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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (March 25, 1900)
32 THE SUOTAY OREGOEIAN, PORTLAND", MARCH 25, 1900. DREAD BUBONIC PLAGUE RAVAGES OF "BLACK DEATH" IX ANCIENT AND MODERX DAYS. lis Recent Reappearance Csase for Precautions Being Taken, Espe cially on Hr Coast. The bubonic plague has made Its ap pearance In Manila, and, of course, we know how the authorities in Honolulu burned building after building, In order to root out all unclean garbage and filth. which Is the father of this horrid disease, The law that the fittest shall survive is j one of Nature's own. and if we would walk, as David did of old, in the midst of pestilence without being afraid, we must keep our bodies strong and up to par, and. we must put our houses in or der. Germs live so scientific people tell us in filth and foul air, to say nothing of water, but they can be killed by sun--shine, ventilation and fresh air. So pre caution against the plague, smallpox or any other disease, cannot be too severe or strict. Light and air should get In, and nothing of the nature of refuse should be left to rot In the yards. In Manila, most of the cases so far have been among the Chinese. But who can tell where this scourge will stop'! Ships are sailing every hour on the waters, bound for San Francisco, Portland, Seat tle and Tacoma, and any time the news -may be flashed over the wire that the officials have discovered a case on board some vessel at one of the above-named ports. "Why not make all the preparation possible, in advance, to head off invasion, or at least keep it well in hand, should a case be known to exist on the Pacific Coast? For, as the history of the plague has shown, when once it takes hold, It is hard to crush it out. Cannes a Shudder. That the merest shadow of so dread and terrible a visitant as the plaguo should be cast in Manila, in a vicinity so near us, is sufficient to cause a shud der of dismay, for there Is no doubt that the disease Is making Its appearance in spots where is has been unknown for many years, or where it has never been known before. Its appearance In Manila and Honolulu should put all civilized na tions on the alert, and any and all ships coming from any port where the "black death" Is at work should be subjected to the most rigid inspection. Here, in America, indeed, there is less reason to fear the plague than in the European countries, for, besides an excel Jent quarantine system, ire have the ad vantage of a distance so great that the csaximum period of incubation for the microbe seven or eight days would be .passed before the infected ship reached Siere. But with the advantage of distance we should take no chances. To be pre pared. In case one person should be lenown to have the pestilence. Is better than to make preparations afterwards. The principal European countries have beon preparing themselves for years to destroy the dread invader at their thresh olds. The International Sanitary Conference, which met at Vienna, in the Spring of 297, adopted sanitary precautions to con fine the spread of the plague outside of Europe and to prevent its entrance into that continent. International, quarantine stations were established, or increased along routes which the plague-has to fol low. In making progress westward. "With the co-operation of Turkey and other pow ers, the conference put a stop to the pil grimages to Mecca, which, for centuries, have been Instrumental In diffusing pes tilence over vast regions of Europe and along the shores of the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. Despite European precau tions, however, the scourge has appeared in the Western world, namely, at Hono lulu and Manila. First Authentic Record. The question has never been definitely settled as to the date at which the first outbreak of the plague occurred, but the first authentic description of the bubonic plague Is to be found in the writings of Rufus of Ephesus, who described the dis ease as having existed in Northern Africa during the third or fourth century B. C Of the various outbreaks related by the historians under Nero, two only appear to answer to the description of the bubo nic plague that of Marcus Aurelius in ICG, and of Gallus In 250. The former was said to have been brought from the Parthlans by the troops of Lucius Varus. It rav aged Rome and the provinces, whence It spread to Gallia and the banks of the Rhine, thence later ravaged the whole of Achala, decimating the imperial troops. Toward the middle of the sixth century the disease appeared in Egypt and extend ed to Constantinople, where it is said to have caused the death of 10,000 persons in one day. From the seventh to the 14th century; other epidemics occurred, but no one of them could be compared with the outbreak that raged in Europe during the middle of the 14th century. It is said to have carried off 25,000,000 persons in Eu Tope. and its victims throughout the whole world were estimated at 40.000,000, which Is unquestionably the greatest havoc in .human life ever mentioned In history. During the great plague in London in 1GG5 nearly 70,000 persons were carried off. The 17th century marked its last appear ance in many European countries, such as Denmark, Sweden and England. In France its last appearance was from 1720 to 1722, when It made 80,000 victims in Mar seilles and Provence. At the close of the last century the plague reached Egypt. Southeastern Eu rope, the region of the Danube. Lower Austria and Southern Russia. At the be ginning of the present century it twice visited Constantinople and spread to the shores of the Adriatic But from 1845 to the present day, with the exception of a slight outbreak