The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from Brooklyn, New York • Page 13

ROOKLYN VOJL. 57. KO. 128. SUNDAY, MAT 9, 1897.

PAGES 13 TO 18. SECOND SECTION. THE DAILY A SECWDTECTIOj SEEN IN SIDE SHOWS. A MAY0E WHO CYCLES. TWO VACATION HOUSES next moment simultaneously with the production of the ticket, the exact faro was planked smartly down on the ledge.

There is hardly a single thing which ordinary men do with their hands that Mr. Chambers cannot do with his feet. He owes the inception of his invaluable training to bis mother, who, as sho saw her baby kicking on the hearthrug, as babies will, conceived the idea of teaching him to use his feet as other children do their hands. The result of life long practice in this direction is perfectly astounding. Look at Mr.

Chambers shaving himself, In tho first photograph. The plentiful lathering, the sure touch and sweep of the keen razor over throat and face these must bo seen to be realized. I have hinted that Mr. Chambers is useful 'in the house. He uses with his feet mallet and chisel, saw and hammer, as well as any ex week, yet his presence (scarcely "services," since ho did nothing but strut about (he platform) was worth double that sum to his proprietor.

There is one peculiarity common to all freaks and human curiosities. Directly they enter the show business they assume another name a name more or less approrlato or descriptive. Thus, midgets will be billed as Princess Topaz, or Little Dot, or Captain Tiny; and fat ladies as Madam Tunwate, or some such inelegant but suggestive cognomen. "Knotella," the contortionist, is a case in point. His real name, like the birth of Jeames, is "wropt up in mistry." However, this photograph proves that the man can throw himself into most amazingly bizarre postures.

It. is an interesting fact, by the way, that photography plays a very important part in the lives of professionals of this sort. Suppose they live in Vienna and want an engagement in London. They give their best lack of work have not the requisite money, while they desperately need change from hot city streets. It is intended to run these two kindred summer houses on the same financial plan, though under separate management.

No one who sees the house of the colony of mercy In Germany ever forgets how It was built. Every parent was asked to give a penny as a thank offering for each child sound in body and mind. The women managers of these worthy institutions now ask that the prosperous fathers and mothers who may take their children where they will for rest and recreation will remember the "other girls" and help with their contributions to carry on this beneficent work The question naturally arises how this can bo done and who can be admitted to these houses which can accommodate but a limited number? They are primarily for the miin bers of the Young AVomen's Christian association and the Working Girls' clubs, but if not filled from these organizations otner young women may be admitted who apply through advantage of a bicycle over a horso is that a man can go much farther on a bicycle. Ai fellow In good physical condition and accustomed to riding can go out on the road and reel off sixty or seventy miles without feeling that he has been on his wheel. A jaunt of that distance would use a horse all up, of course.

Last summer I used to start out frequently at o'clock In tho afternoon, ride out to Gleneoo for dinner with my brother in law, and then, ride back in the evening. It was just a fine distance for a ride and I used to enjoy every bit of it. "Hut wait a minute." said the mayor, suddenly, back pedaling on the subject. "There Is one thing I wish you would say for me. I have heard a great deal about the animosity of farmers for the bicycle, heard it said that farmers did all they could to make trouble for bicycle riders on country' roads.

I have never had any trouble about a division of the road with a farmer. All the country teams I have ever met have turned out and given me all tho room I needed or wanted. With city teams out on country roads, though, I havo 1 INSIDE FACTS ABOUT A QUEER SORT OF BUSINESS. The Fat Boy Whose Weight Increased While His Age Stood Still Benders and Performing Animals An Armless Man Who Shaves, Carpenters and Wears a Wedding Ring A Great Balancer. (From the Strand Magazine.) They are of very ancient date.

It has been stated that the various colossal skeletons that come to light from time to time are merely the remains of pre historic side shows giants, in fact, that were in former times exhibited at one stone ax per time. However this may be, Bide shows have long flourished, and, doubtless, will continue to flourish so long as inquisitiveness remains a part of our nature. Shows all sorts thrive exceedingly on American soil and coin. Barnuui was a millionaire several times over during his wonderful career, and Adam Fovepaugh had more money than he knew wnat to do with. Traveling shows in the United States are conducted on a tremendous scale.

