The Topeka state journal. [volume], May 08, 1899, LAST EDITION, Page 2, Image 2

About The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980

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TOPEKA STATE JOURNAI MONDAY EVENING MAY 8, 1899.
WHITEWASH
Is Applied in Liberal Quantities
in the Report
Of the Beef Inquiry Board Sub
mitted to the President,
EXCEPT TO GEX. MILES
And to Gen. Eagan, Who Are
Mildly Censured.
The Packers Are Made to Ap
pear Immaculate.
The President Wants the
Whole Matter Dropped.
iWashington, May 8. By direction of
the president, who approves the find
ings. Acting Secretary of War Meikle
john today made public the report and
findings of the military court appointed
to Investigate the charges made by Maj.
Gen. Miles, commanding- the army, that
the beef supplied to the army during
the war with Spain was unfit for the
(use of the troops.
The most important features of the
report are: The finding that the gener
al's finding that the refrigerated beef
(was treated with chemicals was not es
tablished; that his allegations concern
ing the canned fresh or canned roast
beef were sustained as to its unsuita
toility for food as used on the transports
land as a long continued field ration;
censures of Gen. Miles for "error" in
failing to promptly notify the secretary
of war when he first formed the opinion
that the food was unfit; censure of the
commissary general (then Gen. Eagan)
for the too extensive purchase of the
canned beef as an untried ration; cen
sure of Col. Maus, of Gen. Miles' staff;
the finding that the packers were not at
fault and that the meats supplied to
the army were of the same quality as
those supplied to the trade generally,
end the recommendation that no fur
ther proceedings be taken in the prem
ises. The conclusion of the court adverse
to further proceedings and based upon
the charges is as follows:
"It has been developed in the course
lof the inquiry, as recited in this report,
that in some instances some individuals
failed to perform the full measure of
duty or to observe the proprieties which
dignify high military command; but
the court is of the opinion that the
mere statement in the official report of
facts developed meets the ends of the
discipline, and that the interests of the
eervice will be best subserved If fur
ther proceedings be not taken."
There is more or less criticism of Gen.
Miles in various parts of the report.
Probably the most direct instance is
the one that states that, beyond the
criticism of officers found elsewhere in
the report, "the court finds that against
none of the officers commanding corps,
divisions, brigades and regiments and
their staff officers should a charge of
guilty be brought.
"The court also finds that the major
general commanding the army had no
sufficient justification for alleging that
the refrigerated beef was embalmed or
was unfit for issue to troops. It also
finds that he committed an error In that,
"Slaving belief or knowledge, as claimed,
that the food was unfit, that it caused
eickness and distress, and that some of
4t was supplied under the pretense of
eiDeriment, that other beef was em
balmed, he did not immediately re
tport such knowledge or belief to the
secretary of war, to the end that proper
remedy might be promptly applied."
The censure of Col. Maus, inspector
sjeneral on Gen. Miles' staff, is based
upon his failure to call attention to
charges concerning the beef at Chicka
mauga, contained in a report of in
spection made by Dr. (or Major) Daly
on the 26th day of October last, in
jwhleh he stated his belief that the
flseef was chemically treated.
"The silence of Col. Maus," says the
; report, "on so important a matter as
the chemicalized beef reported by Maj.
3Daly, and personally known to himself,
Is most remarkable."
The remark is also made that Gen.
Miles' failure to draw special attention
to this report is "unexplained."
Commenting upon Gen. Miles testi
mony that he had first formed the
opinion last August that the refriger
ated beef had been processed, the court
remarks: "Whatever the date on
which he formed a belief, or a reasona
Ible suspicion, that the health of the
Uroops was being impaired by the use
of deleterious food, it was his bounden
duty, in the opinion of the court, in
stantly to take the most effective meas
ures within his control to ascertain the
actual fact and to correct the wrong.
If any should be found. It would have
been practicable to obtain samples of
the beef then being supplied to the
army by contractors and to have sub
mitted these samples to chemical ex
amination which would have resulted
In the detection of the presence or ab
sence of boracic or salicylic acids, or
any other chemical agent that may
lave been used as a preservative agent.
Yet no such precaution as that suggested
(was taken by the major general com
manding at that time, so far as has
teen learned by the court.