in Russia in 1877 and its recent appearance in Portugal, Honolulu and Manila, the great scourge has been confined to certain African and Asiatic countries. "Worst Ravage Past. It is certain that never again can the plague create such ravages in Europe as it did in centuries past Modern sanitary science has made such giant strides that the plague could not now spread among Europeans in the way It has among the Hindoos and Chinese. Indeed, through their more healthful ways of life, Euro peans In Infected districts in India or China have been less liable to an attack than natives. It was the difficulty of car rying out sanitary and hygienic regula tions during the late epidemic in Bombay that seriously hampered the efforts of the European doctors and nurses in their attempts to stem the disease. At first every attempt at sanitation or segrega tion In Bombay encountered resistance and aroused a hatred and distrust exceeding even the terror of the plague itself. Street tumults were frequent; crowds constantly collected around the ambulance vans, which were stoned, and the officers of the Health Department were often 'n dangel of their lives. The opposition grew in violence "until it culminated in the Poona murders. But the aversion to the absolutely nec essary measures of isolation was not the only difficulty which the relieving staff had to encounter. As is well established, the plague had a strong partiality for small animals, especially rodents. "Wheth er the plague was or was not brought by ship rats from Chinese ports, medical observation unmistakably pointed to the conclusion that the rats in Bombay were widely Infected by the disease and were spreading it through the city. But the Indian tenderness for animal life gave rise to an unexpected obstruction. Says the official report: "All attempts to capture the rats were fiercely opposed, and picking up a few sick pigeons almost raised a riot. . . . The people would not believe that the hopeless condition of their own dark, damp, filthy, overcrowded houses was their real dan ger. . . . Every form of obstruction was resorted to, when the municipality at tempted to deal with their dwellings. The tenants refused to do anything, maintain ing It was the duty of the landlords. The landlords were not to be found, and when the municipal authorities attempted to do the necessary work, they 'had to carry it out in the face of hostile and violent crowds. Throughout, the Executive was subjected to a perfect storm of threats, abuse and protest from persons who deemed themselves aggrieved by the meas ures adopted to protect them. 'Why not let us die of the plague." was the cry. 'In stead of interfering with our customs? " Gradually these feelings of opposition to santtary restrictions have lessened in Bom bay and throughout a great portion of In dia, for the people have had a frightful object-lesson, and have come to a partial understanding that the English authorities are really trying to help them, and they have seen the good results of that help. LI Klit and Air Inimical. Light and air are In a high degree un favorable to the development of the plague. In the open air it dries up and withers; it loses its power of infection in six to eight days, and, generally speaking, experiments tend to show that it Is a short-lived organism, except under con ditions specially adapted to its wants. The disease is contagious, not infectious, and is believed to be conveyed cither dlrectSy from the sufferers, or by their clothing, or by being brought Into contact with them or polluted by them. Certain animals, as, for example, the rate, are liable to the plague, and appear, from all accounts, to be active agents in spreading it But the chief sources are contaminated clothes and bedding, in which the bacillus preserves its virulence for a considerable period, "and from which it is not expelled by ordinary fumigation. The evidence shows that the sanitary authorities in In dia have, on the whole, proceeded upon right lines, and that the segregation of patients, the destruction of their apparel and bedding, the disinfecting of their houses, the clearing out of densely crowd ed quarters and an ample supply of fresh air and pure water are the conditions most helpful to keep the disease within con trol. That the cause of the plague is a spe cific microbe the plague bacillus was clearly shown during the Hong Kong epi demic of 1S94. by Drs. Kilasato and Yer sln, and Its presence 'in the lymphatic glands, or blood generally, alone afforded incontrovertible proof of the nature of the disease. Practically, there are two main varieties of the plague. In the first, the disease affects the lymphatic glands (this is the bubonic type), and In the sec ond variety it affects the lungs (this is the pneumonic type). There Is no absolute specific known for the plague, according to all reports, al though good Tesults have been obtained from Professor Haffhlne's preventive se rum. The general means so far adopted of fighting the plague are sanitary precau tion, skilled nursing, suitable feeding and the proper use of antipyretics, anodynes and stimulants. L.UE VERNON. IN AtJLD LANG SYNE. Memories -by a of the Past Conjured Up Wife's Memorandum. "I want to get a yard and a quarter of all-wool challle, satin stripe, like this," said Mrs. Detwller, handing him the sam ple. "Now, do you think you can remem ber It?" "A yard and a quarter, eh? All right." And he thrust the three-cornered bit of cloth Into his overcoat pocket. "Now, John, I must have that tonight." "Certainly; Tm coming home tonight." "But you'll be sure to forget it. Hadn't I better tie a string around your finger?" "No; I think a piece of red Canton flan nel would be better; it