Newspaper Page Text
X
I
•'
Spring Place Jimplecute.
CARTER & HEARTSELL, Ppoprietors.
“TELL THE TRUTH,”
One Dollar a Year.
VOLUME XI.
SPRING PLACE, G-At, THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 1891.
NO. 19.
CHINA AND JAPAN.
Kuba contain much land suitable for
toliacco growing. Rattan, gutta pur-
cha, beeswax, and timber also abound.
SACRIFICE
TO THE
HEAVEN.
TEMPLE OF
Special New* Prom Oriental Land*.
An Arabian Monte tlristo Depart*
Prom Singapore. Interesting Marriage
Statistic* Prom Japan.—Sir P.&wln
Arnold'* Farewell Dinner at Toklo.
Special tomspondenez.
San Fraksisco.—(By Pacific Mail from
Yokohama and Hong Kong.) His Im
perial Majesty, the Emperor of China,
has offered his annua) sacrifice to the
Temple of Heaven. Three days hefore
the event an Imperial Edict was pro
mui gated appointing Princes and Min
isters to participate in the sacrifice,
and to fast. The Emperor started
from the Chung-tsen palace, iu the
palace-gardens, and stepped into his
chair which was carried by sixteen
gu&idsmen dressed in red satin uni
forms. Passing through the Teh-
chon, Si-yeun, Si-wha and Pi-ho gates
the Imperial procession arrived at
Wu-men (the main gate). Here a
crowd of Princes and Ministers in. full
court costumes, who were not to ac
company the Emperor, knelt to receive
him ; and afteiwards the procession
passed on to the Temple of Heaven.
First came a guard of soldiers armed
with swords aud whips, and then the
bannermen. Behind these rode the
captain and officers of the Imperial
Guard to the number of two hundred
or more. Immediately following was
an enormous elephant carrying the
sacred vase, surrounded by spear-meu,
bow-men and swordsmen. Three
large banners with a troop of cavalry
equipped with swords, bows and
arrows appeared next, and then walk
ing in measured space were eight
splendid and fine looking horses deck
ed with gold saddles, jade stirrups,
and yellow silken reins, a groom hold
ing each by the bridle. Following
these were golden incense hurners
smoking with fragrance. The Imper
ial chair was then seen preceeded by a
large umbrella of yellow satin em
broidered with nine dragons sporting
A curious phenomenon occurred
New Zealand recently. During a heavy
squall there fell a shower of small red
worms of bright color, varying iu size
from an inch to an inch and a-lialf in
length. Vessels, such as milk dishes,
were filled to a depth of from one to
three inches, and the worms lay
nearly an inch thick upon the grnss
They were, however, soon dried up by
the heat of tne suu.
There is a big lake in the Lichuen
district of Foochow, China, abou
thirty li iu circumference. During
winter the farmers, by the aid of rude
and primitive machinery, pump out
its water to irrigate their fields. Late
ly some fishermen, when the water
was rather low, were fishing on the
lake and saw through the clear water
a huge animal resembling an ox in
every particular, except that the head
had no horns. The news of the dis
covery of this strange beast caused
great commotion, and with much
difficulty and excitement it was finally
caught. Its hair, or rather bristles
were hard aud thick, and it weighed
several hundred cattieH. The most
learned of the village patriarchs failed
to designate the animal by its proper
name.
in the clouds, the umbrella having a
curved handle. On each side of the
chair several Ministers wearing but
tons of precious stones, embroidered
garments, and swords, rode on horse
back. The streets were lined with
troops. Five camps of soldiers, com
prising Bannermen, Mongols, and
Chinese were stationed about the
Temple of Heaven. When the Em
peror arrived he entered the palace oi
Fasting, changed his dress and dined
and passed the night. At day-break
the next morning, the Emperor rode
in an uncovered chair carried by eight
men to the sacrificial grounds. After
the usual ceremonies he offered incense
at the Palace of Ihe Seasons. Then he
put on the dragon robe and made the
return journey. He entered the Tsing-
yang gate, burnt incense to the God
of War, and reached the Palace gar
dens by way of Ta-obing gate v
then offered congratulations to
Empress Dowager.