"The court finds the allegations of
the major general commanding to the
effect that the refrigerated beef sup
plied to the troops was treated with
chemical preserves have not been es
tablished. The court also finds that so
much of the allegations of the major
sjeneral commanding in respect to the
canned roast beef as relates to Its un
euitability for food, as actually used on
the transports, and as to its extensive
or long continued use as a field ration
are sustained. The evidence shows
that Col. John F. Weston, assistant
commissary general of subsistence, rec
ommended the adoption of the canned
roast beef as a component of the field
ration and to this extent he is re
sponsible." The report places the quantity of can
ned roast beef purchased for the war by
the commissary department at 6,847.174
pounds, including 350,000 pounds which
was brought from Liverpool and other
English points. This amount is charac
terized as excessive and the commis
sary general (General Eagan) is severe
ly criticised in several parts of the doc
uments on this score. One of the se
verest rebukes is as follows:
"Considering the little use that has
been made of this beef In the regular
the probability that the volunteers were
entirely ignorant of it, that its use as a
part of the field ration had never been
sanctioned by the president or secretary
of war, the court can but characterize
the action- of the commissary general
of subsistence as unwarranted and
reckless in that he ordered the purchase
of such enormous quantities of food
that was practically untried and un
known and the court so finds. The court
also finds that there Is no ground for
an imputation whatever of any other
actuating motive, on the part of the
commissary, than the earnest desire to
procure the best possible food for the
troops. The court pronounces this act
of the commissary general of subsist
ence a colossal error for which there is
no palliation."
The court finds that there was neg
lect in Cuba and to a less degree in Por
to Rico in delivering, tho refrigerated
beef.
"The court," says - the report, "does
not wish to state the case more strong
ly than to say that the finding appears
to be warranted that too much time
was consumed in distributing this per
ishable article. The fault, if any there
was, rested with the brigade and higher
commanding officers and their commis
saries and quartermasters, but the tes
timony is not so definite or specific as
to warrant the naming by the court of
any particular officer."
It says that the refrigerated beef was
at first received with great satisfaction
There is also a criticism of the delay in
unloading the refrigerating- apparatus
of Swift & Co. at Santiago. "An appeal
by the contractors' agents to General
Shatter for an order on the quarter
master to expedite the delivery from
the transport to the refrigerating plant
did not effect any result. The delay in
this matter was the cause of serious
loss.
"The court is of the opinion that the
canned roast beef was not suitable as a
travel ration on transports, considering
the absence of cooking facilities, and
the absence from that ration of fresh
vegetables and condiments. For use on
shore as a field ration, where the com
panies had their camp cooking equip
ment, and vegetables were available,
canned roast beef is suitable for issue,
say two days in ten, but not for two
days in succession. In some organiza
tions it seems to have constituted at
least one-half of the meat ration and
until after the surrender the troops had
no means of cooking other than was
practicable with the individual kit car
ried. For such extensive use, or any
use exceeding one day in five, the court
finds this beef unsuitable.
"The refrigerated beef is. In the opin
ion of the court, a suitable ration for
troops when it can be issued to them in
good condition."
As to whether anything better than
the beef was available for a ration, the
opinion is:
"First That on the transports the
reliance on canned fresh and canned
corned beef was wise, but that the can
ned fresh beef was less desirable than
the corned beef.
"Second That while bacon is not re
garded as a suitable constant food in
campaign for troops serving in the
tropics, combined with the vegetables
that were available it would have been
more suitable and fit than the unknown
and unfamiliar canned roast beef, eaten
direct from the can.
"Third That the use of refrigerated
beef on shore, after the trooos had se
cured convenient harbors and landing
facilities, was wise and desirable. That
the court believes that there was no
better food available or practicable."
The opinion is expressed that it would
have been impracticable to land beef
cattle on the hoof in Cuba, the remark
of the court on this point being: as fol
lows: "The commanding general of the ex
pedition characterizes as 'absurd' such
a proposition and many of his com
manding officers whose opinion is given
in the testimony coincided with him in
the impracticability or inexpediency of
such a project. The court concurs in
the opinion of those men whose experi
ence in active military service dated
from 1S61."
An instruction of the president to the
court was: "If the packers of the coun
try are guuty it must be known."
Replying to this direction the court
says: "The court finds that at the out
break of hostilities in April. 1898. the
packers of canned beef were engaged in
the manufacture of an article of stand
ard quality, well known to the trade
and the subsistence department, under
the name of canned roast beef. The
methods of packing then in use werethe
fame as those habitually employed in
the preparation of the meat as an arti
cle of commerce, and the court does not
find that they underwent any change
during the progress of the war. The
large purchases for the use of the mili
tary forces during the months of May
and June, 1898. were made not at the
solicitation of the packers, or in conse
quence of efforts put forth by them for
that purpose but by the order and up
on the initiative of the commissary
general of subsistence, such purchases
being made in every case by officers of
his department in the osual manner."
