Kansas City journal. [volume], February 05, 1899, Page 16, Image 12

About Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928

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16
THE KANSAS CITY JOUBNAL, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1899.
TEHUANTEPEC ISTHMUS
AMERICAN CAPITAL TRYING TO DE
VELOP PARTS OF THIS SECTION".
Scenes Alons he Line of Railway
Jolnluir the Gulf .and the PacIUc
Ocrun Qonint City ol Te-
hunntcpec Its People.
From Modern Mexico.
It is always interesting to watch the
growth and development of a new country.
Not that all of Mexico is new; portions of it
are older than the United States, but when
the voyager leans over the rail as the ves
sel steams Into the mouth of the river
Coatzacoalcos, the scenes presented to him
are so different from the sights of North
ern and Central Mexico that he can hard
ly believe that he is in the land of the
Aztecs. He is in the middle of a broad
river that stretches back into the low
coast country of the isthmus as far as he
can see; away off on either shore is a
fringe of tropical woods and over on the
left bank, at the mouth or the river, is the
town of Coatzacoalcos. There is a Jong
row of frame houses fronting the river.
This is the water front and behind it the
MARKET PLACE AT
town crawls up the hill and over the head
land, down, to the ocean beach. Near to
the. Wharf is the? terminal station of the
Tehuantepec National railway, and If it Is
early morning a train of bright yellow
coaches stands there. In less than ten
flours tnat tiain will have Journejed from
the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific ocean,
across the Isthmus.
Now. let us take a bird's eye view of the
isthmus. It Is a strip of land that con
nects the North American continent with
Central America. It is about 123 miles wide
at Its narrowest portion, and its altlture on
the central divide varies from S00 to 2,000
leeu on this strip of land the great moun
tain ranges of Central Mexico are depress
ed. South of the Isthmus they rise again
and become, the irreat rarderillR nf Cen-
tral America. The distance between the
lowering Duiiresses tnat iorm tne ends 01
the Sierra Madre ranee and the nolnt where
the Cerro Atravesado marks the beginning
of the Central American range Js about
eigniy roues, ana uus depression, extend
ing down the slopes on either side on the
gulf and to the Pacific. Is what Is known
as the Isthmus of Tehuantepec About
three-quarters of the way over from the
Gulf to the Pacific Is the summit of the
isthmus, the low range of mountains thai
divides the waters that flow into the Gulf
from the Pacific streams. Draw a line
along this summit and you have the three
zones of the isthmus. At the line Is the
mountain district. It xains there, but the
soil Is thin and poor; it Is good only for
cattle. On the Pacific side there -are! round,
bare mountains that drop. In places sheer
and straight, to the level of sandy plains
that stretch off the Pacific coast. It is dry
there and the country is available for agri
culture only along the scanty water
courses. Then you look towards the Gulf.
There you see a broad expanse of coun
try that stretches from the top of the
mountain range clear down to the Gulf of
Mexico, some ninety miles away, as fertile
a country as there Is in the world. There
it rains abundantly, more than 100 inches
per annum: but the topography of the
country is such that the water does not
ISTHMIAN WOMEN IN HOLIDAY AT
TIRE. ftfnd .upon it. There Is a succession of
hills that roll down from the summit of
the central range, gradually- growing lower
and lower as they approach the ocean un
til they are lost in the Gulf plains of the
coast. This is the Gulf watershed of the
isthmus. Coatzacoalcos is its seaport, and
,the. isthmus railway passes through it. To
j ward this section is where Americans are
directing their capital, brains and energy.
Slain Waterwo.
The Coatzacoalcos is the main water
way. It Is a noble river, navigable for
seagoing vessels for some twenty-five
miles up from Its mouth; then it divides
into many smaller rivers, for these the foot
hills begin, and farther up these tributaries
are subdivided into smaller streams and
these. In turn. Into .rivulets and brooks,
clear, swift flowing und pure. There are
not less than a dozen rivers thnt feed thi
treat river. Coatzacoalcos. and the rivulets
and brooks are Innumerable. The whole
Gulf watershed is a network or streams.
On either side of them He strips of Lot
tora land, and bejond are the hills that
rise, one behind another, to the summit of
the miner watershed, where they drop into
the next valley. The whole country seems
to be lit for cultivation. It has a deep rich
soli even upon the tops of the hills, and It
Is covered by one solid stretch of dense
tropical forests of cedar, mahogany, lig
num vltne and many other valuable woods.
Interlaced w.th tropical vines and creepers
and filled with great broad-leafed herba
ceous plants of many kinds.
At Coatzacoalcos . ou meet a goodly num
ber of Americans, for it is their supply
point for Imported
articles, brought di
rect from New York.
.Liverpool and other
cuies io wis port,
and it can be truly
said that, from this
point of view. Coat
zacoalcos, while it
seems a long way off
to the South. Is near
er to the ports of the
United States and
Europe than is the
City of Mexico. But.
to see this trans
planted type of Amer
ican at his best, jou
must go a little way
Inland to his planta
tion. Five ears ago
the railway was com
pleted. Then there
were S.000 acres of
land owned by Amer
icans on the isthmus.
