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ZIGZAG JOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
THE ZIGZAG. SERIES:
HEZEKIAH BUTTERWORTH.
oes
ZIGZAG FYOURNEYVS IN E OROPE.
ZIGZAG FÂ¥OURNEYS IN CLA SSIC LANDS.
ZIGZAG FOURNEYS IN THE ORIENT.
ZIGZAG FOURNEYS IN THE OCCIDENT.
ZIGZAG FOURNEYS IN NOR THERN LANDS.
ZIGZAG FOURNEYS IN ACADIA.
ZIGZAG JOURNEYS IN THE LEVANT.
ZIGZAG YOURNEVS IN THE SUNNY SOUTH.
ZIGZAG JOURNEYS IN INDIA.
ZIGZAG YOURNEYVS IN THE ANTIPODES.
ZIGZAG YOURNEYS IN THE BRITISH
ISLES. :
ZIGZAG FOURNEVS IN THE GREAT NORTH-
WEST
ZIGZAG FOURNEYVS IN AUSTRALIA.
ZIGZAG JOURNEYS ON THE MISSISSIPPT.
ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITER-
RANEAN.
Nest Side eg
ESTES AND LAURIAT, Publishers,
ie BOSTON, MASS.
THE MEDITERRANEAN.
ZIGZAG JOURNEYS.
ON THE
MEDITERRANEAN.
BY
HEZEKIAH BUTTERWORTH.
FULLY ILLUSTRATED.
BOSTON: |
ESTES AND LAURIAT,
PUBLISHERS.
Copyright, 1898,
By Estes AND LAURIAT-
All Rights Reserved.
Aniversity [ress :
Joun Witson anp Son, CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A.
PREFACE.
2HE purpose of this book is to explain the Consular
Service of the United States, and to relate those
curious stories which are often told in the Con-
sulates of the East and which resemble the “ Thou-
sand and One Nights,†or the “Arabian Nightsâ€
Entertainments.†The Consulates of the East sometimes become
famous story-telling places in which caravan tales, sea tales, andi
travellers’ tales are told in an original way; and it is with this.
peculiar lore that this, the fifteenth volume of the « Zigzag Series,â€
seeks to interest the ‘reader. Many of the tales of Consulates are
geographically and historically instructive, and some of them have
the peculiar flavor of old Oriental traditions. The pet animals and
birds of Consulates are also interesting topics, and are introduced in
these Consular museums.
The Zigzag books or annuals, like many magazines with a definite
educational purpose, make use of interpolated stories to illustrate and
to give interest to their pages. Most of these stories have been
written by the author, but helps from other pens have sometimes been
sought. In this book the author is indebted to George H. Coomes, of
Warren, R. Ian old sailor, anda popular writer of sea stories, for helps
8 PREFACE.
which are credited in their places. He is also indebted to Messrs.
Harper Brothers for permission to reproduce here some of his own
stories, using the illustrations originally made for them. He has sought
in this, as in former volumes, to make clear a useful subject by that
sympathetic story-telling art, which, although a mélange, leaves the
purpose at last clear in the mind. Few books have been written
to make our diplomatic and consular service better known to the
young people, and the author hopes that these Tales of the Consulates
may serve this purpose of popular information.
The Oriental stories in this volume are selected and edited out of
a careful study of books on Oriental folk-lore, it being the author's
purpose to give to young people those which most interested him.
The sources of these stories are fully credited, so that the lover of
Oriental tales can follow the study, if he have access to the best
libraries.
H. B.
28 WORCESTER STREET, Boston, Mass.
CONTENTS,
CHAPTER
I,
II,
IT],
IV.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
XI.
XII.
XII.
XIV.
XV.
XVI.
