Chapter 2

Sagasta has, as you probably remember, many kindly plans for Cuba, and had he come into power it is thought would have endeavored to give Cuba home rule.

The Queen has, however, put an end to his hopes by appointing General Azcarraga, and Sagasta must be content to wait.

In the mean while the Carlists are gathering in force, prepared to revolt as soon as Don Carlos shall bid them to. It is reported that sixty thousand well-armed men are ready to answer to his call.

Don Carlos, however, persists in awaiting the result of the Cuban war before he attempts to seize the throne. He declares that he loves his country too well to plunge it into a civil war at the moment when it is harassed by outside enemies.

The situation in Cuba continues to improve for the insurgents. They are strong, hopeful, and victorious. They have not as yet risked any great battle, but in their raids and forays against the enemy are constantly successful.

It is reported on the best authority that Gomez has crossed the Matanzas border, and is now in Havana province. It is also said that the trochas have been abandoned by the Spaniards, and the insurgents cross them at will.

The Spanish garrisons are now being withdrawn from the smaller interior towns and concentrated in the important places, principally on the seaboard.

The condition of the Spanish soldiers grows daily worse, while the rebels have become so inured to hardship that they have developed into fine, sturdy soldiers.

If Spain is not able to send strong reinforcements soon, the end of the Cuban war cannot be very far off.

General Woodford, the United States minister to Spain, will arrive in Madrid about September 1st, and it is expected that he will be presented to the Queen Regent about September 15th.

It is stated that he is to endeavor to persuade Spain to put a speedy end to the war by granting home rule to Cuba.

Mr. Fishback, who acted as Mr. Calhoun's secretary, has, it is said, been sent to Cuba on a special mission from the Government. He is to go the round of the consulates in the island with Consul-General Lee, and obtain an idea of the true conditions in Cuba, and report the result of his observations to the President.

* * * * *

The new tariff law has now been in effect for some weeks, and every day there are fresh accounts of the woes of the incoming travellers from Europe.

The zeal of the Custom-House officers in performing their duty is only equalled by the efforts of the passengers in avoiding theirs. Every ship-load that arrives affords infinite sport for the unconcerned onlooker.

Last week a French family, consisting of a mother and two sons, arrived.

When asked if they had any dutiable articles, they declared that they had brought nothing with them that ought to pay duty. As they had twenty pieces of baggage with them, the officials refused to believe that they had nothing on which duty should be levied.

The two sons were very elegant and extremely polite French gentlemen. They courteously handed their keys to the inspectors, and turned around to converse with some equally elegant young ladies who had come to meet their party.

Their pleasant conversation was roughly interrupted by the inspectors.

Only six of the twenty pieces of baggage were trunks; the rest proved to be packing-cases.

"They've got to be opened," said the heated inspectors.

"Certainly. You have our permission to open them," said the polite young Frenchmen.

"What!" roared the inspectors, "Open them! We are not carpenters! Open them yourselves!"

There and then these well-dressed, well-mannered young men had to set to work to pry open their own packing-cases.

By this time their suavity had so exasperated the officials, who are not accustomed to politeness and pleasant words from incoming passengers, that they decided that the young Frenchmen must have a reason for their good manners, and be in fact dangerous smugglers.

As one of the young men bent over a packing-case it was noticed that his coat-pockets bulged suspiciously. Before he could offer a protest he and his mother and brother were hurried away to the offices and searched.

In spite of their best endeavors the inspectors were unable to find anything dutiable in the belongings of this charming family, and finally the young Frenchmen were permitted to go on their way with their mother and their belongings. It would have been a little interesting to have obtained from them their first impressions of America.

The officials were, however, so angry that these good people had not turned out to be smugglers, that they gave the next few passengers who fell into their hands a very unhappy time.

One man who had bought a two-dollar doll for his little girl was obliged to pay $1.50 as duty on it. Another who had spent $200 on new gowns for his wife had to pay another $126 before he was able to take them to her.

One father was loud in his protests because he was taxed for the dresses his daughters were wearing, and which he declared had been used by them for a year and a half.

Nobody escaped on that unlucky day, and from eighty passengers about $5,000 was collected. If this keeps up, our treasury will soon be overflowing.

So annoying has the Dingley Bill made matters for travellers that a consultation has been held by the customs officials, to see whether it is not possible to make things a little easier for them.

The bill was aimed at importers, or people who buy and sell goods manufactured in foreign countries. It was not intended to harass the lives out of tourists who have merely purchased a few pretty things while they have been abroad.

It would of course be unjust to allow these said pretty things to be brought into the country free of duty, lest unscrupulous persons should take advantage of the Government's kindness to avoid paying duty on articles they intended to sell.