On another point connected with the
packers the court says: "Although the
subject of readjustment of accounts
between the United States and the con
tractors was not referred to the court,
it appears from the testimony that
whenever any cans have been found to
be defective, subsequent to their origi
nal delivery to the subsistence depart
ment, such cans have been replaced in
every instance."
Replying specifically to other ques
tions set out by the president, the court
says:
"That the canned beef was described
as 'fresh' because it was not salted, but
that the meat was not old or stale.
"That the refrigerated beef furnished
the army was not 'doctored or treated
with any agency other than cold air.'
"That the meat purchased for the
army was the meat of commerce, that
'both kinds refrigerated and canned
were such as are well known in both
hemispheres as commercial articles, of
which there is and has been very large
consumption, not only by the trade
generally, but by the United States
navy and by the armies and navies of
Europe.
"That no reports of unfitness or un
suitability of the beef sent from the
United States were forwarded to the
war department by any general officer
serving in Cuba or Porto Rico while the
field operations were in progress, nor
were any such reports received until
more than one month after hostilities
ceased.
"That, barring some defects in meth
ods of inspecting the beef on its de
livery to the subsistence department,
the deterioration of the meat in ship
ment was due to the fault of no one."
The charges of Gen. Miles', as made
In newspaper interviews, as well as
those made before the war investigat
ing commission, are referred to at
length, among them being the inter
view with the general sent out from
the New York office of the Associated
Press on January 31, in which Gen.
Miles was quoted as saying that he
had "overwhelming evidence that the
beef was treated with chemicals to pre
serve it and that he had affidavits from
men who saw the beef undergoing the
embalming process." The court notes
the denial which Gen. Miles made to
this part of the conversation as it was
printed in the New York Herald, but
prints the charge as a part of the al
legations, saying on this point:
"The testimony of both Mr. Reld and
Mr. Berry, of the New York Times,
agree in the veracity of the interview
as reported by the former, and this Is
found in the Herald clipping. The court
does not, therefore, ignore this para
graph, but treats it is a part of the
allegations which, are under Investiga
tion." Summing up the results of the inves
tigations of the chemists employed by
the court, the court says: "The con
tents of all the cases, .which, consisted
PkiilliillllllllirlllHTIHMPrT'W
X X I IIIIIIIIIIL sKA ' 1 II ! M B. A- CI m . V M
TiW l in M Mill hot94iiii Z fY7is
of boiled rather than roast beef, were
found to be perfectly sweet, with an
odor of cooked meat. The beef in near
ly all the cans appeared to have been
softened by exposure to heat, but ap
parently without injurious effect as to
its quality; apart from this the meat
contents were found to be in a good
state of preservation in every case. No
trace of preservative acids was found
in any of the cans. There is
no testimony to the effect that any of
the canned fresh beef supplied to the
subsistence department since April 25,
1898, has been chemically treated or sub
jected to the action of preservatives of
any kind save as small quantities of
common salt have been added as sea
soning to the product of certain pack
ers." Detailing the numerous investigations of
the keeping quality of the canned fresh
beef, the court concludes that "in no case
did the numbers of swelled or tainted cans
discovered greatly exceed in amount 1 per
cent of the entire number examined."
Several pages of the report are devoted
to the consideration of the allegations
made by General Miles that the refriger
ated beef was treated with preservatives,
but the statement is made upon the
threshold of this question "that but little
testimony was submitted by him in sup
port of this contention."
The inference drawn by the court from
the absence of such testimony is adverse
to the existence of the practice alleged to
prevail by the major general command
ing. Attention Is then called to the fact that
the testimony bearing upon the chemical
ization of the beef deals with it only at
the time of its issuance to the troops, and
analysis of this testimpny is made with
the result of showing "considerable differ
ence of view as to the substances used
and the mode of their application."
Considerable attention is giver to Dr.
Daly's testimony concerning the refrig
erated beef on the transport Panama and
also to his report concerning the beef sup
plied to the immunes stationed at Chlcka
mauga. Referring to the doctor's analysis
of residium from beef secured on the
transport, the court calls attention to the
fact that he approved the finding of the
board of survey and that notwithstanding
there were other medical officers on board
no reference was made by him to his sus
picion that the meai had been chemically
treated.
