians, but almost
at the same time a holy war was de
clared against them, and they were sent a
summons requiring them to become Mo
hammedans at once.
AT CHERNAYEVO.
This was the signal for an aggressive
war on the part of the Russians. Town
after town was taken, and at last the vic
torious armv reached the , walls of the
capital. The humbled monarch sent en
voys to the Russian commander, but he
refused to deal with them, merely re
plying that If he was treated with proper
submission no harm would be done the
people, but if any resistance was offered.
I the city would be destroyed. The effect
conduct him Into the city, through which
the entire Russian army made a trium
phal progress.
A few weeks more of campaigning
against the other important cities of the
khanate. Marghilan, Namangan and Andi
jan, and the occupation of those centers
by heavy forces of Russian troops, sub
dued the whole of the territory, and on
March 2, 1S76, the khanate of Khokand
was declaredv a portion of the Russian
empire under the name of Ferghana. The
first governor was General Skobeleff, his
appointment coming as a reward for his f
energy in the campaign. This was the
last exterislon of Russian authorlty
outhoastward Into Central Asia until the
absorption of the Pamirs In 1S92.
TRUMBULL WHITE.
A whale, said to be CO feet lonj? and 40 feet
In girth, has been found dead In the Thames
at Y.'oolwich. 'It to believed to have baen killed
by the chemical refuse that flows into the river
below 3 -vndon bridge.
j first Nicholas of Ru;sia declared that he
I saw the necessity of cdm'.ng to an agree
! ment as to Bokhara fend 'KhlYa. and he
GROWTH OF THE ALMANAC
WONBERFtJL: EVOLUTION r OF THE.
BOOK OF TIME DIVISIONS.
Ancient Egyptians ConinieMced "With
Feast Day Record Publication
Now Includes Many Subject.
Some people may want to know how
the ancients got along without almanacs,
a question answered by the fact that they
had them as far back as history goes.
says the Chicago Chronicle. The British
museum possesses one of Egypt's "first i
editions" of an almanac, issued in the
time of Rameses the Great, 1200 years
before the Christian era. It Is a papyrus
from a tdmb, and covered with red Ink
hieroglyphics, making a achedule for six
years of the religious ceremonies of the
land, with various warnings interspersed
concerning what to do and what not to
do In domestic and public affairs, on cer
tain days. The fourth century had cal
endars sent out by the Roman church,
'giving the feast, fast and saints' days,
with information of a religious character
and records of astronomical phenomena.
Among people along the Baltic sea ax
helves and staffs were notched for the
days of the week, with deeper cuts for
Sundays, and with carved symbols for
saints' days. Their religion forced these
ancient people to some sort of a recogni
tion of the division of time.
The derivation of the word almanac is
thought to be from the Arabic al-manah
al (the) manah (reckon' and from It
the French and Spanish got their names,
almanach and almanaque. Modern alma
nacs follow, in some features, the prac
tice of the ancient Eastern nations In hum
bugging the credulous by making divi
nations by the stars. In ancient Rome
the use of the calendar was confined to
the priests, who were thus exclusively
informed as to festivals and the time3
for law court proceedings, but one, Fla
vius, acquiring this Information, put it
on white tablets for use in the forum.
After that they were cut in white stone
and came into more general use.
What were termed "clogg" almanacs,
relics of an old style, were In use in Eng
land as late as the end of the 17th cen
tury. They were small square blocks of
wdbd, notched on the angles to correspond
with the days of the year.
First One Printed.
The earliest printed almanac was the
work of the astronomer, Purbach, of Vi
enna, In 1457; the earliest In England was
the Kalendar of Shepardes, from the
French, about 1497. It was not until the
16th century that almanacs were arranged
so as to be for one year. Rabelais pub
lished at Lyons, France, almanacs for
the years 1533, 1535, 154S and 1550.
Prophetic almanacs have always had,
and have today, without reason, a re
markable Influence with the ignorant
Nostradamus, the celebrated astrologist,
made so many predictions through those
publications that, some of them being
fulfilled, Louis XlII of France in 1579 pro
hibited their issue, and Charles IX in
1628 required that such almanacs must
bear the approval of the diocesan bishop.
One almanac, the Almanac Llegois, Issued
at Liege in 1625, and still published, con
tained the rankest of superstitious stuff.
People who could not read it were assist
ed by such signs and symbols as taught
them to know when to take medicine,
to have their hair cut and to be bled.
The French at last had to take notice of
these works, and in 1S52 over 7000 alma
nacs and chap books were under exam
ination, and many were found to be of
such an objectionable character as to re
quire suppression.