The stair may number hundreds, and then 'here are the human freaks (ever jealously guarded from the non paying eye), the huge menagerie, and hundreds of horses of all kinds, from the haute ecole Arab right down bony Jimmy, who drags a van. The born showman is so earnest in manner and gesticulation, so leathern of lung and sc profuse not to say incoherent in opulent adjectives before potential patrons, thai lie at length believes implicitly in 3very statement he himself makes. The fat baby, Thomas Sabin, whose portrait is shown, was a great blessing to his par ents, who were people of no great weight, either in the literal or social acceptance of the term. For years he brought them ten pounds a week, his weight increasing, but his age almost standing still. He has a nice face.

THE B1GG BST BABY IX THE WORLD. but few would care to dandle him on their knee. As we see him in the uhoto. this phenomenal baby is just turned two years of age and weighs nearly eight stone. The child was born in Banbury and was in no way remarkable for some considerable time.

At length, however, little Tommy began to put on flesh so rapidly that his parents, alarmed, sent for the local doctor, who in turn sum moned a specialist from London. All this, of course, created some sensation, and in due time the inevitable showman, came along with tempting offers. It is more or less well known that vigilant agents are forever scouring the universe, from Whitechapel to Central Africa, for freaks of nature "refined freaks," as one showman remarked, whatever he meant by that. The famous dime museum is the habitat of human freaks; and America is the home of the dime museum. You will find one or more of these interesting institutions in every considerable town from Maim; to California.

The proprietor takes an empty shop or store in the principal street, rigs up a circular platform and seats the freaks thereupon. Somo waxworks or a cage of monkeys or lions are provided by way of adventitious freo attractions and perhaps there will be a bijou theater at one side, in which a fifteen minutes' performance is given at intervals; the latter, however, is an extra. But KNOTELLA DOING HIS WONDERFUL BACKWARD BEND. the freaks are the mainstay of the show. There they sit all day, beaming sympathetically on the inquisitve crowds who surge around them.

There are fal. ladies, Siamese twins and skeleton men, bearded ladies and elastic skinned people; giants and dwarfs; armless artists and cave dwelling pigmies; girls with hair of phenomenal length; people half black and half white, and countless other monstrosities whom to see is a nightmare. Every half hour the official lecturer clears his raucous throat, and proceeds to leliver the history of each freak, with many an impressive flourish, while the freak hiumself (or herself) glares down with coaseious piide on his 'throng of admirers. Such is the typical dime museum. The etiquette of the side show holds a superabundance of clothing highly improper.

Freaks must exhibit a good deal of their person in purls naturalibus, so as to do away with any suspicion of humbug. Tor the side show cannot exist in an atmosphere of scorn and doubt; enthusiasm, energy, earnestness these are the notes 'hat herald success and fortune. "Miraklus Continental Sensation! The Mawvel o' the Age. A wild, fiery Hafrk iin elephant walkln' on the tignt ropt and a dawnein' on a row of bottles. 'Thus overwhelmingly was a great event announced to the expectant crowd.

What the wild, fiery one did do is seen in tho photograph, and it eortairdy is a.a interesting spectacle to Bee the enormous brute picking its way with patient enro along the "bottles," which, as one may judge, are massive blocks of wood mounted en substantial rlanks. There Is a platform at either end, and on to this the elephant steps, with an unmistalublo air of relief, after having accomplished the perilous passage. There is still a mint of mouoy in tho side fcow business. Tom Thumb received 150 a WHERE WORKING GIRLS MAY GET REST AND HEALTH. The Downing Vacation House at Locust Valley and the Wild wood Farm at Brentwood For a Nominal Cost a City Working Girl May Gain Heaith and Strength and Have a Jolly Good Time in the Fresh Country Air Beside.

Wendell Phillips In his lamentations over America always included its lack of amusements. If he were here to day it might happen that he would mourn their over abundance and hasty growth. In his day, no editorial ever commenced, "There Is always some new amusement In thl3 world worth living for Then only the wealthy sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. Saratoga and Newport were only names to the workaday people. They never hoped to drink of the wonderful waters, or hear the delicious music of the surf.