Referring to this and to another inci
dent, the court says: "The testimony
shows that the beef treated by the Powell
process, which was declared by rr. Daly
to contain boric and salicylic .was, in
fact, treated by fumigation and the ma
terials employed contained neither boric
nor sylieylic acids. The beef from which
the broth was made on the Panama had
not been positively identified as refrig
erated beef and the connection between
the residium of the sample taken from the
ship's cauldron and that analyzed by Dr.
Daly has not been established to the sat
isfaction of the court."
A chapter of the report is devoted to
the consideration of the cause of the sick
ness in the army in the Santiago cam
paign, but "the court finds it impossible
to conclude that either the canned fresh
beef or refrigerated beef appeared to any
appreciable extent as causes of intestinal
disease."
Speaking of the ration as a whole, the
court says:
"As to the effects of the food supplv,
having regard to both sufficiency and
quality, it seems to be clearly established
that the army ration as supplied, without
modification, to the troops serving in the
West Indies was by no means adapted
for use in a tropical climate. If this be
true, the unfitness of the ration should
have . manifested itself by its failure to
keep the troops which subsisted upon it
in the best possible condition Tor service
in hot Climates. Tlis. in the nninlnn rtf
! the court, is fully established in evidence.
j. iik lusLiuwieiicy or trie tooa snppty in
Cuba and the irregularity attending upon
its distribution, due primarily to a marked
deficiency in transportation facilities and
to the conditions of the weather and the
roads, appeared to some extent as causes
of sickness among the troops who were
thus insufficiently and irregularly sub
sisted." The report closes with the following
statement:
"The court, with a deep sense of the res
ponsibilities devolving upon it. has labored
sealously to bring out the truth, and be
lieves that it has fully covered ail the
matters referred to it for investigation.
The calling of mope witnesses from the
large number suggested by the major gen
eral commanding, including ail those who
have taken part in the operations of the
war. would only have resulted in addi
tional testimony on the same lines as
those pursued, without throwing further
light upon the questions involved. Several
witnesses who were duly subpoenaed to
appear before the court did not obey the
summons.
"Some of these were called at the in
stance of the major general commanding,
others at the instance of the court. Hav
ing knowledge of the fact that the stat
utes did not make it possible to testify
before a court-martial or court of inquiry,
the court took no steps to compel their
attendance."
The document is signed by J. F. Wade,
major general United States volunteers,
president, and George B. Davis, lieutenant
colonel, deputy judge advocate general,
recorder.
The foregoing report having been sub
mitted with the proceedings to the presi
dent, the following are the orders thereon:
Executive Mansion,
Washington. D. c. Mav fi isx
The findings of the court of inquirv are
approved. WILLIAM M'KINL!?T.
The court of inquiry, of which Major
General James F. Wade, United States
volunteers, is presiuent. Is nereby dis
solved. By order of the acting secretary of war.
H. C. CORBIN, Adjutant General.
Quick, rood work, American Steam
Laundry. 112 .West Seventh street. Tele.
J phone 341,
for
lcmeS
HATS FOR CHILDREN.
From the Nfw York Press.l
Of all the gay colors which fashion is
good enough to allow he children this
spring pink is the favorite. Deep rose
pink, the hue of the sunniest bud in the
garden, is the preferred shade.
And these pink hats and bonnets, like
nearly every dressy head covering for
children, are frilled and puffed exceed
ingly. So that whatsoever pretty faces
later come under them, those faces will
seem to be framed in swirls of pink.
Sometimes the entire brim of the hat is
finely plaited taffeta silk four inches
deep. This is fastened only at the
crown, and the outer edge has a will of
its own. Other brims are of straw ob
scured by several ruffles, one over the
other, of pink chiffon.
And a different sort of straw is cov
ered on the under side toward the face
with a dozen wee ruffles of pink silk
muslin. Crowns are oftenest in ample
"Tarn" shapes, of pink silk, or silk and
inserting, or natural straw. And the
choicest trimming is a big hemmed bow
of rose pink silk jauntily toward the
front. Some of these hats, even the
largest, have long strings of pink mous
seline de sole.
Other hats are all red from straw to
ribbon. Straws used for the best hats
are tuscan, leghorn, fine manila, satin
and an exquisite openwork sort, in blue
and pink, which suggests frosts on the
window panes in its delicacy. Hats of
this lightness bear linings and frills of
taffeta.