would attract more attention. Why not put a bell around my neck?" "Well, then, I'll tell you what I'll do; Til write out a memorandum and pin the sam ple to it, and put it in your pocketbook, and then when you take out your pocket book to pay for your luncheon you'll see It there. .How'll that do?" "A pious idea," he answered, his mind occupied with the fluctuations of indus trials. Four hours later he put on his hat and coat and went out for luncheon. It was a gray, dismal day. A. mist was in tne air, and, seen through the fog that filled the streets, everything was the samo color a dead, spiritless drab save where, here and there, a smudge of yellow told of the presence of a lighted lamp. It was the sort of a day to encourage reminiscence and arouse latent sentiment. . Mr. Detwller felt the Influence in a mild form. Perhapa It was the seductive odor from sdme old-fashioned dish; perhaps a careless word spoken by a fellow-diner that awakened old memories and lured his thoughts far away from the ritual of mar gins. He made no attempt to recall it. In stead, he rather courted the pensive mood and, to be rid of the waiter who stood at his elbow, he dove Into his pocket-book In quest of a tip. There was his wife's memorandum, with the bit of challle pinned to It "Ah, I must get that the first thing after luncheon," he said, as he absently drew the fabric between his fingers. Then he asked himself where he had seen goods like that before. Ordinarily ho paid little attention to delicate, bargain-counter tex tiles, but this peculiar weave, the satin stripe, the faint, sweet perfume that arose from It they recalled scenes of the days long ago, long before he met the present Mrs. Detwller recalled memories of a fair young creature who might have been . Yes, she had worn a gown like that. He remembered seeing her in it one night in particulate It was at a ball. Four hours later. "John, did you get that challle?" asked Mrs. Detwller. "That wh 7 No, my dear, I forgot it clean forgot it" "Didn't you find the memorandum?" "Yes." "While you were out for luncheon?" "Yes." "Then what made you forget It?" "The memorandum," he said. New York Journal. POETRY AND SO'CKS. Scottish, Soldiers Remembered by the Lassies at Home. Thousands of Scottish soldiers will have learned to bless the mill girls of classic Paisley for their thoughtfulness before the war ends. One great manufacturing .firm gave them wool and asked them to knit socks for the soldiers, and so heartily did the lassies go into the-work that the first batch of 1000 pairs has been sent to South Africa. It Is unnecessary to say that the' socks do not go out empty. In each pair there are presents, such as tobacco, hand kerchiefs, needles and thread, bottles of glycerine, hanks of wool, and other things which man rarely thinks of and woman always. The knitter's photograph is also in many cases sent, and, of course noth ing from Paisley Is genuine without It a line or two of Paisley "poetry": God bless ye, Kruger mla3 ye. Is simple, but It serves the purpose. Tnis is more to the point, and Is essentially West Scottish In spirit: "When ye're hidin behln' the rocks Remember the lassie that knitted yer socks. There is a spice of "Glesca wut" in the following: Since I've ta'en the trouble to knit them, I hope tae goodness yer feet'll at them. Chicago Records BOOM IN MILITARY TOYS ! ENGLISH MAKERS UNABLE TO MEET ! DEMAND FOR THEM. Nearly Every Lad in Great Britain Animated by Warlike Spirit Aronaed by Boer War. Among other Incidental effects of the war in South Africa, says the London News, the Influence on the toy trade must J surely be one of the most remarkable. Judging by the result of Inquiries made at several Important centers, it would seem safe to afllrm that the entire trade has become an unofficial department of l the War Office, and almost every nursery in the land has caught the fever of mill- 1 tansm, which only this time last year some among us to the great amusement HOWD'YE? I !! I UJlilll " ii jfiM " M" ... ASTONISHED WAR CORRESPONDENT. Reports from the scene of hostilities la South Africa are to the effect that British soldiers have frequently mistaken troops of ostriches, at a distance, for bands of Boers and bands of Boers for ostriches. In some cases the ostriches have made friends with the soldiers. One of the newspaper correspondents at the front reports this remarkable incident: "While." eays he, "I ranged the valley or plain (at Modder River) with my glasses, eome thing slipped and tumbled heavily over the loose stones behind me. I turned, thlnklns to dodge or help a stumbling man, and found myself staring Into the great brown eyes of an os trich six feet tall and with legs almcst as thick as ana larger than my own. " 'Ho came up hero seme days ago,' said a soldier, 'and he always stays here now. "We feed him and fool with him, and he seems iery happy.' "The ostrich stalked past me and took a position between the major and the captain, where, after appearing to observe that they were lery busy scanning the landscape, he, too, stared at the plain and remained erect and watchful, the highest type of a sentry la ap pearance. He marred this fine effect for Just, a moment by seizing and swallowing a bor. of safety matches. After that he continued his sentry duty with satisfaction in his eyes." of the cynics were, simple enough to be lieve was on a fair way to gradual ex tinction. "We are toing very little business in the toy department," said one big house, "for we can't get military toys for love or money, and there' Is no demand for anything else selling." Any public excitement arising out of events .of general Interest is apt to bo reflected in the nursery toys, of course, and this