Although people may be tired of hearing of clubs, conventions and unions, there can hardly bo one who does not feel an interest in the movement for giving fresh air and a vacation to those who can enjoy it but a week or two of tho rolling fifty two. The working girls' summer vacation houses are full of Interest and are doing much toward soothing care in the rest which they bring of body and mind. In the sweet communion with nature thereby secured they aro bringing color to the cheek, life to tho eye and forming a stock of happy memories to brighten narrow or weary lives Among tho most interesting of theso houses is the Downing Vacation Home at Locust Valley, L. I. This was tho gift of the late Mr.

Benjamin W. Downing of Brooklyn, whoso active interest and help continued throughout his life it stands as a monument to his memory. It was given to the Brooklyn Association of Working Girls Societies and is under the management of the council, of which Mrs. W. C.

Peckham is president and Mrs. C. W. Flska treasurer. The house is large, roomy and comfortable, with broad piazzas, and stands la a grove of trees.

An Inlet from the sound runs up to the foot of the grounds and at high tide the girls row, swim and bathe in this picturesque cove. They roam over the fields, gay with flowers; they read together; they talk, of course; they rest In the hammocks and lay up stores of strength and happy memories for coming days. Indoors the large parlors, library, piano, games and evening entertainment make this an Ideal summer resting place. During her vacation each girl is given at least one ride to some one of the pleasant places near by, and on Sunday large stages take the girla to churches In Oyster Bay. It may not he poetical but it Is true that Brentwood Farm House, Y.

the dining room contributes largely to their enjoyment. The meal hours are among the pleasantest of the day and aro sure to find all the girls together. The table is supplied with tho best of wholesome food, and there is always an abundance of milk. The price of board Is $3 a week, and the Long Island railroad makes a liberal concession in the matter of railroad fare, which adds only a small Item to the expense. To many who go tho week or two spent there furnishes their only recreation, and this one outing is reckoned upon from one year to another.

In addition to the Downing Vacation house which as had seven summers of happy, useful existence, thero will this season be opened under the auspices of the Young Women's Christian association the Wildwood farm at Brentwood, L. as a summer home for working girls. It is an old house with a record of a hundred years behind it. It stands lu the midst of many acres and under the shelter of broad, spreading trees. It is the property of Mrs.

Jamison and her daughters, members of the Arbuckle family of Brooklyn who reside in Pittsburg, and is by them being put In perfect order and will, when repairs aro completed, accommodate twenty two young women. It Is a farm puro and simple, and thoso who love the quiet of the country, the company of tho trees and tho green things growing will find here an ideal resting place where it is a delight to inhale the invigorating air of mingled pine and sea breezes. The drives and walks through the plney woods arc most charming and the table will be supplied from the farm. Thero is to bo an outdoor gymnasium near the house and the farm is so extensive as to admit of many outdoor sports. At the Brentwood farm as at the Downing Vacation house $3 will give a girl a week of rest aud good food in good company.

Even employers have come to feel that the young women in their employ are worth more to them and do bettor work if they have their vacations. The vacation idea has become a fixture In the American mind, and a growing good habit in tho economics of American life. Not only among the rich or the well off (to uso an Americanism) but among those who must live month by month on the earnings of that month, comes the question tlieso first languid days of spring, where can I best spend my precious two weeks? It, springs up at this season as surely as the buttercups and daisies. A trip into the country or to the seashore with a comfortable shelter at tho end of the Journey can only bo obtained for those who have to depend on a small salary by the establlshment and maintenance of just such modest boarding houses as the Downing Vacation house and the Wildwood farm. Much is being done for the working girls of New York through its vacation societies, church homes and fresh air funds, the record of whose good work should inspire us.

Charity Is so fashionable just now that It may be unwise to say that the Vacation house does not come within Its domain. That humanitarian ideas are bad; of the scheme is manifest, however. The meets the expenses for board for one week, but it will not as any tourist may reckon, pay summer board, however simple, and leave any margin for the earo of the houses during the rest of the year or to prepare tbem for summer use, and it Is hardly fair to look to the girls to meet any but the running expenses during tho timo of their vacations. More than ibis, there axe many girls who through illness or LAbT YEAR CARTER HARRISON RODE TWELVE CENTURIES. Made a Total of 4,400 Miles An Ardent Champion of the Sport Keeps Up His Riding Now and Will Spin Off a Few Centuries This Summer Favors the Free Baggage Bill.