Now there are over
700.000. The town of
Coatzacoalcos reflects
somewhat the growth
of the isthmus. For
merly It consisted of
a. lighthouse and a
few huts: In ISM It
had 1.000 Inhabitants:
In 1836 there were 2.-
000. and now there
AN ISTHMUS
PALM.
are more than 4,000
inhabitants. But in
wavs true in a coun
try that owes IU growth to the developr
i
i 8
w&BS7&
ment of its agricultural resources.thr town
follows but tardily the surrounding coun
try and to really learn what is being done
on the Isthmus one must go to the planta
tions. At one time it was easy to keep
track of them, but now no one can tell at
just what bend of a river or railroad sta
tion he may find a new one growing up.
Changing Scenes.
Shortly after leaving the dinner station
the train begins to climb up out of the
great valley of the Coatzacoalcos by wind
ing up the canjon of the Malatengo river.
Here the scene changes. All the forenoon
it has been running through tropical for
ests, great trees and tangled vines upon
either side, and where the track passed
through cuts in the hills there was seen
nothing but soil, deep vegetable loam; now
It has passed into a rock canyon, a great
wall of granite rises upon one side and
upon the other, far below, is a rushing,
foaming torrent, the Malatengo river. The
train follows this canyon for a short dis
tance, then rocky walls rise on both sides
of the track, and in a few moments It
emerges upon the table lands of the cen
tral divide. For something over an hour
the traveler is in a range pasture country,
grassy plains with a few stunted trees and
upon either lde, away off, are the moun
tains, the ends of the ranges that are here
depressed to form the isthmus. If he
should leave the railway and ride across
country here, he would have one of the
most interesting journejs of his life. He
would see where two distinct zones of the
Isthmus come together. The line between
the tropical forst and the pine woods is
as distinctly marked as though drawn with
a chalk line, and he could stand upon the
summit of one of these hills in tne open
pine country, with Its. long waving grass
and plney odor, and throw a stone down
Into dense forests of mahogany, rubber,
cacao, and other native products of the
TEHUANTEPEC.
tropics. Away off to the Gulf this forest
extends, a region where a few years ago
all was wild and uncultivated, but where
now are found the homes of Americans who
have become transported Into the tropics.
The train is but a short time upon the
central divide, then it drops over on the
other side, and as the Pacific slope Is short,
it Is soon in the town of Tehuantepec
"What visions are called up by the thoughts
of that ruined old city!
It is in the middle of a country that Is
dry and parched, but along the mar
gins of the Tehuantepec river the land
can be irrigated, and there it Is a picture
of fertility and plenty. Fields of sugar
cane spread out on either side, groves
of stately cocoanut palms rustle their long,
crisp, green plumes above them, and native
huts, with half-naked children about
them are hidden In the shade of
mango, orange and Ume trees. As
the traveler leaves the railway sta
tion and goes into the town, he will at once
remark the changed surroundings that a
few hours of travel have brought him.
In Tehuantepec.
In crossing the isthmus ,he has journeyed
from a nineteenth century town to a district
inhabited by a native race of people that
to-day are the same as they were hundreds
of jeans ago. They
are a separate branch
of tne zapoteca tribe,
with a history all
their own, and much
could be written of
their customs, tradi
tions and festivals.
Modern Ideas have
not awakened this
section because there
Is little to encourage
a progressive man to
invest his money and
employ his energy.
The Irrigable strip
along the river is
narrow, hardly worth
considering, but to
the native Zapotecan
It Is all sufficient.
nuc nicy jitLvt: men i,
gardens, cocoanut A
Ktuica auu ucius.
Those who are so for
tunate as to have in
herited a bit of ground
with a water right
live in the midst of
plenty; the others go
to seek work else
where. Thus it hap
pens that Tehuante
pec is a town of wom
en. Here they seem
to take the initiative
in everything. In the
market place their
authority is supreme,
and they will not per
mit the men to sell
there They are re
vvt
ally a fine race or A TEHUANTEPIC
women, tell. stralght.MARKET WOMAN,
lithe amazons. of
queenly carriage and pure brown complex
ions, r.very iorenoon me great, square,
open-sided market houe Is literally packed
with them. Some bring native chocolate,
some lirown sugar, others flowers and
vegetables, here to be exchanged for orna
ments and cotton cloths, the product of the
native looms. Tins is tne mart wnere an
the petty native commerce centers, and
here the women sit or stand In statuesque
poses, trading, laughing and joking, truly a
novel scene, animated by the badinage of
these picturesque creatures with the forms
of women and the minds and hearts of chil
dren.
Their costume Is a curious mixture of
the elegant and gaudy, the primitive and
the opulent, all combined In the dress of
the same person; elegant, because of the
rare grace of wearers of those clinging
robes that serve as garments: eaudv. be
cause of the gay colors that they love:
primitive and opulent, for these women,
shod onlv with plain leather sandals bound
to their brown, shapely feet with leathern
thongs, wear strings of gold and jeweled or
naments about their necks. They have a
great fondness for gold coins as orna
ments. Fondness jfpr Ornaments.