Is especially the case with mili tary excitement. Any war. whatever it may be. is sure to create a demand for miniature cannons, for swords and guns and tents and soldiers. but It seems to bo generally allowed that the demand this time is quite unprecedented. "We could send out 1000 worth of metal soldiers today." said the representative of unc laitjc nuuicDuic iivuw;, . v. -wwi get them. But if we give an order for 300 gross, we get perhaps 25 gross deliv ered." SHpply Unequal to Demand. Something like this seems to be the experience all around. Neither at home nor abroad are the makers of martial toys at all equal to the demand upon them. This demand began soon after the out break of hostilities, and seems to have been steadily on the increase since it be came apparent thai the struggle was likely to be more protracted than was at first thought probable. Inventors of nov elties have been hard at It, and the amount of capital that must have been Invested in the making of entirely new things must be something very large. Tho Inventions turned out have, it need hardly be said, a special bearing on the South African War. Not only have the forces engaged on both sides been repro duced in metal and color horse and foot and artillery. Dutch and Irish, Scotch and English, with "long Toms" and Hotchkiss guns, pontoons and "baggage wagons, with bell tents and officers' marquees but very elaborate pieces of mechanism have been turned out to illustrate some features of this particular war. There are in the market, for example, miniature armored trains, ranging in value from 6 pence or a shilling up to 3, 4 and 5 guineas. These last consist of an engine and three wag ons, running on metal rails. The engine, plated all over as compactly as' the back of a turtle, runs by clockwork, either backward or forward, and as the strong ly fortified train rushes round under the withering storm of bullets and bombshells the enemy are Jourlng down upon it, a projecting cam on one side of It is caught In a similar projection on the rail be neath, and bang! boom! bang! go the gal lant defenders inside. The callant young Generals who are in command of operations may have the sat isfaction of togging themselves in the most martial of military uniforms, half a guinea or less being sufficient to buy the most resplendent helmet and breastplate, sword and gun, and many little odds and ends of t a. .- .m V . . ..- -- 7 r r? unirommTC1? ?r e , most part of the now familiar khaki color. 10(i?NheVnd11- prett, L,llh!S h' .thOUS,h theGenerals-presumably turned out in the earlier stages of the war still wear their distinctive uniforms and ride dashing black chargers. Portrait Fiacres. All the more prominent of the Generals are represented In tho tented field by portrait figures, more or less recognizable I individually. Among the Boer Generals, the toy shop has not failed to place the I German tacticians in the background. The Lord Mayor's Own are not yet apparently n01 the SKIZZLmZcZ lUJ III III, ftJUUU UU1I&U4&1J t-"'tk-u ciu l!npeMnn nf Its stock, was a day or two ago showing Lendon-made hats of the "C. 1 L V." aattern, cocked up on one side. with a small city arms, for nursery war riors. This same firm has also a very effective novelty that will be sure to be Immensely popular with the young British Generals at present In the schoolroom. This consists of a. flashlight balloon, said to be perfectly harmless, though It would seem to be desirable that paterfamilias. or one of Commander Wells' men, should be in supreme command, when it Is sent up. A sort of. little Dag or cyunaer oi flimsy paper Is made to stand upright, and is lighted at the top. As It gradually burns dowit- to the bsttom the remnant of flaming paper rises Into the air, and there discharges a number of tiny scintillations of brilliant white light. These flashlight balloons may be Tetalled at half a crown a gross, and will no aouDt Da iouna very popular accompaniments of the banging HOWD'YE? of guns, the storming of forts and the rush of the armored train. And the mention of forts, by the way, . calls to mind that among the earlier feat ures of this mimic warfare were represen tations of Pretoria, with the British flag flying over it. There can be no denying that It was a little premature, though time will no doubt show that It was ac curately prophetic. Among tho most in genious of novel to3 Is one designed to Illustrate the sort of practice that has no doubt given the Boers their rather formld- I aDle skill with the rifle. Ready to Shoot. It is the representation of a stalwart and s rubicund Boer, seated under the shadow j of a kind of hut. with his rifle all ready i for a shot. A short distance from his hut, and a little to the, back of It, is a i4. ., iu wic a", v. ww su.au tree a bird Is perched. The Boer, being naturally stolid and phlegmatic, requires a little winding up, and this, it seems probable, sets going some clockwork mechanism down beneath the surface of the veldt. Anyhow, the Boer rifleman gets a hint that there is a bird on the top of the tree, and forthwith creeps stealthily out of his hut, cocks his gun and lets fly, and. of course, topples the bird. It is said that he never misses, and this, no doubt, is the sort of practice that has de veloped the troublesome skill that has en abled the enemy to pick off so many of our officers. As to swords and pistols, cannons and forts, military bridges, earthworks, mule trains, ambulance stretchers-, and so forth. It would take a long, catalogue to give any adequate idea of them. This firm says that since Christmas it has had hundreds of tons of metal goods In, and, like every body else, the only limit to the trade it can do seems to be that Imposed