Scotchmen had almanacs as far back as
the 16th century. Their "prognostica
tions" were first issued at Aberdeen in
1677, and their average circulation was
50,000 a year. In 1683 the Edinburgh True
Almanack was begun. It contained but
little besides the calendars of the months,
lists of fairs and weather predictions,
but in 1745 was added a list of the Scottish
members of parliament. It is now known
as Oliver & Boyd's New Edinburgh Al
manac, and contains 1000 pages. Thorns'
Irish Almanac Is the only Important one
of its kind In Ireland. France has a gov
ernment annual similar In purpose to the
Nautical Almanac of Great Britain, and,
like it, contains many valuable original
memoranda. It is called the Connalssance
des Temps, and was begun in 1679.
Is World-Famous.
A world-famous book is the Almanac de
Gotha, begun in 1764 and issued annually
at Gotha. It Is a small pocket volume
in fine type, in both the German and
French languages, and has 1100 pages be
tween covers. It is an encyclopedia of
information on the great families and the
political standing of Eurjp.an nat ons, and
affords a great deal of diplomatic knowl
edge not elsewhere obtainable. Of this
book .the great Napoleon suppressed an
entire edition In 1S0S because In Indexing
Anhalt was permitted to come before his
name. By his- orders It was then printed
in French instead of German. Germany
has another Important year book in the
shape of the Berliner AstTonomlches Jar
buch, established in 1776.
China beats the world on Its almanac,
which is issued at Peking by the gov
ernment, is In 12 volumes and Is given up
mostly to Indicating the lucky times and
places for performing the deeds of every
day life, though reliable astronomical in
formation Is- presented. So much do the
people rely upon the warnings of this
book that It is said that a few years
ago the minister of that country to Ger
many refused to sail on his mission be
cause the day appointed for his departure
was put down In the almanac as an un
lucky day. This huge publication is a
monopoly, belonging to the emperor, no
other work of the kind being allowed to.
be sold In that country. Several million
copies are printed and disposed of each
year. The natives of Central America
have the most curious of all calendars.
Their months are only 20 days long, and
are named after animals.
In the United States.
The United States has not much to show
In the way of almanacs with peculiarities.
The earliest one was published by William
Bradford in Philadelphia, 1687. Franklin's
"Poor Richard's Almanac" appeared from
1732 to 1757. There were some In cheap
form, published especially for the use of
farmers; many were Imported; all had
weather predictions, tables to guide the
sun and moon as to the time when It wa3
proper for them to get up and sit down
In the new country, where everything.
even nature, was somewhat irregular. Ev.n.
the clouds were regulated as to the time of
weeping and of getting out of sight; it was
Intimated to the sheep when they were to
be sheared and to the pigs the month of
their killing. They had verses of senti
mental poetry, extracts from patriotic
speeches, written but never spoken, like
those In modern congresses, and recipes
foe cooking at home Instead of at the bake
shops and restaurants. They were so ar
ranged that every one might doctor his
own cattle instead of sending them to a
land of sainted hoofs by way of a slaughter-house.
As a matter of fact those harbingers of
modern quackery were very much like
the real things of today save in the volum
inousness of their advertising. A few
comics, like Elton's, had a Jlchenhke hold,
but the humorous weeklies smothered their
languid growth. The "American Nauti
cal Almanac," an Imitation of those of the
English and the French, -was started in
1S55. The shabblness of this peculiar line
of literature at the beginning of the cen
tury has disappeared in the last 25 years,
giving way to full-dress annuals, of which
half a dozen Issued by newspapers are
wonders of information on nearly all the
matters that enter into modern political,
commercial, social and religious life.
Franco and Germany have annuals In
the shape of almanacs devoted. to certain
subjects, such aa music, the drama, wom
en, religion, politics, etc. England has be
come renowned for her almanacs in colors.
They began to appear in artistic habili
ments about the year 1875, before which
tlmd they were crude affairs. One tlrm
in Leeds produces about 2.0CO.OOO each year
of ordinary colored almanacs, such as are
presented to their customers by trades
men at Christmas time. Glasgow and
Manchester printers annually turn out
about 1,000,000 for each city, the selling
price ranging from 4 to 12 cents. Several
firms in London bring out each year mag
nificent pictorial almanacs costing rrom
5 cents to 52 each. While there are big
almanacs there are also tiny ones, and
illustrated, at that. One. the "Chemin
de la Croix," has 119 pages, the printed
part measuring one inch high and one
quarter of an Inch In width; the "Bijou
Almanac" Is an inch in height. Between
the two is a German one.