American coins have the preference,
probably because the stamp is clearer: and
long neck chains made up of $3 gold pieces
with double eagles for pendants are often
seen. Their most characteristic article of
adornment Ls the "huipil." It Is a huge
headdress made of a lot of stiffly starched
native lace, which may be worn In many
different ways. Indicative of the occupa
tion or intentions of the wearer. At the
market It Is worn In one manner a care
less, thrown-togcther grace it has then. At
home it Is worn another way, and for re
ligious restivais it is drawn with great
primness over the head and down tho back,
a wide lace ruffle surrounding the face,
thus giving the wearer an exceedingly de
mure and sanctimonious expression.
There are comparatively few men in
Tehunntepec. as Is indeed the case In many
or the Pacific coast towns or the Isthmus,
tor they are away most of the time at work
on the plantations on the other side ot the
range, where the climate ls favorable to
ngriculture. Tormerlj Chiapas was the
place where they all went, and they often
traveled a week to reach the scene of their
labors, there to remain six months or a
j ear. at tho end ot which time they would
return to spend a month under the blue
skies of their native homes; but now, since
so many American plantations are being
opened up on the Gulf side of the isthmus,
they are finding out that they can get
work much nearer to their homes, and the
result Is that they are being drawn away
from the plantations of Chiapas.
The town of Tehuantepec fills the whole
valley of the river, and contains, together
with Its surrounding "barrios," some 12.
000 Inhabitants. On tho south it climbs a
rocky hill several hundred reet above the
river, and from the dooryards of the houses
perched upon tho rocks of the summit a
fine view may be obtained. Bare, round
mountnlns are in the d stance, the bluish
tints of their craggy sides shade gradually
down into the brown of the desert plains
and through the desert runs a narrow strip
of green, the valley of the Tehuantepec
river. Centuries ago a wandering tribe of
Zapotecas found this stream, built their
town upon its borders and reclaimed a nar
row strp of its valley that reaches down
to the Pacific coast, some ten miles away.
Standing hera on the Pacific stone you
can look northward to the blue range that
marks the boundaries of another country.
a country oi io-aay. just over oeyona wot
range is the Gulf slope, where is seen at
Its best the working of the movement that
is creating a modern Mexico, while here
on the Pacific side is a remnant ot a raco
older than our historians can tell us. And
all this ls seen In one day's ride across the
Isthmus of Tehuantepec
'
JF Jag.
LIUWAM
I WI
PETTiCOATED COLONELS
ROYAL WOMEN OF EUnOPE WHO
COM.MAND CRACK REGIMENTS.
Several of Them Git c Much Time and
Attention to Their Troops Em
press Frederick and Queen
WUhelmlnn n Soldiers.
From the Detroit Free Press.
There are a number ot royal ladies in
Europe who arecolonels, several among
them who are not only proud or th-lr
titles, but who honor their regiments by
QUEEN WILHELMINA.
At the rirst Review or the Army ot the
Netherlands.
giving time and attention to their welfare,
smartness and advancement.
The German empress commands the fa
mous Pasewak Cuirassiers, and she is not
Infrequently seen riding at their head, as
colonel, and saluting the emperor, then
reining In beside him to see them pass.
On these occasions she wears the showy
regimental uniform of white with red fac
ings, the scarf of the order of Hohen
zollern, and the famous three-cornered hat
with large, drooping heron's plumes.
Empress Frederick, the kaiser's mother,
has the Eightieth infantry and the Hussar
regiment, "Kaiserin" No. 2, as her own,
and Queen Victoria, his grandmother, is
privileged to ride at the head of the "Vic
toria" regiment of the guards.
Other lady chieftains In the emoeror's
army are Queen Marguerite of Italy, whose
regiment belongs to the Hessian Y'ager
DOWAGER EMPRESS FREDERICK.
Dressed in Full Regimentals, as Colonel of
the Hussars.
(hunters') corps; the Empress Alexander
of Russia, who is colonel or the Second
regiment of Dragoons; the hereditary Prin
cess of Saxe-Memingen, who commands the
Second Grenadiers; Princess Roval of
Greece, the -emperor's sister, and Princess
Louise, Duchess of Connaught, who has
the dragoon regiment "Von Arnim" No. 12.
The queen of Wurtemburg is colonel of
the Uhlan regiment "Konig Wilhelra I.;"
the Princess Wera of Wurtemberg. who
was a Russian grand duchess, the Uhlans
"Konlg Karl;" the Grand Duchess Victoria
Milita of Hesse has the One Hundred and
Seventeenth infantry: the Princess Charles
of Prussia, the Twelfth regiment of Dra
goons; the Princess Albert or Prussia, tho
Twenty-fourth infantry; the queen regent
of the Netherlands, the Fifteenth West
phalian infantry, and the Grand Duchess
ot Baden, the Fourth regiment of tho
Grenadier guards.
Empress Frederick.
Empress Frederick shows herself a very
active commanding officer of the Eightieth
infantry, battalions of which are stationed
at Homburg, Soden, Gensdorf and Wies
baden, stations within a couple or hours'
ride or her summer residence. She fre-
EMPRESS AUGUSTA VICTORIA.
In Her Uniform as Colonel of the Cuiras
siers. quentlj- Invites the colonel, staff and line
officers to dine with her, and discuss regi
mental matters, nnd nt times she attends
the field exercises of her men.