Pokes are in order for little folk. The
fancier the poke the better. An exclu
sive design is of soft satin straw with
Tarn crown and crinkled brim. A many-
looped white satin ribbon bow fills in
between the crown and the brim crink
lings. From the back there are long
white ribbon ends. Tiny steel buckles
hold in place some ends of ribbon on
these modified pokes.
Hatpins of cut metal or colored crys
tal are used with pretty effect on these
young hats. Always the pins are small
and simple, and used on the hats of
grown-up folk, to fasten a knot or ro
sette. Children's school hats are sturdy
sailors, especially in bright red and
navy blue. The reds have knots of red
ribbon and plenty of red quills. The
blues, many of them with sugar-loaf
crown, are wreathed with wild flowers.
COREAN DOCTORS
From the Missionary Review.
By the Coreans, disease, as well as all
the other ills of life, is attributed to
the malevolence of demons, and In most
cases of sickness more money is spent
In exorcism, with a view to propitiating
the evil spirit, than in medicine for the
suffering -victim. Perhaps nothing
serves better to illustrate to the occi
dental mind the contrariness of things
Oriental than the music, dancing and
feasting called for In case of sickness in
a Corean home. The chief figures in the
troop of actors is a female exorcist, be
lieved to be in league with a powerful
demon, by whose aid she can entice or
drive away the evil spirit causing the
sickness. As she sings and dances the
others beat upon drums, tom-toms, etc.,
all together making noise enough to
distract the poor sufferer. As a pro
pitiatory sacrifice tables are spread
laden with food and wine, of the odor
arising from which the spirit is sup
posed to partake and depart satisfied.
The Corean doctor's treatment, too,
being directed toward the driving out
of the demon, is naturally believed to be
effective in proportion to its severity.
Persons suffering from low malarial
and other fevers invariably have var- i
ious parts of the body pierced with
large and, of course, surgically unclean
needles, as a supposed important part
of their treatment. We have seen bro
ken limbs that have been punctured all
around the seat of fracture in a similar
manner. Indeed, no treatment is more
common than the use of the needle.. No
attempt is made to keep it clean, and
consequently frightful abscesses, some
times causing death, often follow its
use.
Butte, Mont.,
$28.85, via Santa Fe Route.
Save Tour Neck
And wear collars that have no rough
edges. We do them. American Steam
Laundry, TeL 341.
$2.50 For $2.00.
Commutation tickets at lunch counter.
Hotel Oxford and restaurant.
CASTOR I A
For Infants and Children.
The Kind You Have Always Bought
Bears the
Signature of
END IS JN SIGHT.
Final Work on State Capitol
Soon to Be Commenced.
Will Cost About $100,000 to
Complete the Building.
THE MONEY IS COMING.
Authorized Lery Will Raise
Nearly 175,000.
New Library Rooms Will Be
Furnished at Once.
An event long delayed in Kansas his
tory is about to come to pass. The
state capitol in this city is to be fin
ished. The state executive council announ
ces that the closing work will be com
menced with the completion of the new
state library rooms. This will be ac
complished and the library moved to its
new quarters at least by the end of the
year. By September or October the
finishing of the first floor will be start
ed, and by the time of meeting of the
next legislature the rooms in the north
and south wings above the first floor
will be ready for occupancy.
The levy of one-fourth mill, author
ized at the last session of the legisla
ture, will not become available until
next January, and for this reason the
work of finishing the building will not
be taken up before September or Octo
ber. For the work done during the lat
ter part of this year the contractors
will have to content themselves with
the word of the executive council until
the levy is in the hands of the state
treasurer early in January.
One hundred and seventy-five thou
sand dollars in round numbers will be
raised by the one-fourth mill levy. Mr.
J. G. Holland of this city, who made
original plans for the completion of the
state house, says that with due econo
my the building can be finished for
something over $100,000.
The rotunda and halls alone remain
to be finished on the first floor of the
capitol. In the completion of the rotun
da it was originally intended to place
busts of prominent Kansans in the
niches supplied in the construction- of
the walls. However, not long ago Sec
retary of Agriculture F.D. Coburn sug
gested that this space be set aside for
an artistic exhibition of the agricul
tural products of Kansas, and it is more
than likely that this suggestion will be
carried out. Instead of busts, large
glass cases will fill the niches about
the rotunda, and narrow cases of glass
will extend around the walls above a
marble wainscoting, all containing the
finest specimens of Kansas agriculture
to be procured. It would form a.
unique and appropriate finishing.