He
the
It is reported of Sir Edwin Arnold
that at a dinner at the Rokumeikan
in Tokio, before his departure for Eng
land, ho adjured the Japanese not to
go seeking after other religions, as in
Buddhism they had a very good one
of their own.
other Englishman has become a Japa
nese subject and a raeuitx-r of his wife’s
household. An application to marry an
American has been made by a Japanese
woman, but as yet permission has not
been granted. Two women have asked
for permission to marry Chinamen, but
as yet have not received permission.
Another request of the same kind was
made by a Japanese woman, but was
sulisequently withdrawn.
GERMAN trade treaties
Syed Mohamed Alsagoff. one of the
best known Asiatic merchants in Sing
apore left, that colony in the steamer
Poseidon recently for his home in
Arabia. The Poseiilon is a steamer
with magnificent passenger accomo
dation, the whole of which was taken
by Syed Mohamed for himself and Ills
household, 130 souls in all. The price
he paid for passage from Singapore to
Jeddah was $8,000. Syed Alsagoff
leives Singapore in the belief that he
has been harshly used by the English
Government, and by English opinion
Whether that view be just or not it
will doubtless spread in Arabia.
In the suburbs of the Singwei dis
trict in Kuangtung, China; a child
was born who could call “Papa” and
“Mama” as soon as he saw light. The
villagers considered anything oot of
the common would bode no good to
the family and advised the parents
to do away with the child. The bus
hand and wife were ignorant and
hardhearted enough to follow the
suggestion.
Through carelessness in keeping poison
in a house has resulted a sad case in a
shoemaker’s shop in Hong Kong, The
shop was invaded with rats; consequent
ly the boss ordered the little cook, a boy
of 14 years of age, to buy some poison
which is made expressly to destroy rats,
and much resembles common pepper,
Somehow or other the little packet of
poison got among other seasoning stuffs
and the mischievous little cook used it
as pepper, with the result that six men
were poisoned, three of whom died im
mediately, the rest narrowly escaping a
similar fate.
A youth coming to Shanghai to learn
the trade in a fancy goods store was at
tracted liy some gambling that was go
ing on in the neighboring shop. Two
lays later he borrowed one thousand
cash from a friend, entered into the
game and lost every cent. He knew he
could not pay, and hanged himself dur-
ng the night.
A returned traveler from Kuangsi
Province .in Northern China, tells of a
strange fish found in the Kweiling river
of that province. The fish is black in
color, has four feet and walks like a
quadruped. The natives call it a dog
fish from its similarity to that animal.
When quiet reigns late at night, the fish
crawls out of water and climbs to the
top of trees in search of birds and eggs
which seem to be its favorite food. It is
said that the fish also inhales the rays of
the moon and regulates and trains its
breathing powers so that its agility and
cunning excel anything in the air, or
earth, or in water. To capture it, is
necessary to koep very quiet, spread a
net under the tree up which the fish has
climbed and when it descends fold over
the net; otherwise no bullet or arrow or
line and hook will take it v Asthe natives
believe it an infalliable cure in consump
tion or other diseases of general debility,
it is much sought for. A certain Can
ton merchant bought a few to present to
lusfriends; while the servant was carry
ing them he accidently fell and had his
finger badly bitten. A short time after
wards the servant stole from his master
and ran away. Then the natives claim
the fish possessed a prophetic knowledge
of coming events and gave the master
warning by biting the servant! Josh.
DULL FOR THE PRINCE.
Bagar Api Api, a coast town In Slak-
furnishes a remarkable instance of
Chinese enterprise and push. A few
years ago, that place was only a col
lectioa of miserable huts inhabited by
a scanty Malay population with a
sprinkling of Chinese. These Chinese
settlers seeing the commercial advan
tage of Bagan migrated to it in greater
numbers and soon ousted the Malay
dwellers. In 1887, they so prospered
that the Government set to work
making roads and the huts made room
for neater dwellings. A police force,
including a body of Sikhs, keep order,
but the three thousand Chinese inhab
itants of the town seldom raise any
disturbance, They are Hokiens,
mostly, and manage to keep the other
tribes under control by force of num
bers. These people gain 'a living by
catehing and salting fish 'and shrimps
to admit of which their fishing craft
musters 800 vessels. The fish caught
and salted finds its way to Singapore
and sometimes to Penang. The ex
tent of the business brings the salt re
quired for the trade to 20,000 piculs a
year. Two rival steamers carry on
sommunication with Singapore. The
Chinese who have thus been the
making of Bagan contribute 44,000
guilders to the Excise revenue a year.