Another ladj- colonel who considers her
self bound. In more than name, to her regi
ment, is the Grand Duches of Hesse. She
is often noticed on the parade ground, when
the regiment is at
work In undress uni
form, consisting of a
dark blue coit, red
collar and cuffs edg
ed with blue, and a
heavj- black kirt, a
peak cap with red
band..sword and belt,
and knotted epau
lettes. At parades
and reviews she
heads the One Hun
dred and Seventeenth
regiment in all the
glorj and pomp of
full dress uniform,
the helmet topped
with plumes and
strapped under her
chin, tasseled belt
and her breast cov
ered with decora
tions, the great order
of the Red Eagle be
ing conspicuous. At
a recent knlscr pa
rade at Hamhnrr.
3RAND DUCHESS the emperor sent his
OF HESSE. personal adjutant to
In Uniform ot 117th escort her to him,
Regiment. and publlclj- congrat
ulated her on the
magnificent appearance of her command. I
The grand duchess is one of tho most I
fU-r !Z- 1
-VVgoy
P 1
liWlSll!
vUHP
(I mV TvMl
accomplished drivers in Germany, and It
was the writer's good fortune to see her at
tho trankfort races one Snnday last sum
mer. The utmost excitement was shown
by the assembled thousands, when pre
ceded by a couple of outsiders, she drove
on to the course, handling the reins skill
fully over a matched team of live grajs,
two leaders and three to the poles. Her
sister, the crown princess of Roumania,
sat on the box with her, and while the lat
ter was pretty and effeminate In her flimsy,
fluffy summer fineries, the grand duchess
sat erect, looking very masculine, with
strong face and marked features.
The Duchess of Connaught Is known as
one of the most unassuming and unpreten
tious ludies at the English court. Educated
under the eje of her father, the "Red
Prince," she was brought up as a soldier's
daughter should be, was a fearless rider at
an early age. and sits on her horse with
grace and dignity. 'When Prince Arthur?
in the natural routine ot events, becomes
the commander-in-chiet or tho British
army, the duchess will be one ot the most
active und foremost of the rojal lady sol
diers. Queen WUhelniiua.
In Holland, just now, there Is the live
liest satisfaction at the apparent interest
I Queen Wilhelmina shows in her army. Re
cently, while at one of her country resi
dences, word was brought that a regiment
was approaching on a practice marcn, and
..would soon pass the tesldence. She mount
il hurriedly, galloped out to meet the
dusty, travel-stained troops, saluted tho
colonel, and, putting herself at the head ot
the column personally led it in front of
the Queen Regent Emma, giving the word
of command for the salute as It passed her
mother.
Queen Wilhelmina held her first review of
the army of the Netherlands since ascend
li the throne, at Renkum Heide, near
Arnhelm. on September 21, last. There were
about 20,000 soldiers of all arms present,
and as their joung queen rodo on to the
field she ev oked an almost frenzied enthusi
asm among them and the people.
It was first decided that Queen Wilhel
mina should appear at the review wearing
the uniform of a general of the Royal
horse guards, dark blue with gold facings,
epaulettes, and tho other Insignia of rank.
Her majesty, however, promptly vetoed the
proposition and wore a. white amazon rid
ing iianit Willi tne regulation tan mack
hat. She rode hor pet pony "Baby."
It ls a curious fact that while nearly all
tho royal ladles of Europe are superb nnd
pctureque horsewomen, few of the reign
ing sovereigns are even tolerable riders.
Emperor William hnstnot a firm seat, pnj
is nt a disadvantaged because of his crip
pled arm. and alw-nvs mounts vvvlth as
sistance of some kind King Humbsrt. of
Italv. Is famous for his falls: the emperor
of Bu-sia Is not a master of the nrt. and
the Kings of Sweden. Greece nnd Denmark
absolutely abhor riding. The king of Portu
gal finds no eniovment when mounted be
cause of his "embonnoint." Prince Fer
dinand of Bulgaria can not ride for an
hour at a time find King jMexarnJer nf
Servla Is afraid of horses. The British
roval princes are. however, all expert
bnrcernen hut Continental Eurone en
onlv hoist of two sovereigns who are reallv
at home in the snddle the emoeror of
.Austria and the vine of the Belgians, and J
x-resiaeni ex faure or t ranee.
SHE EXERCISES DOGS.
Hott a Beautiful California Girl
Mnkea a. Good Living In New
York CItj.
From tho New Yrrk World.
Miss Evelyn Pierce, a California girl,
has devised a new vocation for the self
dependent joung woman she takes swell
bow-wows a-walking for their .health.
Yesterday I met her In Madison Square.
She was cracking a dainty lash over two
superb hunting dogs an .Irish and a Gor
don setter and very dolefully they took
it, too for what fun Is there on Fifth ave
nue for a dog or the hills and the trail?
Miss Pierce Is a beautiful joung woman,
and makes a strikingly fair picture with
her glowing cheeks and wind-blown hair.
She has the vim and dash of a tvpical
Western girl arid is refreshingly frank as
well.
"Dogs require fresh air exercise as well
as children, and are about as difficult to'
manage, too, sne laughed.
"They are liable to become spoiled by
poor discipline besides, and that is vvhj
servants are rarely capable of the charge.