The new library room is to be sup
plied with metal bookcases. When com
pleted it will be one of the handsomest
state library rooms in the country.
The uncompleted rooms on the third
and fourth floors of the builduig are
practically all intended for committee
rooms to be used in connection with
legislative business.
ANCIENT SAWS.
(From the London Architect.)
Saws were used by the ancient Egyp
tians. One that was discovered with sev
eral other carpenters' tools in a private
tomb at Thebes Is now preserved in the
.British museum. lne blade, wnicn ap
pears to be of brass, is ten and one-half
inches long and one and one-quarter inches
broad at the widest part. The teeth are
irregular and appear to have been formed
by striking a blun-edged instrument
against the edge of the plate, the bur, or
rough shoulder, thus produced not being
removed. A painting copied in Rosel
lini's work on Egyptian antiquities repre
sents a man using a similar saw, the piece
of wood which he is cutting being held
between two upright posts. In other
representations the timber is bound with
ropes to a single post, and In one. also
copied by Rosellini, the workman is en
gaged in tightening the rope, having left
the saw sticking in the cut. In an en
graving given in the third volume of Wil
kinson's Manners and Customs of the An
cient Egyptians a saw is represented of
much larger dimensions, its length being
by comparison with the man not less than
three or four feet. It does not appear that
the Egyptians used saws worked by two
men. "The invention of eaws was vari
ously attributed by the Greeks to two
or three individuals, who are supposed to
have taken the idea from the jawbone of
a snake or the backbone of a fish. There
is a very curious picture among the re
mains discovered in the ruins of Hercu
laneum. representing the Interior of a
carpenter's workshop, with two genii cut
ting a piece of wood with a frame-saw,
and on an altar preserved in the Capi
toline museum at Rome there'is a perfect
representation of a bow-saw, ex
actly resembling, in the form of the
frame and the twisted cord for tight
ening it. those used by modern carpen
ters. From these remains it is evident
that these forms of the instruments were
known to the ancients.
Chinese Court Historians.
From the New York Herald.
There are "court historians in China,
as there are in other countries, but there
is one striking difference, and it lies in
the fact that the work of the Chinese
court historians does not see the light
until the reigning dynasty comes to an
end.
In this way these celestial historians
have an opportunity to describe most
truthfully the virtues and vices of the
various rules and the real signficance
of the events which take place during
their regime. T;hey can write what they
please without fear of censure, for they
know that their work will not be pub
lished as long as the reigning dynasty
lasts.
This has been the rule for more than
two thousand years, the first court his
torians having been appointed by the
imperial house of Han, which reigned
from 206 B. C. until 25 A. D.
The duty of these historians is; to
write a plain account of all the events
that occur during their tenure of office.
At regular intervals their completed
work is taken from them and is locked
up in an iron safe or vault. There it
remains until the first member of a
new dynasty ascends the throne.
It is then given with all the other
histories in the vault to the court his
torian who is then living, and from the
mass of documents he is expected to
prepare a truthful history of the dynas
ty which has just expired. The present
dynasty has been reigning since 1644,
and consequently no court history has
been published since that date.
21 Meals $3.25.
Hotel Oxford and Restaurant.
FRANK LONG, Manager.
The Topeka Cash Dry Goods Co. have
opened a job department on their sec
ond floor where they keep all the soiled,
stained or otherwise damaged goods to
be found In their entire establishment.
Whenever they advertise any of this
class of goods it is ALWAYS under "Job
Department" heading. Remember this.
is the
foundation
on which is
built the (
enduring
fame of the
emington
Wyckoff, Seamans
Wyckoff, Seamans & Benedict, 105 W. 9th St. Kansas City, Mo.
J. F. MYERS, Local Dealer, Topeka, Kansas.
A PICNIC IN JAPAN.
CFrom the St. Nicholas.
SV picnic in Japan is a treat that does
not fall In the way of many Americans;
but it was not strange that the children
of an American consul general at Yoko
hama should have been invited to at
tend one. One of its jolliest incidents
was the appearance of a troupe of rov
ing acrobats, who planted themselves
close by and promptly began their per
formance. It consisted of four boy
tumblers, mere fat babies, whose bones
were evidently of India rubber. It was
considered almost mean to let Julie go
on sleeping, and soon her joyful pipe
was added to the rest of the hubbub?