The place is healthy in spite of the
fishy smell prevalent owing to strong
sea breezes. The neighboring districts
About eighteen miles from Hugfi, In
dia, there is a municipality which, how
ever it may perform its work, is certain
ly recruited in a novel fashion. It ap
pears that an election is now on the
boards and everyone in the locality, from
the chairman down to the lamplighter,is
in a fever-heat excitement. One of the
rival parties has hit upon a device for
electioneering purposes which has the
merit of novelty, to say the least. The
candidate mounts upon a traveling plat
form and after he has delivered a forcible
harangue the assembled crowd fall upon
their knees hefore an idol of Siva and
invoke her aid in purging out of the
board certain evil commissioners! This
would prove effective in England. Im
agine the chairman of a Birmingham
meeting exclaiming: “The Hon’ble
Joseph Chamberlain will now lead us
in prayer for the speedy removal of the
Parnelite party.”
The board of admiralty has purchased
a foreign sleigh for the emperor of
China. The body consists of four
dragons with scales and claws complete,
The four tails are curled up, forming the
back of the seat. The top of the seat is
between the two dragons’ heads. The
whole sleigh is covered over with gild
ing and its cost is said to be several
thousands of taels, It will be transport
ed to the Palace gar4ens for the use of
His Imperial Majesty.
Tli f 1 PrcHem London Niimon fiieeMllngly
Slow.
London, May 20.—The present Lou-
don season of social, dramatic and mu
sical entertainments has been the dull
est on record, in spite of the mahy so-
called attractions whieb have been pre
sented. This dullness may in the main
be attributed to the financial depres
sion. the ravages 'of influenza, /.ie
many deaths resulting from that/lis
ease and the cold weather, whir/i has
prevailed at this usually balmy period
of the vear.
The uealth of the Prince of Wales
causes grave anxiety to his family and
intimate friends. The malady from
which the prince suffered so severely
in 1890 has reappeared in a different
quarter and this fact is looked upon as
one of great significance, in spite of
his precarious state of health the prince
continues his visits to the theatres and
attends numerous balls and other en
tertainments, hut the heir apparent is
carefully guarded while thus enjoying
himself and every care is taken to pro
vent him from suffering too much fa
tigue,
GRANDFATHER WALES
On Saturday last the prince visited
the horse show at the Royal Agricult
ural Hall, Islington, accompanied by
two of his daughters. The same day
the aeeouehment of his eldest daugh
ter, the Duchess of Fife, was announced
and consequently the prince and his
daughters, upon entering the royal
box, received a tumultuous warm
greeting from, the audience assembled
in the agricultural hall. After the first
cheers had subsided a voice in the gal
lery was heard to yell: “Three cheers
for grandfather Wales.” Renewed
bursts of welcoming cheers followed
this remark, which the prince laugh
ingly acknowledged by rising and
bowing to the cheering people.
Although the Prince of Wales has
been subpoenaed on behalf of the
plaintiff In ihe Sir William Gordon
Gumming case, otherwise the “Bacca
rat scandal,” he will not appear in the
witness box, as his evidence is not re
quired. Great efforts are still being
made on all sides to obtain seats at the
trial of this much-talked-of suit, but
every seat has been already allotted.
Thousands who expected to be present
will be doomed to disappointment.
The trial commences Monday, June 1.
The number of cases of application
for marriage from foreigners and Japa
nese last year amounted to eight. Di
vided according to nationality they were
as follows: One Englishman and one
Swiss married Japanese women. An
other Englishman has received consent
to marry a Japanese woman, butthe
called Bangka, Tanaa Putefe, and mairiage has not been effected. An. was not a Bostonian, it is true.
THE UPPERMOST SUBJECT IN THE
PUBLIC MIND.