"Why, do you know." she went on, as
we turned down the avenue and made our
EVELYN PIERCE.
Drawn from a Photograph.
way toward Washington Arch, "that It is
absolutely necessary for one to study a
dog's character In order to bring out his
best qualities and correct the bad ones?"
"Then jou are engaged a bit in the line
of a governess as well as companion," I
ventured.
"No. not that quite.,but I have learned
all this during these' "constitutionals' and I
think most persons grow to respect dogs
when they share their companionship.
"It was all a chance happening, this
jolly vocation of mine," Miss Pierce con
tinued. "I was too nervous to continue
my work I am a musician and I thought
a change of climate misht do me good so
I came to New York. I thought of all the
pussiuiu Limits lor a gin to do. But every
avenue seemed blocked, so It suddenly
popped into my head to try something
novel. I called on several ladies whom I
knew had dogs, and asked If I might nke
them for their dally constitutional. The
idea took at once. So now I have more
dogs to look after than I know what to
do with, as I cannot take more than three
out at once, -and then it all must be done
between 10 o'clock Jn the morning and 5
In the afternoon.
"Then, too soma ladles do not like to
have their dogs seen out with another's
pets, and I have to arrange my hours
carefullj-.
"This work has been of the greatest
benefit to my health. I am as happy as
two sticks, and sleep like a top. It Is
scattering my nerves to the four winds,
too. At first I thought I couldn't ven'
ture out on stormy davs. but I found 1
must or lose my customers, so I just
stepped into a rahry-day costume with an
old soft hat and out I went without an
umbrella, for how could I look after a
pair of frisky canines and mjself at the
same time?
"?.aV!r !;,"s" ,bald Mls Pierce confi
dentially, "are the finest thing Imagin
able for one's complexion mine has Im
proyeed so I scarcely recognize myself I '
that the salary paid her for exercising thee
swell bow-wows varied from $2 to S3 a week
for each dog, according to tractabiilty and
general beh-ivlor.vrnr instance, some high
ly bred canines tire badlv behaved, and re
quire a close hold on a long leading strap.
Such bad behavior must be made up In
salarj- while a docile, well-bred pun is
trotted up the avenue for a dollar or so
less.
The tiny little dogs which are some
times seen poking their noses out of muffs
and rolds of sealskin are the most trouble
some or all. since Miss Pierce needs tako
them out by themselves, and it is tor these
she requires Jo a w eek.
He Oncht to Know.
From the Chicago News.
"In our passenger traffic." observed the
railway magnate, "it has been my observa
tion that only the middle class actually
pays. "
''How do you figure that out?" asked the
interviewer.
.,VS ,n,P' enough," was the reply.
When a man s very poor he can't afford to
buy a. ticket, and when he's very rich he
travels on a pass."
The Retort Humorous.
From the Detroit Free Press.
"Hlgglns. people say I look like you: do
you mind It?"
"No; a good book or play is always well
advertised by its burlesques."
FIELD FOR MISSIONARIES
AMONG THE DWELLERS OF
GREAT NORTH END.
THE
Where Crime Flourishes Within
Stone's Throw of Police Head
quarters Barrel Houses
and Their Patrons.
Tho great "North end" of Kansas City
ls vaguely defined in the general mind as
a mysterious realm of wickedness, a place
of dark deeds, the habitation of tho un
clean, the hemo of the thug, tho essenc;
of corruptness and evil. It is the region
where men disappear and are never heard
of aftervvardi. while the police shrug thtir
shoulders and explain with "went to see
a time In the North end and saw it." It
is the harbor of the tough that finds his
way to the clt, as well as the dlsreouta
ble who makes his home here. It 13 to
Kansas City what White Chapel is to Lon
don, what the old Fourth w.Td was to
New York city, what tho Batignolles was
to Paris.
Kansas City is to Kansas, Western Mis
souri, Oklahoma and the Indian Territorj
just what tho great city of New York Is
to its surrounding territorj", and the North
end is Kansas Cltv-'s Bowery, not tho
Bowery of son and storj-, but the real ar
ticle, a tough place. Just as In the coun
try's metropolis, here can be found vices
and victims, crimes and criminals,1 the
drinks and the drunkards evcrj thing that
ls connected with the shady side of hu
manity. The inhabitants of the North end are
an anomalous class, comprising In their
midst representatives
of nearly every nation
on the face of tho
globe, for It Is above
everj thing else the
cosmopolitan portion
of the cjty. Their
eventful histories are
written in the serried
lines of their dissipat
ed features, in the
furtive glances of
their roving, luster
less eyes. There are
to be found the low
browed, the rum be
sotted, the opium in
oculated, tho disease
racked. There is the
beadj'-eyed, swarthy
denizen with ever
ready stiletto, the
coarse brute with sod
den face and heavy
reatures, a t j pe usual
ly found behind some
dive bar; or that oth
er tj-pe with close
cropped hair, bullet
he id. and thick neck.
There is the toush
negro; the hairj- tac
u Russian, tne Pole,
the Slav all ot them
mav be found in the
LcJ
S
North end. Many have "done time" and ot
those who have escaped tho jail and the
penitentiarj- many are not better than the
rest; thej' are merelj- more tottunate.