The inspectors have, however, felt that it is not right to tax wearing apparel that has evidently been bought for the traveller's own use, and has been worn.

The result of the conference of the Custom-House officials has been a petition to the Secretary of the Treasury, asking him to allow the Collector of the port of New York so to interpret the new law that innocent travellers may not be taxed as if they were importers trying to smuggle in goods.

* * * * *

The great coal strike still remains unsettled.

It was hoped that it would be brought to a close this week, as both the miners and the owners had agreed to meet and discuss the matter, to see if some understanding could not be reached.

The meeting has taken place, but unfortunately the two parties are as far apart as ever.

The idea of the conference was to arrange that the dispute might he arbitrated.

As soon as the meeting was called to order, the miners offered to return to work if they were paid at the rate of sixty-nine cents for each ton of coal mined, with the understanding that they would accept a reduction if the arbitrators found that such payment was higher than the owners could afford.

The owners refused this offer, and instead proposed that the miners should go to work at fifty-four cents per ton, and that the arbitrators should then decide upon a fair rate of payment. If it proved to be higher than fifty-four cents, the owners would then make up the difference to the men.

This offer being refused, the owners said they would pay sixty-one cents, and make up the difference if the arbitration went against them.

The miners, however, refused to listen to these proposals, and the conference broke up.

Both miners and owners declare that there is no present prospect of reaching an understanding, and that there is nothing for it but to fight the battle to its end.

The owners intend to try to open the mines with non-union men. The miners are preparing to prevent these men from going into the mines.

* * * * *

There has been great excitement during the past few days over the sudden rise of the wheat market.

Nearly all of the great countries of the world, with the exception of the United States, have had poor wheat crops this year. Our crop has been considerably larger than any we have had for several years past. People cannot do without bread, and in consequence of this failure of their crops, other countries have had to come to us and buy. They have of course had to pay whatever price we asked, and as a natural consequence the price of wheat has gone up enormously.

All the people who were clever enough to foresee this demand from abroad, and buy up the wheat before the orders came in, have made fortunes during the past few days. They refused to sell their grain until its price had gone up to nearly double what they had paid for it, and are now smiling and happy, and thinking that prosperity has come at last.

Though a little flurry in the price of wheat cannot of itself make prosperity, the demands on our carrying trade for the shipment of the grain to foreign countries has brought a great deal of business to our shores. It is stated that the piers around New York present a more busy scene than has been witnessed since the dull times began.

Grain elevators are in constant use loading the ships, and so great is the demand that the little floating elevators are getting a large share of the business.

Ships are being loaded for France, the Argentine Republic, South Africa, Portugal, and many other foreign countries.

Three million bushels of wheat were sent out of the country during the past week.

* * * * *

You will be interested to hear of the capture of Drunami, the king of Benin, who has been wandering in the African forests since the destruction of Benin City, by the expedition sent out from England last February to punish him for the murder of the English travellers. (See page 344.)

Drunami finally returned to Benin, and surrendered to the British authorities.

The soldiers who were guarding the city one day caught sight of a large body of natives approaching the walls.

Ahead of the main body ran a messenger carrying a white flag, to show that their mission was one of peace. He was closely followed by Drunami, ten of his principal chiefs, and eight hundred unarmed warriors.

The English soldiers were called out, and the King was allowed to enter the city.

He stated that he had come to make submission to the British Queen or her representative, and begged that in consideration for his rank he might be allowed to make his submission in private.

When this message was brought to the Resident, as the English governor is called, he refused to grant the request.

He said that Drunami's rebellion against the Queen had been public, and therefore his submission must be public also.

The King of Benin thereupon held a council with his chiefs, who after much arguing decided that it was best to obey the wishes of the Resident, and make public submission.

Word of his intention was accordingly sent to the Resident, who thereupon repaired to the Council House, and, taking his position on its steps, waited the arrival of the penitent King.

Drunami, as he advanced to meet him, presented a very strange appearance. From head to foot his black skin was covered with coral ornaments. On his arms and ankles were numberless bangles, those on his arms being so many and so heavy that he could not raise his arms, but had to have them supported by his followers.

He had by this time added a band of music to his train, and to the mournful music which they made on their reed instruments the King and his chiefs marched in front of the Council House, and in the presence of the soldiers whom the Resident had ordered to assemble, publicly tendered his submission to the Queen of England.

This act was accomplished by bowing very low before the Resident, and then kneeling on the ground and rubbing his forehead three times in the dust.