Chicago's mayor Is a bicycle rider with an enviable record, says a writer in tho Chicago Times Herald. Although he never raddled a wheel until August, ISifiii, he rounded off an even dozen centuries last your and rolled up a total of 4,400 miles for the season. Which, as he puts it, is not so very bad for a man wtio is old enough tt be mayor of Chicago. Not that Mayor Harrison is vain about his accomplishments on the wheel. Ho doesn't beast about those centuries at all.

He is simply fond of the cycling sport, nnd likes to practice it anil to talk anout tho rides ho as taken. than that, the mayor is a thorough w'K el man in all ways. Ho wants matters so arranged that all wheelmen will get all their rights, without infringing, of course, on the rights of ethers. He believes that when he and his wheel meet a team or a Norseman in the street or on a country road, half of the road belongs to him. At the same time he doesn't Infringe upon other peoplo's rights in the road or endanger their lives nnd his own by "scorching," and he has little patience with riders vh do.

As the mayor is not a "scorcher," neither is ho a "bufteriiy." who never w'ueels off the boulevards. The bos: fun he with his wheel is on long plunges into the country, to get his lungs and his tires filled with good fresh air. and come back to the city feeling better for t'ne trip. Mayor Ilorrison favors the passage of the bicycle baggage bill. He thinks tho railroads have no right to charge for carrying wheels when the owners present tickets on the same trains, and calls tho practice of doing so a swindle.

"When I first began to ride." says Mayor Harri on, "I used to go out in tho country till I got tired and then came back on a train. Every time I vja 1 to pay a raiiroad for carrying my wheel back to the city. Last year I didn't do it once. I arranged my trips in a circuit, to start and end at home and I didn't pay tho railroads a cent. Not that I cared for the quarter of a dollar or so I had to pay for carrying the wheel.

That wasn't It, but no man likes to be swindled, no mutter for how little amount." It is easy to see when talking to Mayor Harrison that he Is devotedly fond of cycling exercise. His eyes brighten up and a smile spreads over his face at the very sound of the word bicycle. Of course he has not begun to ride yet this season. Hp is doing his centuries now in the interviewing line, seeing a hundred men a minute and trying to persuade them to stick to their regular pursuits rather than engage themselves In jobs political. "How about those twelve centuries?" the mayor was asked in his office in the city hall as he wrote the Indorsement of a ward delegation on an "application for a bridge." There was a far away out on a eountry road look In the mayor's eye as he looked up and answered: "I made those last summer when I wasn't very busy." "You won't be making many this summer, then?" "Oh.

I guess I will," the mayor replied. "This can't last forever," he said, referring to the swarming crowd in his outer office, "and pretty soon the roads will clear up, too. I guess I'll make a few centuries this summer. "I wish I could get out now for a spin." his honor continued, looking out Into the sunshine from bis tonibliko office. "It's the best kind of medicine for me.

Why, when I began to ride a wheel I weighed IIC pounds; when I quit riding last fall I weighed 103. It just brought me down to my proper weight and. what is more, I didn't take on any superfluous iiesh during tho winter." "But what about those twelve centuries?" "Oh, they were all made around Chicago. They all started and ended, in town, but were over several different routes. I used to take an afternoon off occasionally or start out Sunday morning and round up my ride before night.

1 )id 1 ever made any fast time? Well no. You sec I'm not much on speed. I'm one of those long; distance grinders who think it shows a great amount, of endurance to ride a century in ten hours than to hurry it through in six." And the mayor smiled a wee bit at bis own joke. "I did make pretty fair time once, though," he went on. "That was when I went over the Waukegan century course in seven and one half hours.

The longest ride I ever took was IIS miles, and the time, I believe, was twelve hours. I never made but one century that I really feel like boasting of. One day I was caught out near Lake Zurich in a pelting rain. My wheel broke down twice, and I had to walk fourteen miles through the mud. I was out about thirteen hours, and I have always thought the Century Road club ought, to give me a special medal for a meritorious or unusual performance.