The evolution of the almanac has been
the work of centuries from pagan sm to
a Christianity that has converted thesi
books Into something useful and beautiful,
even though it has not eliminated all
traces of their origin.
Keeping house without an almanac Is
like keeping a norse without a stame
neither pleasant nor profitable. Nor Is
there any excuse for it, for all the patent
medicine people Issue almanacs by the
hundreds of thousands just before and
just after the first day of every year, and
they are tc be had for the asking.
"Pie-ease give us an almanac. There
are lovely things in the almanac," say
the girls in "Rag Baby," and It is truer
today than it was in the years gone by.
Where the almanacs for the year 1900
seem to differ from all which have pre
ceded them in recent years is In having an
eclipse of the sun where somebody can
see It. Usually the first page or two of
the book Is taken up with graphic ac
counts of eclipses visible in Kamschatka,
Spltzbergen and the southwest corner of
Van Diemen's land. But for this new
year there Is to be a total eclipse of the
sun, with the line of totality beginning in
Egypt and ending up In the Pacific ocean,
the people of Norfolk, Va. Mobile, Ala.,
and New Orleans being entitled to a full
view of the entire performance.
This is to take place on Monday, May
2S. It will not be total In Chicago, but
those who care to arise early enough can
see the beginning of it at 6:56 o'clock in
the morning. Something Is always hap
pening on washday In Chicago.
Some of the Eclipses.
There will be another eclipse of the sun
on Wednesday, November 21. Here the
almanac-maker recovers his presence of
mind and announces it as visible only In
Borteo, Sumatra and a few places like
that. At least, one of the almanacs says
that, and anotr r postpones It until Thurs
day, November 22, and announces It for
Southern Africa and Australia. It really
makes very little difference.
This second almanac, by the way, makes
the eclipse of the sun in May start la
quite the other direction, going from
Mexico to Algiers. It says that here in
Chicago eleven-twelfths of the sun's sur
face will be obscured, the performance
ending about 9:15 o'clock. There Is also
a storm announced to begin on May 25
and last until June 1. This last sounds
natural.
A little corner of the moon Is touched by
the earth's shadow on June 12, not more
than the thousandth part of the disk being
obscured. Being absolutely unimportant,
it can be seen almost anywhere.
Jupiter will begin the year as a morn
ing star, change to evening star on May
27, retain that position until December 14.
when It will become morning star again
until the year runs out. Venus begins as
the evening star and acts In that pleas
ant capacity until July 8, when It turns
morning star and stays so until, the year
Is over. Mercury can be seen just after
sunset about March 8, July 4 and Octo
ber 29, and just before sunrise on or about
April 22, August 19 and December 7. Mars
Is evening star only until January 16. and
morning star the rest of the year. Saturn
Is morning star until June 23, then even
ing star until December 29, then morning
star for three consecutive days in 1200.
For the Curious.
For the curious In such matters, the year
1903 will be the 121th year of American
Independence until next Fourth of July,
when it becomes the 125th. It Is the year
56S0 of the Jewish era until sunset on Sep
tember 23, when it becomes the 5661st. It
Is the year 2560 of the Japanese era, and
the 33d of the Meljl period. Until May 1
it is the year 1317 of the hegira, or Moslem
era, the year 131S beginning on that day.
January 1, 1903, Is the 2,415,021st day since
the beginning of the Julian period.
The Dominical letter is G, the epact 29,
the lunar cycle or golden number Is 1, the
solar cycle 5, the Roman Indictlon 13, and
the Julian period 6613. It Is the first year
divisible by four which has not been a
leap year since 1800, and there will not
bs another until 2100. by which time we
shall be very little Interested In such
things, If we are now.
Washington's birthday comes on Thurs
day in 1800, and Fourth of July on Wednes
day. St. Patrick's Is on a Saturday,
and Christmas on a Tuesday. Thanksgiv
ing will probably be November 29.
Epiphany, or twelfth night, is January
6, In 1900, which is the orthodox time to
take down the Christmas greens in the
homes and churches. Ash Wednesday la
the last day In February, and Mardl Gras
or Shrove Tuesday the day before. Palm
Sunday Is April S, Good Friday April 13,
and Easter Sunday April 15. This brings
Ascension day on May 24, Whitsunday on
June 3, and Trinity Sunday on June 10.
Advent Sunday Is December 2.