The ten chiefs repeated the ceremony after their King; and thus having signified their regret for their evil deeds, and their intention to be faithful and obedient in future, the King and his followers were allowed to take their way back to the palace in Benin.

* * * * *

England seems to have taken to heart the conduct of the Irish people during the recent jubilee, and to be endeavoring to make peace with the denizens of the Emerald Isle.

There have been many complaints that the royal family never visited Ireland, and that the money and trade that a royal pageant always brings with it have been purposely withheld from the land of St. Patrick.

There is a good deal of justice in this complaint. The Queen, who goes so often to Scotland, has not set foot in Ireland since 1861, nor has the Prince of Wales since 1871. At the same time Ireland has been in such an unsettled state that it has not seemed a very safe country in which to trust the precious life of a sovereign.

Now, however, the Queen has sent the Duke and Duchess of York to Dublin to open the exhibition of Irish industries in that city.

The Duke of York is the Queen's grandson, the eldest living son of the Prince of Wales. He is the heir to the throne, and will be the King of Great Britain and Ireland if he survives his grandmother and father.

The Queen has therefore entrusted one of the most precious members of her family to the keeping of the Irish, and the importance of this act may go a long way toward making peace with Ireland.

The wife of the Duke of York is the daughter of one of the most popular of the English princesses, and is said to have inherited all her mother's amiability and charm of manner.

Entertainments and fetes have been given the young couple, and it is rumored that the Queen is about to purchase for them the beautiful "Muckross" estate near Killarney.

If this is done, her Majesty will probably require the young people to spend a good deal of their time in Ireland.

The Irish themselves have not been very friendly to the young Prince. They have indeed rather resented this attempt to gain their friendship.

The entertainments that have been given have been by the government officials, the Irish themselves carefully abstaining from any signs of satisfaction at the visit.

It has been conveyed to the Prince, however, that the Irish as a nation are quite willing to be friendly with him after he has proved himself worthy of their friendship.

* * * * *

France is very proud and happy over the visit of her President, Monsieur Faure, to the Czar of Russia.

Last October the Czar visited Paris, and during his stay it was openly hinted that an alliance between Russia and France had been formed which was to be of great benefit to both countries.

The return visit of Monsieur Faure to Russia is supposed to be for the sake of finally cementing the new alliance.

The Russians are making his trip delightful to him in their own charmingly hospitable way, and from general appearances it would seem that M. Faure's visit is purely one of pleasure. Diplomatists, however, declare that the outcome of M. Faure's visit will be a new arrangement of the European alliances, which will leave Great Britain out in the cold, and lessen her influence in European politics.

* * * * *

Prof. David Starr Jordan has written a letter from the seal islands which fully confirms the worst fears about the decrease of the seal herd.

He says that if the sealing is carried on in its present fashion the seals will disappear in the Bering Sea in a very short while, and that even with the greatest care the herd will not be up to its full strength for a good many years.

Not only are there fewer mother seals than formerly, but the killing of the young pups has made such a difference in the herd that there are very few young braves growing up. This year there seems to be only old men and mother seals, and hardly any young families at all.

* * * * *

This Bering Sea dispute has been very long in settlement and seems to be as far from a decision as ever. There is much difference of opinion on the subject, and of course there is more than one way of looking at it; and yet it would seem as though some agreement ought to be reached that would prevent the destruction of the seals.

Doubtless, after much diplomatic delay, dispute, and talk, the matter will be settled, and we will hope that this may be accomplished before it is too late to save the seals from dying out.

G.H. ROSENFELD.

* * * * *

THE GREAT ROUND WORLD AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED ON IT.

(Continued from page 1234.)

And so, next to the dwellings for life, they built dwellings for death--built them larger and stronger, too, since so many graves are left in excellent preservation, while no houses at all have survived to satisfy our curiosity. A universally favorite form of grave is the so-called "mound" (known in England as "barrow"). These mound-tombs, to judge from what is found in them, were constructed to hold the remains of the wealthy and powerful among the people, often of their kings. They differ greatly in size and richness, but all are alike in this: that the place for the body or bodies is dug more or less deep in the ground, then closed tight with stones or slabs and hard-stamped soil, above which is raised an earthen mound, on which the grass grows--hence the name.

The "mound-builders" have been busy all over the world. There is no flat country on any part of the earth where these strange monuments have not been found, singly or in groups, and it taxes at times a sharp eye to know them from the natural grass-grown knolls or hillocks on a so-called rolling plain, for which, indeed, they were taken until some accident made known what they really were.

Let us look at the interior of one of the most royal among these palaces of death--or, rather, in the builders' minds, vestibules of a renewed life.