That was last year, whan I rode all of my centuries. In the entire Benson of my total mileage was 4,400 miles ami I didn't work the cyclometer for an hub of it." "Over what course were your centuries made?" "Well, as 1 told you, they all started and ended in Chicago, but were over the different century circuits. of them took me through Evanstoti, Wlic ling. Curiioo an 1 Waultegan; through Evanston, Wheeling. Iitindce and Elgin; some over the Elgin and Aurora course and more over the circuit through Naporvillo and Joiiet.

"Now, I want to tell you there is some beautiful country and some glorious riding along those runs. Chicagoans don't have to go far from home to find good wheeiine. On any one of the routes I have traveled deriding is superb. Up between Wheeling and Liberty villi for instance, is a stretch of rend Hint Is easier olid better to ride than any boulevard in Chicago, if win ltoen iti town kn whti line country and roads there tire up way they wouldn't waste much riding tiny more about the boulevards. Up on 'he Waukegan course arid up among the lakes in lower Wisconsin there are simply delichiful titles, in the neighborhood of Oeonuni' there are as be.

mtiful pitiees and us line strips for a wheelman as can bo found anywhere in the world." "How does bieyeiing compare witli horseback riding?" "Why. 1 don't, think tlo compare at all." aids the mayor. "Cycling is so much better that there isn't, any comparison." Which nttiy strip.e some of the mayo; fellow Ken tooki'itis as tin to Id tolto iss.ion. inn the mayor ey pin it sat isi'aet ori! y. "Wit I horseback riding." he says, "the horse ts the exercise He doesn't exactly 1:1 it till, but Ingots tin' best of It.

i in the other hand, when I go bicycle riding all the cNcrcit is mine. I do all the work and have all the fun. A man can feel that he is doing something for himself when he is riding a wheel and there is a great deal of satisfaction la that. Another pert carpenter; and ho points with justifiable pride to floor cloths laid, and meat safes, writing desks and other domestic articles manufactured by himself. Chambers is one of a family of six boys, and all his brothers are perfectly formed.

One photograph shows this wonderful armless man having a little musical evening at home. He is playing the cornet, while his eldest daughter presides at the piano. I repeat, there is virtually nothing that Mr. Chambers cannot do with his feet. Mr.

Chambers also conducts his own correspondence, business and private. That lie writes a very creditable "hand" will bo evident from the specimen hero shown, which ho was good enough to write specially for this article. The photographs next reproduced are of Sadi Alfarabi, and his striking "business," giving an excellent notion of what the great professional equilibrists of the world can accomplish. Sadi is a Russian by birth, and every single member of his family was an acrobat, eack vying with tho other in devising startling feats wherewith to take Europe by storm. See him, for instance, standing on his hands on the summit of a miniature Eiffel WALKING OK BILLIARD CUES.

BALANCING OS THE TOWER. tower thirty feet high. A shaded oil lamp is balanced on the back of his head; and as the point that supports him is movable, he revolves slowly on his perilous eminence. Again, with perfect ease the equilibrist performs a peculiarly difficult feat walking on his hands on four billiard cues, his legs perfectly perpendicular in the air. He tells me that this hurts his hands exceedingly, and is likewise a severe strain on the muscles of the back.

Another feat of the Russian performer is generally considered tho most difficult ever attempted by an equilibrist. It is really a very miracle of balancing. The chairs are In no sense trick chairs; they are not particularly light or frail, but solidity and weight are absolutely necessary to the accomplishment of such a feat. This photograph, as well as others, gives one an idea of the trouble which foreign specialty artists take to insure that their photo graphs shall do them justice. There is the la bor of dressing; the conveyance to the studio of all necessary properties; and last, but by no means least, the actual successful accomplishment of the feat, which must be sustained until after the crucial moment of uncovering the lens.

And after all this the photos may be utter failures! While I am on A MARVELOUS BALANCING ACT. this subject I may mention that on one occasion In Budapest, Sadi Alfarabi, while posing for the chair feat, incontinently collapsed in the photographer's studio. A fresh camera was afterward necessary, likewise a fresh photographer. PRESIDENT VAN BTJ REN'S BATHTUB. It Was Criticised by Advocates of Jef fersonian Simplicity.