by the inability of the manufacturers to execute Its orders. CHAIN ARMOR SHIRTS. Old Industry Revived by an English Mannfnotnrer. Owing to the cleverness of a Sheffield manufacturer, the ancient custom of wearing chain mail is likely to be revived. The abandonment of the coat of mail was due to the superior piercing ability of the modern missile, which rendered tho coat useless for ordinary purposes of protection. Moreover, its unwieldlncss made It worthless as a protection against the attack of steel. Now, however, the cleverness of a Sheffield manufacturer has produced a shirt of mall that weighs less than 12 pounds and can readily be worn beneath the coat, which Is Imper vious to every attack except that of the composition bullet. His product Is hav ing a large sale, and is likely to be more widely used, as It becomes better known. It Is composed of small steel rings linked together so finely that even the ( """- ' Point of a pin cannot penetrate through th At the s t th fl Ible that they can be worn without the slightest discomfort. ,. nvoT. t. m,. .. . . . ; -.. 1 ' ,, YI ,C u7 u J . .' . ?m. "?e "eck .to ihe A1"513 nd :Ktend uunu uie urui it intr eiuuw. JLnus It W1J protect any one from an attack of dagger or sword in every vulnerable place. Its value as a protection against assassina tion Is evident. HISTORIC PIONEER DANCE I S FOR THREE DAYS AND NIGHTS FESTIVITIES WERE KEPT UP. Territorial Magnates and Early Set tlers at Orea-os City Over Halt a. Century Ago. The old "Oregon House," that stood on the bank of the Willamette at Oregon City, was the scene of many & pioneer festivity. But the first and most notable was not, as was published recently, tho ball of October, 1S50. That interesting event was antedated by another and still more important function, to which was bidden everybody of consequence in. the Territory. Invitations were sent out months In advance, and as there was no postofflce at Oregon City at that time these had to be delivered by special cou rier, or be entrusted to the hands of obliging travelers. By virtue of the date chosen for this memorable affair July 4, 1S46 It partook of the nature of a patriotic demonstration. Notices to that effect were printed In the Spectator, a weekly newspaper, published In Oregon City the first of Its kind, by the way, to make an appearance in this part of the world. The Spectator was the pioneer paper of the Northwest, and copies of it are to be found at the rooms of the Oregon Historical Society. If you are curi ous to know what sort of news appealed to that early public, go to tho City Hall and read the Spectator. Meantime preparations went forward on a generous scale for tho entertainment of the guests, who came from Astoria, Van couver and Tualatin Plains, from Forest Grovo and French Prairie, and even from Salem and the Polk County hills. Dr. McLoughlin's name, headed the list of managers, and Governor Abernethy was master of ceremonies. Governor Presided. The old "Oregon House," a rather com modious structure of wood and stone, was owned by Walter Pomroy, but Colonel Mc Nlghton was at that time proprietor of the hotel, and spared neither labor nor expense to furnish a feast worthy of the occasion. In the basement, which was all in one big room, the board was spread for the guests of honor. Governor Aber nethy sat at the head of the table. At his right was Dr. McLoughlln, his dark, hand some face, in Its frame of snow-white I hair, wearing the benignant yet halfsad expression which Is, to this day, well re membered by all who ever knew him, and which, even In his early youth, was char acteristic of the man. On tho Governor's left sat "Lawyer," the famous Indian friend of the whites and chief of the Nez Perces nation, who had come, with some of his, people, to show his good faith and honor his pale face brother by his presence. It la said that in his response to a toast, the elo quence of his speech surpassed that of the Governor's own. It glowed with friendly feeling toward the white people who had come to teach the Indian the ways of civilization, and was rich In metaphor and beautiful with figurative meaning. The Nez Perces Indians are, to this day, noted for their oratory. This chief of the early half of the century was not less gifted than his successors, and, m natural sa gacity and ability, was a match for the men of affairs who, according due recQgnl tion to his position, as head of a great and powerful tribe, received him as an equal. Picturesque Scene. There are still living those who, being present on that occasion, recall vividly the strange scene the strong faces of the splendid pioneers, gathered about the boun tifully laden board; the silent Indians in the background; the pretty half breed girls; the flashes of gay color, and the merry talk and laughter of the young people, all Impatient for the dancing to begin, and not interested greatly in the lofty senti ments expressed In dignified fashion by the Governor and the others present. Cap tain John H. Couch, Frank Pettlgel, Gen eral (then Colonel) A. I Lovejoy and W. S. Moss were there; Mr. M033 lives yet in Oregon City. A. F. Hedges, at one time an Indian agent; William C. Dement and Jacob Rlnearson. have not forgotten how they danced with the dark-eyed girls from French Prairie and drank the Gov ernor's health that Independence day, In 1846. Captain James iMcMillen, who had come by the overland route to Oregon the previous year, and had been Immediately employed a3 a millwright by the Governor, sayB that while the guests were still at the table, the younger members of the company, unable to longer restrain their impatience, went up to the first floor of the hotel, converted for the time being into a