The night is daj- in this region and the
sun brings with its rays outward quiet
and sleep. For months at a time his
bright rajs never rest upon the pallid face
of the North end denizen. He is nocturnal
in his habits. Night is the time when he
can 'the more readily conceal his crimes,
when prej- ls more accessible. And tha
strangest part of It all is that the hub
about which all this revolves Is the Central
police station. On all sides of it are the
low dives and criminal joints where the
felon and thug congregate to plan their
crimes, and where thej- assemble to "blow
In" the proceeds of their "jobs" in riotous
enjojment. These wild orgies take place
within earshot of the chief of police and his
myrmidons.
There is no language to fitly describe
the squalor of these places, no words to
tell of the sights and scenes. Perhaps the
best or them all are the "barrel houses,"
tho resorts or "hoboes," petty thieves of
tho cltj These places acquire their pe
culiar titles from the huge mugs, or glass
es, that contain the beer which is served
over the dirty bars. It can hardly be
termed beer, this slush that ono can buy
for 3 cents per quart. It is as vile as the
doctored stuff which is called whisky, also
served In these places. Everj one of
these resorts has thoso little rooms in
the rear, thoso quiet little placees that are
secluded from tho public gaze, where a
i "i "-ay be taken when he is beginning to
lose his senses; where
lie is helped along
towaru unconscious
ness by the judicious
use of "knockout"
drops: where he is
robbed of whatever
ot value he may have
upon his person, and
from where he is led
afterwards, semi
conscious, and left to
wander upon the
streets until picked
up by some police
man, who the great
rnSlnrlty of times
will take him to the
police station where
he will be locked up.
'the following morn
ing, yot dazed, he
will bo taken before
the police judge, who
in his great wisdom
will fine him for be
ing drunk, and then
tho workhouse.
In a certain sec
tion of the North
end, which, by the
waj is a verj' ex
tensive portion ot
the city, extending
from the river on the
north several blocks
to the south, and
half a dozen or more
streets east ami
west, there arc dives far worse than these
barrel houses. There are the opium dens.
Opium is used In one form or another
by many more peoplo than is gen
erally thought. It may be In the form of
little morphine tablets, It may be used with
tho hypodermic syringe through tho skin.
It may be used in the form of drink
when laudanum serves as the liquid ve
hicleit is all opium. But the most com
.mon practice ls that ot "hitting the pipe."
There ure dozens or places where this de
praved taste may be indulged, and they
are not all confined to the North end. But
it is here that tho worst ot It Is seen. It
Is here that the victims who are fast ap
proaching their graves from its use make
their haunt. It is here that the terrible
effect or tho long continued use or the
narcotic can be seen written with the
fingers of fate upon the pallid countenance
of the victim. Here it can ba seen In all
Its horror, stripped ot even the semblance
of respectability given the vice by gorge
ous surroundings.
It is not more than halt a block from the
police headquarters of the city that ono
of these dens ls located, one ot the worst
and ono ot the most frequented. A Journal
reporter visited it. There is an alley jut
ting off from one of the main streets of
the citv, a street that ls fairly teeming
with lifo and business during the day but
deserted at night. Tho buildings that lino
the streets are tall structures, and a num
joi. nf them nre used ns rooming houses.
This alley ls narrow and dark. Tho damp
walls or the tall buildings loom up gloomily
on each side. There is no light but the
reeblo glimmer of a gas lamp down at the
other end. The ullcy Is paved with rough
stone and the way is difficult. Just halt
way between streets a dark hallway ls
encountered. It looks darksome and un
inviting. The door is opened and a figure
appears. If is that or a man. Ho stops
ror a moment: fumbles in his pocket. Then
there is a sharp scratch, and the light of
a match faintly Hlumltes the scene. He
shields it from the wind with both his
hands, which act as a reflector, throwing
a pallid, ghastly face with startling dis
tinctness upon the gloomy background. His
hands waver. He tries to light the cigar
ette which he holds between his lips. He
fails and the match goes out. He lights
another, Jtnd then the peculiar, uncanny
dilation of the eyes is noted. The pupils
have .so greatly enlarged from the tue of
ODlum that there ls very little of the white
to be seen, while the light that stupidly
beams from their depths Is of another
world. It ls ghastly picture. It Is
that of a man who had been "hitting the
pipe" for many years, a man who could
count the days of his life upon his fingers.
And to save his life he could not give up
his habit.
Where Ther Hit the Pipe.
The doorway looks darksome and loath
some. But a few steps bring one to a tot
'. A 1 I
tering stairway. Rats scurry about one's
feet. AH Is dark as the grave, and tfeen
is a musty feeling, a
damp something, that
reminds one of the
tomb. Up three flights
of steps a dim lamp
stands upon a chalh
in the hallway, and
over the transom ot
a room a light is
sei. A knock on the
door. It Is opened
cautiously. A shaven
head ls thrust partly
out. then the door
opens wide enough to
admit of a passage
past the almond-ej"ed
guardian.
There is a peculiar
ly penetrating, op
pressive odor, which
is noticed while the
eyes are becoming
used to the soft
light which diffuses
throughout the room.