Properly speaking, there aro Ave bedrooms in the executive mansion, though by the use of two dressing rooms and of the end of a short hall that formerly opened to a large north window, but has now been closed up to mako a email bedroom, the number may bo Increased to eight. There aro no suitable servants' quartors. Thoso provided aro in tho basement, and only those opening to tho south aro habitable. The north rooms open upon a damp brick area and are unhealthy. One of the oasement rooms, having a southern exposure, is fitted up as a billiard room, but very plainly.

It Is said that provision for a library for the White House was first made during Mr. Fillmore's term. Neat cases are arranged about the room, and most of thorn are filled with books old editions of historical and classical works. Thero is no catalogue, and the library has not been kept up. President Adams introduced billiards into tho White House, purchasing the first table, balls and cues at a cost of $111, paying for them out of his own pocket.

President Van Burcn was charged by a political adversary and scathing critic, as being the first of our Presidents to discover that the pleasures of tho warm or tepid bath aro the proper accompaniments of a palace life. For it appears that our former Presidents were content, with the application, when necessary, of the simple shower bath. Mr. Van Duron's critic then refers with high approval to the salutary side of Mr. Adams' heroic habit of bathing in the Potomac "between daybreak and Ladles' Homo Journal, A ft, LEO.VOR.

POSIN'G AS A HITMAN BOAT. possible show in a photographer's studio, and then send a complete set of photos to the London agents, supplementing this photographic record of their entertainment with a full written description. The agents, in turn, placo the photos before the managers of the variety theaters; and thus an engagement may be definitely fixed without the performer leaving his home In a distant part of Europe. It is difficult ro cay whether male or female contortionists (benders, as they call themselves) are the more successful in assuming strange and fearful attitudes; certain it Is that Knotella is run pretty close by a charm young lady whose professional name is Leonora. Clad in snaky, scaly tights, Leon ora throws herself into postures that simply baffle description.

In the first photo the lady is seen In an extraordinary attitude of quiet contemplation, her body hidden altogether. In the next she has formed herself into a kind of ship, with a decidedly prepossessing figure bead. This contortionist tells me she practices incessantly, and is forever trying to devise some new and startling posture which, without being in any way repulsive to an audience, will yet demonstrate the marvelous pliability of the human frame. The pony, lamb and dog seen in the accompanying photograph are a diminutive trio, and they go through their performance without extraneous assistance of any sort. A highly ornamental kind of stall is provided for the pony, and, standing in this, he faces tho audience.

On a plush covered canopy over his back stands the lamb, while tho dog sits on a sort of third story above. Presently, out trots the pony for a gallop round, and as he passes the tier of canopies for the third THREE PERFORMERS WHO GIVE A SHOW ON THEIR OWN ACCOUNT. time, the lamb skilfully leaps down on to his broad back. Then comes another round or two of this jockeying, and when the little dog thinks the public are in need of a new sensation, down he jumps on to the lamb's back, and round they all go, looking as if they really enjoyed it. In turn the riders watch their opportunity and regain their platforms, and at length the pony backs into the lower stall, to receive his share of well merited applause.

Mr. John Chambers, the "Armless "Wonder," when not side showing, keeps a com fortablo little shop at Old Kent road. Tho famous Indian armless boy. who created such a sensation in America, didn't have to shave, or travel on the railway by himself. or use a latchkey, or put on boots, or read the daily papers, or write letters, or make MR.

CHAJniERS, THE ARMLESS WONDER, SH.VVI.YC HIMSELF WiTII HIS TOOT. himself useful in tho house as becomes the father of grown up girls. Mr. Chambers does all these things, and more. Never shall I forget bis performance before a railway booking oillce.

Ho asked for the ticket, and while the cleric was getting it, tho right laceless shoe was off. followed by the stocklt revealing a wondrously white, sonsitivo with a wedding ring on the second toe. Like light 1 SPECIMEN OP MR. CHA HERS' WRITING WITH HIS FOOT. ning this foot was lifted and dipped into tho low insido pocket ut an Inverness cape, and DOWNING VACATION HOUSE.