ballroom, and, prevailing upon the mu sicians to favor them, began dancing at the unorthodox hour of 2:30 o'clock in the afternoon. The sound of tripping feet overhead very I naturally Interfered with tho more sedate pastime of toast-drinking in tho basement, and a request was sent upstairs for less noise. None of the merry-making young pioneers, however, was in the mood to heed a message of this nature, and the dancing continued to tho sound of two violins and; an accordion. Three Days and Nights. In fact. It went, on without Interruption for three whole days and nights. When Saturday evening came the command went forth to the effect that the music must stop at 12 o'clock. But somehow nobody present seemed to remember when mid night airied. and they danced right on, without any Intention of Sabbath desecra tion, till the break of day. And, In spite of the prolonged festivity, no ono felt any the worse for It, for they were a hardy race. They never did things by halves in those days, it seems, and they took their pleas ure as they did their hardships. In large, strong doses. There may have been some of what we have come to consider essen tials lacking at that historic Oregon City function, but one thing we can be very sure was not missing, and that was tho spirit of true hospitality. Neither, if we are to believe the chroniclers of the af fair, was thee absence of splendid attire. There was a glitter of brass buttons and gold braid, and the wives and daughters of the settlers from French Prairie were especially magnificent in gorgeous colored raiment, purchased at the Hudson's Bay Company's store at Fort "Vancouver. They were handsome women, too, many of them. There was but one piece of ordnance at Oregon City in 1S4C a 12-pound, cast-iron cannon and it was made to do patriotic duty on that Fourth of July. This cannon was afterward taken over the mountains into tho Canyon City country, and was 'never brought back. SHAVES ONLY MILLIONAIRES Barber Who Mnlccs $3000 a. Year From. Four Customers. Thomas Whalen shaves four million aires a day, says the Chicago Inter Ocean. He makes the round of their residences every morning and uses his own last pacer to save time. ,They all pay him a liberal salary, and In three hours each morning he earns more than the average barber does in four days. Mr. Whalen's clients are P. D. Armour, S. W. Allerton, Marshall Field and N. JC. Fairbank. They employ him by the year, and his salary continues whether they are In Europe, New York, California or Chi cago. His contract calls for a dally shave In Chicago, and If the millionaires' chins are not to be found, Whalen is not the sufferer. His "pull" is said to be of the gentlest, but his fellow-barbers declare it Is very strong, and besides the salary he gets there Is always a liberal Christmas present. The scale of salaries paid Is as follows: .uiir. Aiuiwuf, i9 yer moflin; Air. .eieja, S75 per month; Mr. Allerton, 550, and Mr. have then- private barber shops, and Mr. Whalen has the running of them. He keeps each supplied with the finest razors, sheara, strops, soaps, mugs, and other requisites of a first-class tonsorlal parlor. He knows the turn of every whisker of his patrons, and there is never any kick about razors with a "pull." His labors begin early. Mr. Armour's home Is his first stopping place, though recently, during that gentleman's resi dence in California, he has not been get ting up so early. Mr. Armour has always shaved by 6 o'clock, and often earlier. From there It is only a block to Mr. Field's Prairie avenue mansion, and just across the street, a little to the south, he flnd3 Mr. Allerton ready for his dally scrape. But to reach Mr. Fairbank he mu3t make a big jump to the North Side, and his fast pacer comes in good use. Cars aro too uncertain, and Mr. Fairbank cannot be kept waiting or disappointed, and before 9 o'clock Whalen is at the Iake Shore Drive residence, ready for Mr. Fairbank to come to the private bar ber shop. "Tom" Whalen Is one of the best-known barbers in Chicago. He has made a com petency out of his work, and his income averages close to $3000 for the year. REFUGEES AT CAPE TOWN. Crowd of Money-Grubbers for Indemnity. Waiting It Is disgusting, writes Julian Ralph, In the London Mall, to leave these (English) men and turn into any one of the Cape Town hotels to find yourself surrounded by the rich refugees from Johannesburg, and to hear them cry like children as they tell you what they will lose if the British do not hurry up and take the Transvaal before the Boers destroy Jo hannesburg. Th'ey actually cry in their plates at dinner, and half strangle them selves by sobbing as they drink their whisky at bedtime. The Mount Nelson, the Queen's and the Grand Hotels are all full of these merchants and millionaires, faring on the fat of the land, idle, loafing all of every day, and discussing what per cent of their losses ''the British Govern ment will pay when they put In their claims at the end of the war. Somo came here as clerks, some as la borers In the mines, and some are mer chants who brought 10 worth of goods out from Birmingham a dozen years ago. They tell you that they have left 100,000 worth, or 1SO.0OO worth of goods In their shop, and that altogether 25,000,000 Is In danger of destruction in Johannesburg. "Oh, mine Got!" one has just been say ing to me; "I can'd dell how much I shall lose by his peezness. I shpeak mlt much feeling, my frent. Blease excoose me grylng. "Vot do you dink? Do you dink I can git back dirty-dree per cent of vot I lose from de British Government? Oh, Got I den I lose 60,000 aln'd It derrl blo?" They are pulling their long faces all over the place and shedding their tears wherever you meet them. It Is