Flipping a penny for $1,000 a flip is
pretty steep gambling for Boston town.
After a New Bedford man had lost $15,
000 by this flippancy he staked $10,000
against his opponent’s winnings, and his
adversary won again. Twenty-fiye
thousand dollars on the toss of a cent is
worse than baccarat. To think of such
a thing in the gelid, thoughtful atmos-
Nearly all the Knmipeitn;Pnwer« Will Join
In—The Spanish-Amerlcan Convention.
Tlie Czar’* Liking for France.
Berlin. May 29.—The attentiomof the
foreign office is absorbed in the commer
cial treaty negotiations, some of the re
sults of which will have direct bearing
on Germany’s relations with the United
States. The arrangements with Italy,
Switzerland and Roumania are progress
ing toward an entente. Belgium is also
negotiating with Germany, but that
country is less likely than the others to
be drawn within the customs bound.
Russia’s overtures for a reduction of
the government corn tariff in exchange
for a lessened tariff on German manufac
turers haye been received in a friendly
spirit here, but the opposition of Austria
is expected to bar the war to a definite
arrangement. Austria tried to secure a
reduction of the German grain tariff in
favor of herself exclusively. She failed
in this however, and now raises the
points of the German-Austrian treaty as
precluding a differential treatment for
Russian imports into Germany, Servia
has offered to join the commercial alli
ance on the basis of free entry of her
leading products, swine and cattle, into
Germany, Austria and Hungary. As the
Servian exports cross the Austrian terri
tory in order to reach Germany,the Ber
lin government wants the Austrian
authorities to guarrantee against danger
of infection from Servian swine. The
admission of Servian pork into Germany
would be in consistent with prohibition
against American pork which is gener
ally acknowledged to be safer and of
superior quality.
A FORMIDABLE COALITION.
A general view of the negotiations
now really gives reason to expect a for
midable central European customs coa
lition, including Germany, Austria,
Hungary, Italy, Switzerly-Roumania
and Servia, while Belgium, Russia and
Spain may have partial reciprocity with
the general European band.
The effects of the American conven
tion with Spain has begun to excite pres3
comments. The Hamburg pajiers de
nounce the covention as the permanent
blocking out of German trade with the
Antilles. They contend that the Ger-
man-Hpanish treaty of July, 1888, af
fords a basis for the foreign office to
interfere. Until the pending European
treaties seem to be secure no pressure
upon Spain will probably be tried. As
soon as these are arranged, the special
privileges, which the convention ac
cords to America, will be contested by
the combined powers.
The situation of France, which coun
try is menaced with commercial isola
tion, dictates the government’s policy of
adhesion to a moderate tariff admitting
of reciprocity treaties. As far as Ger
many is concerned, tho French govern
ment appears to rely upon the mainten
ance of the Frankfort treaty as insuring
France, “the most favored nation” treat
ment, but among the critical political
consequences arising from Germany’s
commercial alliances a denunciation
of the Frankfort treaty is now freely
discussed in official circles.
Schouvaloff, German ambassador to
Russia, jirho is now in St, Petersburg,
supports Girs, the Russian prime minis
ter, in proposing a commercial entente
with Germany. Vlangali, M de Girs’
issistant in the foreign offee, who is a
strong pan-Slavist, having great influ
ence in the czar circle, uses his power to
paralyze the negotiations as tending to
weaken the alliance between France and
Russia.
SOLICITUDE FOR THE FRENCH.
A sensation has been caused by a dis
covery relating to the French exhibition
at Mobcow, which gave the czar an oc
casion to show his solicitude for the
French. To avoid wounding the feel-
ngs of the French committee, the exhi
bition which was in need of funds, the
secretary applied to the Jewish and Rus
sian capitalists, Grunwald and Poliakoff,
and got a loan on depositing 1,200,000
tickets as security. Grunwald and Pol
iakoff became involved in a quarrel
with the committee over the control of
tho entrance money of the exhibition.
The rupture led to a scandal.