In the middle--or toward one end--of a large, rather low chamber, flagged and cased with stone masonry, lies the chieftain's skeleton, with golden armlets and necklet, possibly a golden band encircling the skull, and some choice weapons by his side, within reach of the hand. Not infrequently tatters of some tissue show where the mantle was folded around the form; but that falls to dust at the lightest touch, and, indeed, at a longer contact with air, as do sometimes the bones themselves. A smaller skeleton--a woman's--likewise adorned, shares the honors of the gloomy abode. It is the wife, or perchance the favorite wife, polygamy (the custom of having many wives) having long been universal. In a circle around the two principal figures, but at a respectful distance, indicating their subordinate station, are disposed other skeletons, unclothed and unadorned, evidently slaves, probably favorite attendants. Not infrequently a horse is found in a corner--the chief's own charger; and even sometimes a dog at the master's feet. Every skull, of man, woman, or animal, shows the heavy single blow which severed life. Not without due state and seemly retinue shall the hero enter on the new life which awaits him; his own best-loved companion shall minister to him; his own tried servants shall follow him as of yore; the steed which bore him safely out of many a battle, the hound which shared with him the joys of many a glorious chase, shall bear him into the fray with new and unknown foes, shall hunt down with him the game that roams the forests of the Unknown Land. As the way thither may be very long, the travellers shall not go unprovided. So around the wall are ranged dishes, platters, bowls--each containing dried-up food, various kinds of grains; also jars and tall vessels with handles, which evidently had held liquids. It is easy to see that the choicest pieces of fine and artistically ornamented pottery have been selected from the household stores. In mounds of the later periods some of the dishes and bowls are of bronze, even of gold and silver, and show considerable beauty of form and workmanship; but the jars are invariably of earthenware, as water and wine keep better in such than in metal.

We must not forget that, among the countless mounds which have been opened, only a very few are like that we just looked into. The general run are much plainer, and the majority contain only one silent inmate. It was not every one could afford the luxury of a wholesale slaughter in his household. The chambers, too, are very different in size and construction, and the furnishings vary quite as much in richness and beauty.

Putting away the dead in mound-graves, besides being a universal custom, was one which endured through a long series of centuries, since their contents illustrate for us the Age of Bronze through all its gradations and a goodly portion of the Age of Iron--_i.e._, the beginnings of the age in which we live ourselves.

To decide which mound belongs to a later and which to an earlier period is easy, from the variety and quality of the articles, which bear witness to the degree of culture of the builders, though it is of course difficult even to give a guess in figures at just _how_ long ago, at least, the earlier mounds were built.

These are all times which knew not of writing. Therefore we have no history of them; for history is made up of two elements: things that happen, and writers who record them. So when we speak of "historic times," we mean the times since writing came into general use. All that went before we class as "prehistoric" times, _i.e._, times of which we can have no history. It is clear, then, that if, of two countries, one knows writing and uses it to register what happens to it, while the other does not, the former will be living in historic, the latter in prehistoric times.

More than that: there are plenty of peoples now living in--for them--prehistoric times. Take all the savage tribes still scattered over land and sea in many parts of the world. Just as there are enough South Sea Islanders for whom the Age of Stone is not over yet, since they still use flint, bone, and fishbone for their tools and weapons, and what metal they have comes to them through barter from Europeans or Americans. Captain Cook--or some other noted voyager and discoverer--received as a present from a South Sea chieftain a flint axe, beautifully shaped and polished like a mirror. The chief told his white friend it had taken _fifty years_ to produce that polish, his grandfather, his father, and himself having worked on it at odd moments of leisure!

And yet, when we speak of "historic" and "prehistoric" times, we never think of all these races; they do not count among the so-called "culture-races," because they have produced no civilization of their own, have done nothing to advance the work of the world, added nothing to its treasury; in short, they have not helped to make history.

Just one word more about these prehistoric ages and the memorials they have left of themselves. No matter how various the stages of human culture which these latter betray, one feature is common to all, back to the most primitive feasting-places of the cave-dwellers; it is--the knowledge and use of fire. Yet there most certainly was a time when men had not yet learned to produce and to handle this marvellous force of nature, their most helpful friend and most destructive foe. Can we picture to ourselves _how_ miserable and degraded, _how_ distressingly like that of other forest animals must have then been the condition of those who yet were the fathers of the coming human race? Hardly. Our imagination itself stands still, helpless and puzzled, before a state of things so remote, so utterly beyond our power to realize and compare.

INVENTION AND DISCOVERY.

COAT HANGER.--An inventor in Boston has just perfected an excellent coat-hanger.