enough to make a statue 111 to have to hear and see them and move among them. Why don't they equip a regiment of rough riders or make up a battalion of volunteers among themselves? Why don't they fight? The war has jeopardized theh- property, and they have a keener Interest in it than any Tommy or any officer now at the front. How can they see the cream and flower of English manhood rushing down here to spill Its precious blood for them, and never feel a blush of shame or a pang of any emotion except grief over losses which will still leave many of them rich? Really, Cape Town is a wonderful place. It is worth the journey to see the streets blocked by able young men and the ho tels crowded by rich refugees, while each night's train takes out the fearless gen tlemen who are deliberately risking their lives, but more of worldly advantage than can ever come to these skulkers who cling to the shelter of England's guns and weep while they wait for men to die that they may rush up to the British treasury with their claims. If the exhibition these refugees are making in Cape Town were as Important as it is conspicuous, one would think the Englishmen In charge here would drop the contest where It lsi and go home in disgust. But it is only a phase of a side issue, quite apart from the principle at stake. SENT ON FOOL'S ERRAND. Similarity of Names Causes an Awk ward Complication. "The strangest thing that ever happened to me," said the old operator, who was in a. reminiscent mood, to a Detroit Free Press reporter, "occurred a good many years ago, when I was a youngs man hold ing down a night office in a little town in the West. I was half asleep one n.'ght when I was called to tne key to receive a rush message. ""I took it off the wire with out realizing what It meant, as a man will do at times when half asleep. But when I glanced at what I had put down I saw that It read: 'If you wish to see your brother alive you will have to come Imme diately.' The message came from San Francisco, and was addressed to an old man who lived across the street from the station, so I put on my hat and went over and delivered It, seeing that it was impor tant that he should have it at once. "The old man caught the train that left at midnight, and while he was buying his ticket he told me that the message re ferred to his brother who had left home 20 years before, and from whom he had heard nothing during all that time. "The next night a party called and asked if there were any messages for him, giving the same name as the old man who had left the night before. He must have noticed that I looked at him rather blank ly, for ho went on to explain that he had a brother in California who was sick, and that he was anxious to hear from him. "Well, It turned out that the message that I had received the night before was intended for him. He was a stranger In the town, and chanced to bear the same name as the old man whom I had sent on a wild goose chase across the conti nent. Fortunately for me, I was trans ferred to another town before the old man got back. That is all there is to the story, except that It Is true." a t SPRING'S HARBINGERS. Sweet little golden-faced buttercups. Rearing your dear, tiny heads Up to the sunlight of heaven Out from, earth's damp, mouldy beds; Thrilling our hearts with your beauty, Bringing us glad news of Spring, Coming with sweet perfume laden. Joy to us mortals you bring. Lifting your bright little faces Up through the grass brown and sere. Making glad all the waste places. Casting your scent far and near; Asking not beautiful gardens. Nor grass plots in city or town; Content to adorn your station. With never a murmur or frown; Teaching us all to be happy, "Whatever the futurenay mask;. Finding sweet pleasure in duty; Though lowly or humble the task. Walla. Walla. Mrs. F. S. McMahon. Tis, Indeedl "You say you admire Ibsen?" "Yes, sir," said the young man who had Just hustled Into a modern .publishing house. "But you said only the other day that his writings were" "Oh, never mind about his writings. 1 am tu'Mng about lbs himself. And I think now, as I thought then, that any manwho can get such stuff as that printed must know human nature. The way he hvnnotlzes the Dublisher is Romcthinir jjstar tuns'. wasningto? atar. TO MAKE SONGS POPULAR WILY ARTS OF THE PUBLISHERS OB" SUCCESSFUL MELODD3S. Good Will of Vaude-viUe Players Ea- arexly Sought to Render Their Wares Better Knows. Now and then say twice or thrlco a year some music publisher, more shrewd or more fortunate than his fellows, puts forth a song or an Instrumental compo sition which makes what is known as a "hit." You hear it played, sung, hummed or whistled everywhere; you find yourself unable to get rid of its haunting melody. It worries you while at work, annoys you during your hours of recreation, and even dlsturbs'your rest. In time you come to probe for the cause of your own mental distraction and of the furore which the public is making. The very triviality of the piece amazes you. You cannot understand how such a thing ever found its way Into print, much less Into the hearts and throats of the million. The only one who does understand is the publisher himself. It is his business to "pick winners," and 99 out of 100 times he will tell you he was guided in his choice of this particular one by his own sagacity. And 99 times out of the 99 he will not be telling the truth. There Is scarcely, says the Chicago Times-Herald, In an article on this sub ject, a very popular song which was ac cepted before It had been carted about by Its author or composer to nearly every denizen of the popular music publishers' quarter, in New York City, now almost entirely bounded by Twenty-seventh and