A ZiGzaG JouRNEY To ZAG-A-ZIG
How Consuls ARE APPOINTED. — Turin Duties. — Tur STory-
TELLING GARDEN. — THE Capito. By Moonticutr. — Tur
SINGING Mouse. — Tue Vittacre Mystery
A PLAN FOR A JouRNEY oF EpuCATIONAL TRAVEL
CaRACAS ON THE First Day oF THE REVOLUTION, 1892. —
AMUSEMENTS AT SEA
GIBRALTAR
ALGERIA. — Tunis. —Tue Hottest Prace In. AFRICA
MARSEILLES .
CONSULAR Pets AND Parrots
VENICE
STORIES AND STUDIES WHILE DETAINED IN QUARANTINE
THE MEDITERRANEAN AND ITs LEGENDS
ST. Sopuia. — Tue Dervisy’s Farry TALE
Brinpist. — AN opp StTory-TELLER
RIENzI, THE Last oF THE Roman TRIBUNES.
Nac Rone Farry TaLtes.— Tue Srory oF SorDELLOo
THe WHITE-BORDERED FLaG .. ... .,
PAGE
13
26
53
79
130
146
156
165
IQI
216
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
The Mediterranean. . . . . Frontispiece
Pitti Palace, Florence. . - . - - + 15
On the Mediterranean. . . ae
“*Wait till the Sun goes into a Cloud,’
said the Doctor†. . . +... -- 4!
Faneuil Hall . 2. 2. ee eee 44
The Valley of Mexico. . » » - + + SI
Popocatepetl . . - - - ee + + +) 55
The God of Fire . . ... . + + 57
The President's Palace . . ..-- 58
The Sacrificial Stone . - . + + + + 59
Top of Sacrificial Stone . . . 61
Sculpture on the Side of the Saeeficial
GE Gre ee. ols et ee tid ai ath 02
The Cathedral: 0. al a ae ee 6B
The Tomb of Juarez . . 66
Main Plaza, Monterey, Bishop’ s palaces 67
Statue of Chitaahuac . . . . . 69
The Plaza and La Mitra, Moiitevey ay 279
Statue of Columbus, Mexico . . - «75
Bolivate ssc. we a eo uk! ie Se doe 80
La Guayra. . . Syrtenva ca o> $B
Statue of Bolivar, Catacas Siete es P88
A youthful Beggar of Caracas . . - - 84
Ancient House in Caracas . . . » + 85
Grand Opera House, Caracas . . . - 87
A Donkey Car, Caracas . . . . . - 88
Old Mission near Caracas . . . - + 107
The Rock of Gibraltar . . - . . . ¥N3
The Grinding over young . . - . - II
The City of Morocco. . . «© - + + 123
Nemours. . ig SR aS a eT,
Travelling in Rigen che Wished Ssh Seed ecre LO
An Algerian Antelope-Hunter
An Algerian Beauty
Tailpiece -
Public Garden, ‘Marseilles
“The Old Red Settle by the Fireâ€
“The Quaker smiled ‘neath his Sunday
Hatâ€
“Silas the Bass- Rol: strungâ€
“The Turnpike Coach †;
“Take that, and pay Ben’ s debtsâ€
“The old Man powdered his Wigâ€
The Great Bridge of Rialto
Pigeons of St. Mark’s
Venetian Glass .
Foot of Flagstaff in Font af St. Maries, 8,
Venice . PGs lacs
Masquer ading in Vieaiess
Ca D’Oro, Venice . :
Library of St. Mark’s, ven :
A Venetian Garden
Sciollo and Colleoni, Venice
A Vision of Egypt
A Camping-Place in Sight se Bish
A Daughter of Egypt .
Florence . ;
The Duomo, lerence
Loggia di Lanzi, Florence
Fountain of Neptune, Florence
Turkish Woman
Interior of a Mosque .
Moslem at Prayer
Appian Way
Tomb of Cecilia Mattella, Appa Way
PAGE
135
TAL.