It makes one rather
choke and wish to
raise the windows. It
Is that of burning
"Opium. All around the
sides of the room are
matting-covered di
vans, upon which re
cline in various stag
es of dress and un
dress halt a dozen men. They do not
deign to glance at the newcomers.
They are reclining, their collars torn
from their throats, and they are more
or less under the influence of the
drug. Long stemmed pipes are either
In theb mouths or within easy reach. Iti
the middle of the room there ls a large
bowl containing the prepared opium, a
muddy looking substance, verj- much like
soft putty.
One ot the men reaches over to the bowl,
deftly gathers a dripping bunch upon what
looks like a long match, turns It round
and round until It assumes the form or
a ball, about as large as a pea, and then
places It In the bowl of his pipe, the aper
ture of which Is just large enough to re
ceive It. The Mongolian attendant 13 at
hand with a taper. The liquid opium Ig
nites, smolders, burns, "cooks." with a
lurid blue light which finally fades away.,
The man draws a long, deep breath through
the stem, draws it waj- down into his very
being, nnd sinks back with a sigh of con
tent. He finally falls off Into the realm
of narcotic unconsciousness. That is the
way opium Is smoked in Kansas City.
There were six smokers In that room, and
Information was obtained afterwards that
there were half as many women in an
adlolning room.
These are a few or the sights and scenes
ot the North end. There are many others.
PHILIP JACKSON ROCHE.
SHE DANCED WITH 117 MEN.
And Then Peter Revollnskl's Bride
Snjs That She Was Not
Weary.
From tb.3 Now York World.
Nobodj- Is likely to dispute Mrs. Peter
Revolinskl's claim to be considered the
champion dancer ot New Jersej'. She was
married five dajs ago. and the wedding
guests made merry trom Saturday morn
ing till Sunday night.
The teatures of the celebration were
dancing and music, and beer, and more
dancing. The bride did not wish to slight
any of the guests, so she danced with
them all. A friend who was present dur
ing tho prolonged reception counted the
guests UDon whom Mrs. Revollnski con
ferred this tav or, and says that there were
117 ot them.
Mrs. Revolinskl Is a merrj'. bright-ej-ed
j'oung woman, who laughs for pure Joy-
VERONICA REVOLINSKL
when she looks at her handsome, fair
haired husband and talks of the wedding
and the good time thej- had. "We were
married at 10 o'clock last- Saturday morn
ing. After the priest had married us we
all came right tothe house and began to
enjoy ourselves. The music began to play,
and or course we couldn't help dancing.
So wo danced all the morning and some
of the afternoon and most of the even
ing. "We did not sleep much Saturday night.
And Sunday' w e began again. I suppose
we ought not to have danced on Sunday,
but our friends came in and felt like
dancing, so we danced with them. It was
late Sunday night when we broke up, but
the others had to work on Monday, so we
stopped then. But we would all of us have
liked to dance more If we could.
"Of course I had to dance with all the
men thnt came. They wero my friends
ann -eiers.
"Thej- tell me I danced with 117.
"Did I feel tired after dancing so long?
Not a bit. I was happy and so excited I
did not think how I felt. But I know I was
not nearly so tired as If I bad done a day's
work at the factorj". It ls much pleasanter
to be married than to work. I am just a
little bit lame now, but that does not count.
I love to dance more than anything else.
And I would like to do It all again."
HIS LAST HAND.
Tale of a Man Who, In the Old Times,
Opened a Jack Pot Without
Openers.
From the Washington Ptar.
"I was dealing a game out of the box
in Kansas City back in 'SI when a man
killed himself in tho upstairs part of the
establishment," said a man with short
gray hair and a pair or piercing eyes. "I
was tho first man upstairs atter the shot
was fired, and when I looked the man
over I remembered him as a young chap
ot rather dissolute habits who had struck
Kansas City with apparently plenty of
monej- onij a tew w-eeKs Deiore. Tnere
were five or six four-handed poker games
running In the room. I asked the three
men cattlemen from Kansas, they were
what had ailed their table mate. They
passed it up.
" 'He just hauls out his gun sudden and
docs the Dutch act,' said one or them.
'Majbe he was a hard loser. I believe
were Into him ror a few Hundred."
" "Didn't he sav anything at all before
plugging hlmselt?' I asked.
" 'Nary a bajV was the replj-. "Just
scanned his hand pretty falrish-slzed
Jackpot, which he had opened himself
and then he reaches behind and brings
up that silver-mounted popgun, which
don't look like It's built to kill a rull
grown man at that. Then he puts it be
hind his right ear we just looking at
him. thinking he's tooling and off it
goes, and there ho Is, too dead to skin.
It's a queer enough game to get me go
ing.' ... .... . .
" "A jacKpot, you sayr 1 inquired, -vvno
won?'
"Tho men looked at one another. They
didn't know. The young fellow had put
tho ball in his head berore the pot Was
decided. Thej- looked at their hands, that
they nau mrown ince aown wncn tne
young man had shot himself. One of them
had tens up on nines, that he had had on
the go-in. Another had a pair of queens,
also on the go-in, and the last of three
had drawn to an ace and failed to con
nect. Then I turned over the suicide's
cards, that he had laid down neatly be
fore reaching for his gun. There were a
fair of 8lx3, an eight, a tray, and a king,
showed the cards to the three men.