LOCUST VALLEY. I. Vacation Home of the Working Girls' Association. friends. All information may be obtained, arrangements for board made and railroad tickets secured at the offleo of the Young Women's Christian association.

The Downing house opens on July 1. The Wildwood farm between July 15 anil 20. And last, but not least, any contributions from interested friends may be sent to the same office and will be gratefully acknowledged. THE TOWERS OF SILENCE." Where the Plague Stricken Parsees Dispose of Their Dead. The fatal ravages of famine and plague in India at the present moment have drawn attention to native methods for the disposal of the dead.

By far the most striking of these funeral forms is that of the Parsees, who differ not only from the Hindus, but from all other races of the world in the treatment of their dead. In obedience to the doctrines of Zoroaster, fire Is reverenced by the Parsces so highly that they may not pollute that sacred element by burning their dead. Earth is sim'iiarly reverenced, and, therefore, a corp so may not be buried in the ground; nor may water bo defiled by contact with physical decay. There is a great gulf fixed in this respect between the Parsees and the Hindus, the latter being accustomed to commit their dead to a watery grave after partially consuming them with fire. The re W.

C. A. Vacation Home. suit of these conditions is a funeral ritual unique in character. Tho Bombay "Dakha mas," or Towers of Silence, are five in number, and stand on Malabar Hill, within a largo garden or park beautifully laid out and planted with noble trees and a wealth of flowering shrubs.

Within these grounds stand, in addition to the "Towers of Silence," a praying house for mourner. and a temple in which the sacred fire is never allowed to be extinguished. The towers themselves aro circular buildings of massive construction, the largest, which was built at a cost of some 30,000. measuring 270 feet In circumference, and twenty live feet in The other four towers are not quite so large, but are estimated to have cost about. apiece.

A Parsee corpse is carried up trie hill on a bier, followed by a procession of mourners in white robes. Immediately behind the bier walk two bearded men, who alone perform the final ceremonies over the dead body. The bier is borne up a brief flight of stairs to an opening in the tower wall a short space from the grjund. The towers are roofless, but a vast circular grat'ing slopes downwards from the top, converging at the center In a great well. In this sianting floor or grating are countless grooves in which the dead bodies aro placed.

These grooves are ranged in three great circles, the outer ring being sedulously reserved for males, the middle one for women, and the innermost one for children. Stripped of all cere cloths, the bodies of the dead aro piaeed by the two bearded attendants in their allotted places, and the moment their bearers have withdrawn, the vultures and kites, which frequent the towers in great numbers, descend upon their prey, and strip the flesh from the dead until naught but the skeleton remains. The bones are left for some days, until they are bleached by the sun, and then the funeral officers return, and cast them With fongs into the great well In the center of the tower. There the bones remain until they crumble into dust, and there at. last, all class distinctions are merged in equality lu the mingling of the dust of rich and pouT alike; for this equalizing process is part of the deliberate intention of the Parsee funeral rites.

The well is surrounded by an elaborate system of drainage by which all moisture is filtered through charcoal before passing away. Illustrated London News. WORKMEN AS CONTRACTORS. A system of public work that has much to commend it is that of co operative contraei, in vogue in New Zealand. 1'ndi that system a public work is; divided into small by the engineer In charge, and an estimate is made of its cost.

Kaon section then let out to a group of workmen, who do the work under a foreman of own choosing, but who receives no more than his fell. jus. They obtain the full profit which would otherwise go to professional contractors, anil they share the payment equally. Kach worker is interested in seeing tli.it his companions their full amount, of work, and tho sooner tin job is performed she greater the renin for a day's work. If any tools are needed which the men do not own, the government supplies I them at.

a moderate rental. The adoption of this system sh uld provide a method wh. relo, I direct employment by the government oild be consistent with a full returti fur the money expended, giving the community tin advantage In the economical execution of public enterprise equal to that enjoyed by private employers. "Public Works Directly Performed." by Sylvester Baxter, in April Review of Reviews. MAYOR CARTER HARRISON OF CHICAGO.

hail a different experience. If I ever met ono that wanted to give inc my share of the road I don't remember when it was. One, I do remember, I met a city delivery team out on a country road, and the driver seemed bound to run me down. I dismounted and put my wheel just at the right sido of the middle of the road and toid him to run it down at his peril. Ho didn't touch it, but It I not.

tie would have crowded me off int. 1 tho ditch and made me dismount, as 'st every other city wgon did that I ever met on a conn r. e. "Why aro you in of the bicycle baggage hill?" the mayor was asked. "Simply because bicycles ore baggage, was the answer.