An opposition show drew near, and was
rewarded with instant success; for thi3
time the theatrical company was com
posed of two brown monkeys, dressed,
of course, in tiny kimonos, with blue
coolie handkerchiefs tied about their
heads. They began by bowing in true
Japanese fashion to the delighted audi
ence; then they fell to fencing, with a
terrible clashing of spears fully as long
as pencils; and between each round the
showman opened wee red fans and
handed them to the supposedly over
heated artists, who comically squatted
and absentmindedly fanned the grass
about them. Lee and Ned fairly rolled
on the ground with laughter, and Julie
had to be held firmly on both sides. such
was her frenzy of excitement. With a
snort of perfect contempt the other
showman began to beat his drum and
give sharp orders to his boneless ba
bies. But they, palled, -after the mon
keys; and no matter how many ages
they stood on their poor little heads,
nor how many scores of wheels they
wheeled, despite their twists and tum
bles and starts and screams and clap
pings and bowings, the eyes of the au
dience wandered back to where panted
the sad-eyed monkeys in their striped
cotton kimonos, glancing about with
marked disapproval and a settled mel
ancholy regarding the world at large.
Attracted by the jingle of the copper
sen, showered equally by the sympa
thetic tutor, other roaming shows and
musicians drew near, and soon the pic
nic party was the enraptured center of
a hullabaloo that could be heard a
quarter of a mile away.
PRODUCTION OF ASBESTOS
From the Boston Transcript.
Asbestos is a physical paradox, yet
one of nature's most marvelous pro
ductions. It has been called a mineral
ogical vegetable: it is both fibrous and
crystalline; elastic, yet brittle: a float
ing stone, which can be readily carded,
spun or woven into tissue. In Germany
it is known as steinflachs (stone flax),
and the miners of Quebec give it quite
as expressive a name pierre coton
(cotton stone.) The asbestos mines of
Quebec are the most famous in the
world, yielding 85 per cent of the entire
output. Italy being the only competing
country; and there the Industry is de
clining. Although Charlemange Is said
to have had a tablecloth of asbestos,
which he cleansed by throwing into the
fire, it was practically unknown until
1850. The Italian mineral was then ex
perimented with, and some years later
put on the market. In 1878 the first
Canadian mine was opened, and the
product steadily increased until 1890,
when 9,860 tons, worth $1,260,000, were
mined. There has since been a decline
in value, the amount for 1896 being 12,
200, worth only $430,000. Asbestos is
flexible, non-combustible and a non
conductor of heat and electricity, and
on these properties its increasing use
depends. It is spun Into yarn, from
which cloth is woven for drop curtains
in theaters, clothing for firemen, acid
workers, etc. It is made into lamp
wicks and gloves for stokers and ropes
for fire escapes. It is felted into mill
board, to be used as an insulator in
dynamos and as a fireproof lining for
floors. It is used to insulate electric
wires and as a. covering to prevent loss
of heat from steam pipes. Mixed with
rubber, it is used to pack steam joints.
AFRICAN RIVERS.
From the Gentleman's Magazine.
It Is a distinguishing feature of most
African rivers that they contain no wa
ter for at least eight months of the
year. It is true that water can almost
always be found in a river bed by dig
ging for it, but in outward appearance
a river is usually a broad belt of sand
lying between high and precipitous
banks. Many and many a coach has
been upset in one of these drifts, as
they are called. The descent is always
steep, frequently so steep that the
brakes cannot hold the coaches.
They start going down at a crawl,
and then the coach gathers way and
goes on with a rush, the mules are driv
en into a heap anyhow, and one won
ders that they do not get their legs
broken; but they usually land all right,
while the coach, practically unmanage
able, goes down like a sort of tobog
gan jumping from stone to stone, and
swaying like a ship in a sudden squall,
and may or may not arrive right side
uppermost at the bottom. In fact, the
passenger who has gathered his ideas of
coaching from a trip to Brighton or a
drive to Virginia Water, finds that he
has a lot to learn about the subject
when he gets to South Africa. Still, on
the whole, it was wonderful how few
accidents did occur, and if one consid
ers that the coaches ran night and day,
and that when there was no moon it
would sometimes be too dark to see
the mules from the coach, it reflects
great credit on the drivers.
Low Rates For Baptists
And others. Santa Fe will sell tickets
to San Francisco and return for $60.00.
Limited for return to July 15, 1899.
Pullman sleepers palace and tourist
and free chair cars to California daily.
Thos. L. King, agent, Topeka, has il
lustrated descriptive literature of
points of interest.
Standard
Typewriter
& Benedict, 327 Broadway, N. Y.
THE DOGRA SEPO.