The czar was incensed that the fair
should have fallen into the hands of the
detested Jews, and to-day it was an
nounced that the projected visit to Mos
cow of himself, the czarina and their
family depended npon a settlement be
tween the committee and the Jewish
loan mongers. If the matter is not
speedily settled, he will abandon his
visit in order to avoid giving offense to
France by going to Moscow without pat
ronizing the exhibition.
THE PROGRAM DROPPED.
His ire has also been increased by the
fact that during his stay in Moscow he
desired to lay the foundation stone
hibition of control association products
held in Russia. The whole program has
been dropped. The czar would now
send Grand Duke Vladimir to inaugu
rate the monument, himself remaining
n St. Petersburg. A message plainly
expressing the czar’s indignation has
been telegraphed to the Moscow author
ities stating that the original French
promoters of the show must buy out
he Jews.
The Rev. Mr. Ayres, a young Ameri
can clergyman, who has been preaching
in the English chapel here, has been the
victim of a peculiar persecution. A
young German woman took a strange
fancy to him and made it a habit to at
tend the church and gaze obtrusively in
apt attention at the* preacher. She fol
lowed him about the streets and finally
went to his rooms. She forced him to
remove from one boarding house to
mother to elude her. She threatened
to commit- suicide before his eyes unless
he listened to her suit 4 n\orican Min
ister Phelps was finally appealed to by
Mr. Ayres. Phelps communicated with
the lady’s family and it being evident
that her mind was unbalanced, she was
sent to the asylum.
phere of the Hub! The man who lost; monument to be erected in memory
THE WEATHER FOR THE PAST WEEK
WAS FAVORABLE.
GOVERNMENT FINANCES.
Secretary Foster’s .Views of the Present
Situation.
Washington, May 29.— Secretary
Foster said this morning that he an
ticipated no difficulty in meeting the
quarterly pension payments, aggrega
ting $20,000,000, which fall due June
4. The available cash balance is now
nearly $16,000,000 and will go beyond
! 126,000,000 by the early part of June
by reason of the continued excess of
receipts over expenditures.
The secretary said there would be
no necessity, so far as he could see,
for calling in any of the government
deposits held by national banks to
meet the pension obligations. This
bank fund now amounts to $24,500,
000, exclusive of the money deposited
to the credit of disbursing officers.
REFUNDING THK BONDS.
Secretary Foster said further, in re
sponse to inquiries on the subject,
that while it was not altogether set
tled, it was more than likely that the
department would give the holders of
the $50,000,000 4.) per cent, bonds out
standing an opportunity to renew
those bonds after September at re
duced rates o f interest.
The secretary said a San Francisco
banker had given the opinion that
these bonds could be floated at 11
percent, interest. He, however, did
not think such a thing feasible with
an interest rate less than 2 per cent.
It was his impression that the matter
would be settled definitely in a short
time. He said that the recent gold
shipments liad clearly established one
thing and that was that the credit of
CONDITION OF TIIE CROPS
The Wheat Region Condition Generally
Improved- Hall in Texas—Too Cool for
Cotton in Moat of the Section.
Washington, May 29.—Weather
crop bulletin: About a normal tern*
perature prevailed during the week
over all tho agricultural districts east
of the Rocky Mountains, and also on
the Pacific coast, although it was
slightly cooler than usual in the east
ern portions of the cotton region and
in the lower Missouri valley, the de
ficiency in these sections amounting
to about 30 per day. It was a cool
week in the central Rocky Mountain
and southern plateau sections, the
departure from normal temperature
ranging from 60 to 80 per day. There
was a slight excess of temperature in
the Mississippi valley and Minnesota
and the Dakotas.
The timely rains which occurred
during the week over the central
valleys have prevented the threats
ened drouth over the principal wheat
and corn States, and will doubtless
prove of great value to growing
crops. Excessive rains have occurred
from the New England States west
ward over the States of the Ohio
valley and the southern portions of
the lake region and thence further
westward to the Rocky Mountain
districts.
GENEROUS SHOWERS.
Within the greater portion of this
area the precipitation exceeded one
inch and in Kansas and portions ot
Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and Colo
rado it exceeded two inches. Exces
sive rains also occurred in the cen
tral portions of Minnesota and the
Dakotas and portions of Georgia, Al
abama aud Mississippi, while gener
ous showers occurred throughout
Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and
Southeast Missouri,
The precipitation was very light in
the South Atlantic States, and no
rain occurred on the greater portion
of the West Gulf coast and also in
Northern and Central California and
in Oregon.