"If )i rui! reads are going to carry anything as Kicsa?" they ought to carry bicycles, i don't why they should wait for a law to be pass, force them to do it. They must knw tiia: the argument that: bicycles compete the railroads and take business frotn them is not correet. Why, ono day last year I was up in Milwaukee and came down en tit train with a l.vt of wheelmen. I counted li'i; of ni who had wheels, and every one of them had pay transportation on his ha. to Chicago.

Theyi nad all been nut on Sunday rides and all paid their fare back to tho city, of course. Now. the tni'th is that there were 10fi fares from Milwaukee to Chicago which that railroad would not have reeejvid had it not been for bicycles. I don't think that railroad had any bii'Sines to t'lorg. for carrying those wheels, and It was not good policy to do it, even If there was a right.

If the railroads keep on all wheelmen will gr to doing as I do arrange th. ir rides in a ireui'. si that they will not have to com back on tho railroads at oil." Mayor Ibirrison doesn't go in much for bicycle racing. He i little or nothing about the so si le of the game, but likes it only as un exercise and a social amuse men Country ridinp: is his special delight, and a little later, w'aen the duties of tho mayoralty are a little arduous than now, when all the job hurrf rs have found their jobs, or h.ivo ijeen assuri 1 that there ara no Joi.s for them, when the council has adjourned for the sumrii soison at Newport and Hri.igeport, then mayor will don his cycling toga again, the whirr of his spoke3 will make mils i in his ears, and he will laugh with himself joy over the gentie, creeping, crunching of his tires as they kick out the small gravei in tho rear and carry him over the hills and down the dales to the sweet, pure atrof his rural haunts. COLONEL HIGGINSON IN KANSAS.

His Interesting Mooting With the Noted tunes H. Lane. Tho tavern where I lodged in Nebraska City, says Colon 1 H'trit iison. in tho May Atlantic, was miserable enough; the beds fearfully dirty, tho r' io indigestible and the table eagei iy set by three successive relays of n. One day a c.om:n.otion look piaee in tha treet: people ran out to the doors; and some thirty rough riders catuo cantering up to the They m'Ltht have been border raiders, for all appearance of cavaliw order; some rode horses, s.

muies; some bad bridles, others bad lariats of ropes one man had ft slight semblance of uniform and seemed a sort of lieutenant. Th' leader was a thin man of middle age, in a gray woolen sh.rt. with keen eyes, smooth and a capacity of courte ois att.l even fascinating manners; a sort of Rupert humbler grade. Thia was tile i. lirated Jim Latte.

afterward oa'or 11. I.ar.e of liie I' tilted States at thin calling himself only "major general cotr.utaini.iig the freo state forces Kansas." Hi w.i. now ret rea ng from the territory with hi. men, in deference to tho orders of lie United States governor. Geary, who way making .111 tc tnpt more or less sa rioiis 1 clear Ivati.

tis of armed bands on both, sides. I. an stopped two days in Nebraska City, ati 1 I d.d seruetiiittg toward refitting the of his band; lie also made a speech to til. citi.ens of the town they being then balanced between anti slavery and pro ry sympathies and I have seldom, h' ird el ai'iotte mere thrilling, more tactful, er adjusted to the Mr. R.

W. Ktt: rs iti, I retner.i o. r. was much impressed by a rej.or: of th.s speech as s. tit by me to some l'oston nc w.

paper. Lane went with me. I think, see our emicrants encamped near by. gave me Koine cajd'al suggestions as to our march nto the tet 'itory; and ended by handing me a bit of cruT.pie.l paper, appointing me a member of his tuff with tilt) nuilc of, brigadier general, iL.