They understood.
" 'The ombrey needn't have killed him
self over it.' said one of them. 'He might
have got thrown out of the window and
his pile confiscated, but he wouldn't ha'
cot killed."
"The younj: fellow bad taken a big win
out chance In a moment ot desperation
by opening a Jackpot without holding the
openers, and when it failed to go through
he was afraid .ot the consequence, or.
crazy, or something, and so he just let
gaslight Into his head, which, tor all the
men who had been playing With him said,
would unquestionably have happened to
him Tatcn they discovered that he had
opened the jack without openers."
A "conjuress" in India says she can
change from woman to man and back
again at will.
"'
ORDER OF CHEFAKAT
ANOTHER HONOR FOR AN AMERICAN
WOMAN.
Upon Mrs. Cushman K. Davis, Wife
of the Minnesota Senator, It la
Said, Will Be Bestowed a
Turkish MedaL
From tha New York World.
Tho insignia which the sublime porte has
been requested by Its minister here. All
Ferrough Bay, to bestow on Mrs. Cushman
K. Davis, wife of the senior senator trom
Minnesota, is that ot the order or "Che
rakat." This is one or the most honorable
medals which Turkey gives, and tho only
one ever conferred on a woman. It was
created In 1SS0 by the present sultan.
Tho order of Cherakat is divided Into
three classes. It is never bestowed ex
cept ror some exalted service done the
sublime porfo in diplomatic matters.
The first class Is never bestowed outsldo
the rojal families, and only then as a pe
culiar and distinguished mark of gratitude
for international benefits. This medal of
MRS. CUSHMAN K. DAVIS.
the first class was conrerred on the em
press of Germany during her recent visit
with the emperor to Constantinople1.
Tho second class 13 generally given to the
wives of the resident ambassadorial corps
at the Turkish capital whenever one of
those high diplomats renders conspicuous
service. It Is needless to say that none ot
the present representatives ot the great
powers have been honored since the Arme
nian troubles.
The third clas, the one which Mrs. Da
vis 13 to receive, it the current gossip
proves true, is given for anj- courtesy or
diplomatic, concession of a minor degree.
The wife of the Marquis D'Oyle received
the third order about a month ago on ac
count of some successful diplomatic work
which the marquis had accomplished in
Paris. The joung son of the marquis re
ceived the order of the Medjldle for a book
on the Oriental question that pleased
Abdul-Hamid.
The medals or all the orders of the
uneiaaat are very oeautirul. and
ai aoout uw. Tney
differ only In the
manner or ribbon dec
oration. The flrat or
der ls hung around
the neck like the in
signia ot the Legion
ot Honor. The second
is pinned on the
breast by a rosette.
the third is hunt: bv
a short ribbon of ,
white satin from a
plain band, on which
is engraved the name
of th receiver.
A dnlntv fTtmneni
of frosted gold sur- insiqxia of ordkrof
mounted by a star CHEFAKAT.
with a diamond center catches the colors of
the decoration in place. They are white, red
and green, the ribbon itself being wmtu
with a red border between two threads of
green.
A large star of plain gold forms the
principal part ot the medal. Between Its
rive points are exquisitely engraved divis
ions, on each of which are twined laurel
leaves and palm branches, each oft infin
itesimal size yet wrought out with wonder
ful exactness of detail. In the center of. the
star Is an Arabic inscription, which bears
testimony to the good works wrought to
the prophet by the one who is so honored.
There Is also a mj'stlcal device woven In
the strange characters of the Arabs, which
has a religious significance.
This order Is always accompanied by
an autograph letter from the sultan.
Two Tears.
From Cassell's Journal.
Whether or not the story had ever been
in print she who told It did not know.
Neither did she know whether It was from
the French, the Choctaw, or the Heathen
Chinee; but as she related it from memory,
it was as follows:
, "It rained; earth, sky. and-Intervening
air seemecd to be a mass of moving water.
From the sky it came, through the air
it fell, and by the earth it was received.
So far as eye could see there was nothing;
but fast pelting drcps. madly running riv
ulets and wildly dashing torrents.
"'Still there was no regret at the rain,
rather rejoicing. It laid the dust of the
roadway, it lessened the heat of the walls
and pavements, the thirst of the plants
was quenched, and the bare brown rocks
wero laved in the refreshing showers. Tho
flowers lifted their cups and gratefullj
drank all that they could catch qf tho
cooliner droos.
"Racing down a hillside on their way to
heaven knows where two drops of water
found themselves beside each other.
" "What are you?" asked the ope.
- " "I," said the other, "am the tear of a
girl who lost her love. What are you?"
" 'Oh. said the first drop, 'I am tho
tear of the girl who got him.' "
Ills Game.
From the Chicago Neva.
"Corkins likes to make a great game of
his dogs and his guns and bis other hunt
ing paraphernalia, doesn't he?"
"les, and It's very foolish of him to do
so, too. Whj ho never killed anything in
hl3 life that I know oT."
"Oh, then you didn't hear about that
guide he laid low last fall."
New Style In Jttltd Freaslnglr Recommended.
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