From the Indian News.
Of all the martial races of the north
who furnish recruits for the ranks of
our native army, the Dogras of the
Kangra Valley are, undoubtedly, the
least known. The gallant little Gurk
has, the daring and impetuous Pathans
and the grim warrior Sikhs have all a
worldwide reputation (the man in the
street at home can tell you all about
them), but the Dogras, good and ster
ling soldiers though they have proved
themselves to be, have not yet attained
a like pinnacle of fame. And yet our
Dogra sepoys have done us equally gal
lant service, as the records of our fron
tier expeditions amply prove, and on
many a hard-fought- field have shed
their blood freely for the Jionor of the
British Raj. A hillman, like the Gurkha,
the Dogra also possesses in a measure
the soldierly qualities of the Sikh and
Pathan, and withal excels all three in
intelligence. The Dogra loves his fair
native hills and valleys as much as the
Pathan tribesman does his rugged fast
nesses, and Dogra sepoys more thrifty
than their spendthrift Pathan com
rades, save money steadily in order to
return to their homes.
The Dogras are natives of the hilly
country lying along the base of the
snowy Himalayas, extending from the
Sutlej in the south to the Chenab in
the north. These hill regions consist
of a series of parallel ranges divided
by longitudinal valleys, which increase
gradually in elevation as they recede
from the plains and approach the
snowy barrier which forms the northern
boundary. Here every zone of climate
and variety of vegetation are to be met
with, from the scorching heat and ex
uberant growth of the tropics to barren
heights destitute of verdure and capped
with perpetual snow. The four Dogra
classes which furnish recruits for our
army are the Brahmins, Rajputs.Rath
ees and Girths, and these four classes
comprise upward of four-fifths of the
entire population of their hills. It might
well be imagined that, on service, the
caste prejudices of the Dogras would
create difficulties and tend materially
to depreciate their value as soldiers.
This, however, has been proved not to
be the case. For example, the Dogra,
particular as he is about his drinking
water in cantonments, will on active
service cheerfully drink out of a mus
suck. In appearance the Dogra is distinctly
prepossessing, his features being well
formed, and his complexion, owing to
the temperate climate of his native
hills, decidedly fair. In stature Do
gras seldom exceed medium height, and
it must be admitted that in bodily
strength and vigor they compare unfa
vorably with the stalwart Sikhs and
Pathans. However, their physique and
strength are quite up to the standard
required by our recruiting officers, and
as regards their inferiority in stature
to the latter races, it must be remem
bered that it is not always the biggest
men who can stand the most fatigue
and hard work. As "Wardens of the
Marches" the Dogras have proved
themselves well worthy of confidence,
and the recalcitrant border tribesmen
know to their cost that in them they
have to deal with foes whose martial
instincts are as highly developed as
their own, and who, moreover, in dis
cipline and intelligence are immeasura
bly their superiors.
Dogras also enlist In the Bengal cav
alry regiments, and, as a rule, prove
excellent horsemen. A few years ago
the experiment of forming class regi
ments of Dogras was tried, and the 37th
and 38th Bengal infantry became the
37th and 38th Dogras. The experiment
has been wholly successful, as the rec
ords of both these corps short though
they be are extremely fine ones. The
37th Dogras served with credit through
out the Chitral campaign, while the
deeds of the 38th Dogras during the op
erations of the Malakand field force
are still fresh in our memory. Dogras
seem more suitable than any other race
to form into class regiments, and we
could well do with a few more regi
ments entirely composed of them. There
Is no more loyal and faithful soldier in
the native army than the Dogra, whose
motto and watchword may with truth
be said to be "Semper Fidells."
MAN OR LADY to travel and appoint
agents. Established firm. $."i0 per month
and all expenses to start. Mfr., Box 826
Chicago, 111.
Seattle, Wash.,
$28.85, via Santa Fe Route.
Your linen left spotless, American
Steam Laundry, UjS West Seventh.
Telephone 341.
is that when her
- little ones
are born,
they will
be vigor
ous and
healthy.
Her hopes
will be fully realized if she will
prepare herself during pregnancy
with MOTHER'S FRIEND, the
widely-known external liniment
which so many women use. It not
only paves the way for easy de
livery, but insures strength and
vigor to the new-born.
Sold h, itrairri.ta for SI m bottle.
M tmr mm tr HImhmI kMk rt.m H0THXk8 PUIKK
THE BRADFn2XJ REGULATOR. CO., Atlanta. Qa.
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