Those who are particular about begin
ning the seasons promptly will be pleased
to learn that spring Is due at 7:1S In the
evening of March 20, surmaer at 3:19 In the
afternoon of June 21, autumn at 6 o'clock
in the morning of September 23, and winter
at 12:21 midnight of December 22.
All this useful learning Is the common
property of all well-regulated almanacs,
but it is not to be supposed that there is
nothing else In them of Interest. There
are merry jests of all degrees of merri
ment, and other jests of all degrees of
hebetude and desuetude. There are wise
saws, if not modern Instances, pearls of
thought like "There are more people cross
eyed In the tongue than In the eyes; they
talk one way while they are thinking the
other." There Is good advice for the ail
ing, not only In the particular direction of
tho cure-all the almanac advocates, but
in general therapeutics, as in this instance:
"Putting the feet In hot water will In
variably cure a headache, from whatever
cause it arises. The head aches when,
from any cause, the little blood vessels in
the brain are too full. Putting the feet
In hot water draws the blood from the
head." Some persons, those who think
with their feet, should reverse the process.
Many unusual anecdotes are collected to
gether In the almanacs. You may learn,
for instance, that a Boston man wears
a card on his underclothing with the
statement, "My appendix has been cut
out." He does this, so It is said, because
he fears that he may faint away some
time and the surgeons open him on the
theory that If there Is anything the matter
It must be appendicitis. With this goes
a method for treating stiff boots wl h
vacellne or glycerine, of even greater im
portance to the reading public.
A New Medical Discovery.
Philadelphia Times.
On top of the discovery of a scientific
treatment for the perpetual renewal of
youth comes the scarcely less Importer;:
announcement of two Trench physicians.
SappeMer and Thebault, of a specific se
rum aeainst alcoholism. The serum is
derived from a horse which has been
"primarily rendered alcoholic by artificial
means," and gives to the dipsomaniac a
lasting distaste for alcoholic drink,
i i a
The men employed by the Cardiff
(Wales) Railway Company have pre
tested against excessive hours of labor.
Tho aetition sets forth that they are on
duty on specified dates from 21 to 37 con
secutive hours, without meal or rssting
hours
AN INFORMAL DINNER
BRYAN'S MEAL AT THE NEW YORK
DEMOCRATIC CLUB.
No Spcech-MaUInsTf lut n Reception
anil a. Crowd of Politicians on
Hand to See the JTebraskan.
NEW YORK, Jan. 23. WHMam Jnnln3
Bryan took breakfast at th Hoffman
house this morning with a number cZ
free silver and single tax leaders. Bryan 3
cal ers today were nearly all ailverices.
The gold democrats held aloof.
Tonight Mr. Bryan dined at the Deiro
cratlc Club as the guest of President John
W. Kellar, with 12 others. The clubhouss
was crowded from 5 o'clock. The fact
that Colonel Bryan was to be a guest at
the club caused the seats in the general
dining-room qn the third floor to be at a
premium. Most of the tables In the room
were taken possession of as early as 5
o'clock. The rooms and the corridors of
the club were thronged long before Mr.
Bryan arrived-
Mr. Bryan was accompanied to the club
by James S. Oliver, sergeant-at-arms of
the national democratic committee, and
ex-Governor Hogg, of Texas. President
John W. Kellar, of the club, pushed hla
way forward and grasped Mr. Bryan by
the hand. There was a crush la the dining-room,
and many persons were stand
ing. The table at which the 14 were to sit
down was near the inrth-avenue front.
There were other tables all about, all
thronged with prominent members of tho
club. When Mr. Bryan entered the brill
iantly lighted room there was much ap
plause. Those at the table of honor were: John
W. Kellar, W. J. Bryan, Maurice F. Hola
han, ex-Governor Hogg, Judge James A.
O'Gorman, O. H. P. Belmont, Norman E
Mack, John Whaien, John F. Carroll,
Thomas F. Grady, Bernard J. York. An
drew Freedman, Dr. J. B. Cosby and W.
L. Brown.
There was a running vfire of conversation
on all sides of the table. For a little over
an hour Colonel Bryan and his fellow din
ers at the little table -ateVand drank. Just
as the last course had been finished.
Mayor Van Wyck entered the room, jos
tled his way over to the table and sat
down at one corner, between Commission
er Kellar and Mr. Bryan.
When the diners arose the party pro
ceeded to the large reception-room. Then
a line was formcd and President Kellar
introduced those who shook hands with
his guest. Nearly all the heads of fhe
departments of the city were represented.
At a few minutes past 10 o'clock Mr.