Reports from the spring wheat re
gion of Minnesota and Dakota state
that the recent showers in that sec
tion have greatly improved the crops
in that section, especially late wheat,
while warmor weather and more
rain would be beneficial. The crop
conditions were also generally im
proved in the States of the Mis
souri valley and in Illinois and
Iowa, and wheat is heading in fine
condition, except in the central coun
ties of Illinois, where insects arem-
I growth.
PROSPECTS IMPROVED.
In the States of the Ohio valley and
| in the lake region crop prospects
wore greatly improved by the recent
rains, although in many sections the
rain has not been sufficient to com-
the United States was above that of
any other nation and coul<T*not be|j ur *ng grain, and the hay and oat
shaken by the severest decline. crops Will be short. Corn planting is
the situation coNSiBERKD. about completed, but the cool and
The financial situation was consid- * clou ^y weather has retarded the
ered at a meeting of the cabinet to
day, but without result, so far as
known.
Unless the secretary of the treasury
decides to continue the 4£ per cent,
bonds beyond the date of their matu
rity, September 1, next,without abate
ment of interest, it will be necessary! pletely relieve the crops from the
for him to give three months notice to 1 preyious drought conditions. The
the bond holders of his policy in re-1 frosts on the 17th caused some injury
gard to that loan. This will have to to erops and fruit in Michigan and
be done under law, either in case he j in the northern portion of Ohio, In
decides to redeem the bonds at matu
rity or in case he decides it best to ex
tend them at a reduced rate of inter
est.
A circular on this subject will be is
sued by the treasury department in a
few days. It will announce that pres
ent rate of interest on the 4.J per
cent, loan will cease on September 1,
and will probably say that the holders
of all such bonds as do not desire their
redemption at that date may secure
their continuance at the interest rate
of 2 per cent, thus allowing the own-
diana'and Illinois.
The prospects were also improved
n Tennessee and Kentucky, butthe
light rains have given only tempo
rary relief. In Tennessee rust and a
small insect is damaging wheat.
Texas and Western Arkansas report
weather favorable to cotton; plauts
small but in good condition, deep
rooted and well cultivated. Corn is
in tassle and general prospects prom
ising. Considerable injury resulted
from hail iu Texas, where these
ers the option of retaining their bonds! storms coyer an area of 25,000 acres,
at a lower rate of interest if they de-1 Some benefit resulted from the
sire to do so without placing the gov- showers in the northern portions of
eminent in the position of asking for
more time.
the Gulf States, but the drought con
tinues in the southern sections, and
the outlook is generally more unfa-
i vorable than during the previous
I week. ».
TO(* COOL FOR COTTON.
The weather continues dry in the
he father , an t oto open the first ex
rue thj
of a|
y of j i
; ex-| wii
The Hausers Oil Hatteras.
Washington, May 25.—Arrange
ments have been made by the light
house board for the survey of Dias
mond Shoal bar, off Cape Hatteras,
N. C., with a view to the selection of] South Atlantic States, and it was too
a site for a lighthouse at that point, cool for cotton, the stand of corn and
The coast survey ’steamer Blake cotton is pbor, and in some sections
will start from Hampton Roads cotton is being replanted. Light
Monday- with a party, including rains revived the crops in the north'
Capt. Recht, of the lighthouse ser- ern portions of the south Atlantic
vice, and they will be joiraed at Cape States, but the ground continues too
Hatteras by the contractors, Messrs. 1 dry.
Anderson and Barr. A caisson for
the foundation will be launched in I Butler (Pa.) Methodists can give the
about a week. The appro priation for Ehzabethport people points on boycot-
this lighthouse is $500,000. I tiD « “ their church ’
I 1
te*’
• /.
' il
I i
war
A Pasha of Three trails
with Kudyard Kipling,
Their trustees sat
up all night to keep a newly appointed
is not on it j preacher, whom they didn’t want, out
of the pulpit.
(
r
.
WPPHK