Twenty-ninth streets and Fifth and Sixth avenues. Many a publisher todav be moans his fate because he let slip tho opportunity to secure this or that ditty or other composition, which, in the hands of one of his competitors, has become an emphatic hit. Courts Vaudeville People. There are various ways In which a good thing may be helped to make a hit. the principal medium being that of the stage. For this reason the shrewd publisher en deavors to keep very close to the vaude ville people. He advertises in theatrical papers, asking them to call at his place, making them presents of stock that does not sell well and keeping a piano-player to play their accompaniments when they call, and even to teach new songs to them. This piano-player man or woman must be able to play readily at sight, to trans pose music Into any key, to "vamp" ac companiments by ear, to Improvise a bass with the left hand, while playing melody from a first violin score with the right; to arrange music for piano, to write or chestral scores, and to commit to paper melodies hummed by the "composers" who visit the place with wares to sell. For very few of the most successful orig inators of popular song melodies In this country are capable of writing them down. Of course, when a performer of any merit agrees to sing a song, tho pub lisher can do no less than furnish him or her with an orchestration arranged in the key best suited to the singer's voice. To prepare this 13 usually the duty of the "piano-player." Most publishers keep printed orchestrations of their principal songs always "on tap." to be had for tho asking, but others particularly those who have "struck a hit" and know It demand a small sum for a printed or hektographed orchestral score. Again, not every pub lisher will permit every applicant to sing his newest publication, preferring to with hold them from the rank and file of per formers until the "topilners." as the lead ing lights of vaudeville are called, have had the "first crack" at them. Inducements to "Topllners." Special Inducements are frequently mado to these "topllners" to accept this proud distinction. Among these are floral horse shoes and etceteras to be passed over the footlights, at bo many performances dur ing an engagement; the furnishing grat's of a boy to sing the crous of the r ng from tho theater gallery, a glittering new stage costume, or an "Illustrated song sheet." This last Is forthcoming when some coon song is to be sung. The "song sheet" is a white drop on which is painted the musical staff of five lines, and a punctured with holes representing notes which give the music of the chorus. Tho drop serves as a background for the per former who Is to sing the song. Through the holes In the canvas the heads of col ored ipen with melodious voices protrude, and they 6ing the chorus in harmony. Presents consisting of almost everythirg from new hats up to good round sums of money are often given by publishers to "topllner3J for singing some particular song. In fact, there are performers who have even been known to be regularly sal aried by certain publ.sb.ers". and one pub lisher, not so very long ago, invented a considerable sum in a burlesque production at a Broadway theater for the privilege of having one of the scenes painted to represent his place of business. After the "topliner" has thoroughly ex ploited a song the second- and third-rate singers are alloweu to take it up. The publisher also has The melody of the sorg arranged for orclu t.,a- as a waltz, polka or schottlsche, and sent or sold broadcast to musical directors, for use at theaters, balls, etc. Thus the melody Is kept con stantly dinned into the ears of the people, Tho piano organ Is the last resource. As a general thing, a song may be known as waning in popularity when it reaches this stage. COOL NERVE, THIS. Texan Rangrer Who Didn't Mind Lit. tie Things Like Bullets. A man who won a reputation for cool daring and almost eccentric fearlessness along a thousand mlle3 of the Southwest ern border died In' Texa3 a short timo ago; died, too, in bed, like a Christian. This man was A. Ii. Parrott, formerly a sergeant In McNelly's company of Texas Rangers. In 1875, when McNelly and CO of his men pursued a great band of raid ing cattle thieves to tho Rio Grande, only to find that the raiders had crossed into Mexico, it was Parrott who swam, the river while the thieves were swarming on the other side, stole a boat from under their very noses, and rowed back, the Mexicans keeping up a merry fusillade at him. One night, says the Philadelphia Post, about six months after Parrott left tho state service, he was sitting in a house in a little town in Southwest Texas, play ing chess with a friend. It was a warm night, and tho chessboard was on a table close to an open window. Parrott had the white men. His queen was In a direct line with the black king, but a black knight was between the two pieces. It was Parrott's move. Suddenly there was a sharp report outside, and a bullet whis tled in through the window, hit the black knight and burled Itself in the wall. Par rott had been bending over the board, anci the bullet was evidently Intended for hi3 head. But for a few seconds he did not stir. He saw tho black knight suddenly vanish. Then in his peculiar drawling, hesitating waylia said: "Check!" a e He Knew It. .even in trying circumstances, even when serious misfortune overtakes the youthful American, his aplomb, his conli- i dence in his own opinion, does not wholh- forsake him. Such a one was found weep ing in the street. On being asked the cause of his tears, he sobbed out, IrJ mingled alarm and indignation- "I'm losti mammy's lost me: I told the darned thin xaaao. ioso Ee."-j. F, Mulrheao.