Bryan complained of a headache and was
driven to his hotel.
After Mr. Bryan had left ex-Governor
Hogg said: "This shows that there is no
dissension. The club has given Mr. Bryan
a royal reception. Of course, he is hero
not as a guest of the club, but you can
see that he Is welcomed by all the mem
bers." Many of the members declared that the
reception gave a decided emphasis to the
fact that the protest of Doyle, Fox and
Roosevelt did not represent the sentiment
of the members of the club as a whole.
Texas Legislature Meets.
AUSTIN, Tex., Jan. 23. The Texas leg
islature met In special session today, be
ing called by Governor Sayers to pass
new tax laws. The proposed changes are
radical, particularly toward corporations.
Call for Prohibition Convention.
CHICAGO, Jan. 23. The national pro
hibition party has called a meeting of the
delegates at Chicago, June 27, to nominate
candidates for president and viee-presl-dent
of the United States.
Extra Session California Legislature
SACRAMENTO, Cal.. Jan. 23. Governor
Gage has called an extra session of tho
state legislature, to meet January 29. A
United States senator will probably be
elected.
Kentucky Election Contests.
FRANKFORT, Ky., Jan. 23. The guber
natorial contest committee today voted t j
extend the time for taking evidence, giv
ing each side two more days for that pur
pose. .
"THE PRESIDENT'S OWN."
Tiventy-nrst Showed It Could Fisht
as AVell as Look Pretty.
The Twenty-first was the swellest of the
regiments at Tampa In the spnng of lU.
It was called "The President's1 Own,"
because it had been made much of by
President McKinley when he stayed In tha
summer of 1897 at the Hotel Champlaln.
which overlooked the home post of tha
Twenty-first at Plattsburg. N. Y. Thi;
post had long been considered one of tna
"softest snaps" In the army. The regi
ment possessed the best regimental band
in the corps. Its idolized colonel had just
been made' one of the new Brigadier-generals.
Its camp on Tampa Heights was
spick and span; its uniforms were immac
ulate, and its officers were at all times
the best-dressed men in Tampa.
The officer then in command of the
Twenty-first. Lieutenant-Colonel Cham
bers McKibben, was considered, says the
Philadelphia Inquirer, which tells the
story, almost a martinet about his personal
attiro and military discipline and eti
quette. One evening early in May, Colo
nel McKibben was In a bad temper. Ho
was on the examining board for the pro
motion of officers, and had been hard at
work for several days on the field exami
nations, and he was tired out.
The change from his comfortable housa
at Plattsburg to the camp bad given h:ra
a very bad cold, of which, as an old cam
paigner, he was thoroughly ashamed.
What had upset him , most was news- that
every one of the regime-rats on the Height
had been brigaded for the expedition to
Cuba, with one exception; that exception
was his own Tegiment. the Twenty-first.
That, he was afraid, could mean but ona
thing, that the Twenty-first would not do
allowed to go. One of the colonels, with,
a uniform faded by prairie suns, had even
dared 'to suggest to him that the "Prer
dent's Own" was- to be kept as a kind, of
showy home guard for the president in
Washington. Colonel McKlbben's feelln.
for the president on that May afternoon
was not, perhaps, what It bad been tha
summer before, for now the Itch of fight
ing was upon him again.
Tired and half sick as he was, he or
dered his horse saddled, and when asked
by one of his officers what he meant to
do, he thundered out:
"I am going to find out what this means
before I sleep tonight. I am going trai?rt
up to the hotel to see General Shatter,
acid beg him to let the regiment go to
Cuba with the first expedition, and It w&
can-'t go well, I shall go, if I have to
resign my commission and go as my own
orderly."
He did go to Cuba with the first exr -cZctlon.
commanding Ws regiment, ard
every one knows what a record he macTa
ajid what a magnificent charge tve
Twenty-first made at San Juan. L'c-u-termnt-Co'ortel
McKibben wis promoted
immediately afterward to a briRacHer-c:-eralshlp.
for bravery and gallantry on tl"
field. A few clays later he rode Into Svn
tlago with the single star of a brlgad "
general cut out of tin-and pinned on tr"
shou'ders of his blue flannel shirt, as the
first United States military governor of the
captured city.
Englishmen Prefer Country Life.
Baltimore American.
F'gures recently produced to show a
comparatively small per cent of English
living in Chicago, has led an observer tf
remark that English immigration to thia
country generally avoids the large cities
The English people prefer to live in u i
country, and generally when coining to
thig country; settle .In the smaller places
i