145
147
158
158
159
160
163
164
166
167°
168
169
173
175
t79
183
187
193
197
201
217
221
225
229
233
235
241
244
249 |
12 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
The Baptistery, Duomo, and Campanile Monument of Vico, Naples .
of Giotto, Florence . . . . ., 253 | Morning in Venice
Whe Campagna ee ses er 258 | The Tower of St. Mark’s
she A Venting 20! ile na tee Ser Capra es as en,
St. Paul Basilica.) 265 | National Villa, Naples
Square of the Capitol, Rome . . . . 269 | Roman Gate, Genoa .
House of Cola di Rienzi. . . 2. 274 | Pilo Gate, Genoa .
Old Entrance to National Villa, Naples 278 | South Bastion, Genoa
Naples and Mount Vesuvius . . . , 279 | Tailpiece .
The Aquarium, Naples . . . . . . 282
PAGE
284
293
301
309
311
318
319
319
320
FIC ZAG JOURNEYS
&
ON THE
MEDITERRANEAN.
CHAPTER I.
A ZIGZAG JOURNEY TO ZAG-A-ZIG.
Za HE days of the caliphs and the palaces of the
fm,
caliphates are gone. The United States and
the English consular offices of the ports of the
Mediterranean are the interesting story-telling
places of to-day. How I have enjoyed the hours
spent in the consular offices of the Southern ports
of Europe! It was once my good fortune to visit all the American
and English consulates on the coasts of the Mediterranean and of the
Red Sea to the ports of Mecca. In other words, I made a journey
‘under Government instructions from Washington to Zag-a-zig, aS a
town near Suez was called: a Zigzag journey of the Mediterranean
from Cadiz to Zag-a-zig. The evenings in half of the consulates I
visited were spent in story-telling, and I collected at the time a
library of English, French, and Oriental story-books.â€
The speaker was Captain John Van der Palm, a veteran in the
consular service of the United States. The place was the picnic-
grounds of the old Van Ness mansion near the White House in
Washington.
14 ZIGZAG JOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
John Van der Palm was a middle-aged man, a widower, with an
only son, named Percy. This boy had accompanied his father in
several journeys to consular ports, in the interest of the State Depart-
ment. Mr. Van der Palm had once served as a consul in several
ports, but in late years had been employed as a general agent of the
State Department in the consular service.
Percy Van der Palm was a story-loving boy. He early developed
a lively appreciation of sea tales, wonder tales, and Oriental imagina-
tion. It was his delight to accompany his father to the social rooms
of the State Department, and meet there old foreign ministers,
consuls, and commercial agents, and to listen to their narratives, which
often had all the interest and force of the best story-telling.
The Van der Palms were friends of the occupants of the old Van
Ness mansion, who used often to invite their friends to the famous
garden of the house to spend the spring and summer evenings.
These friends were usually consuls or commercial agents. So stories
of all lands came to be told here, in this unconventional way, greatly
to the delight of Percy. He himself began to wish: to travel, and he
formed a plan to study to make himself an acceptable candidate as a
consular clerk.
“Well, Percy,†said his father one day, “ what profession will you
choose for life? Your education should now be turned into some
preparation for a single thing. Life is too short for many things.
The age demands superior fitness for one thing to open the door to
one’s success. Your story-telling days are now over. The time for
fables has passed.â€
“No, father; my story-telling days have only begun. Let me
study languages, commercial book-keeping, and commercial law. I
intend to apply to the President for a place as consular clerk.â€
“And what would you do then?â€
“ After such a clerkship?â€
“Yes, you would not wish to be a consular clerk for life?â€
"MUON
PITTI PALACE,
FLORENCE,
me
Ta
ye
7
i
ie
Of
A ZIGZAG JOURNEY TO ZAG-A-~-ZIG. 17
“]T would seek to become a secretary of legation, a diplomatic
agent, a naval a¢éaché, or a consul, such as you have been. Let me
qualify myself for some place in the service of the Department of
State. I would like a government position in that department above
all things. Such people are in touch with all the world. They study
everything. The world is their country, and their countrymen are
all mankind. Their minds have no latitude or longitude; they take
the world as a whole. Their very forms of conversation make other
men seem small. Other men suppose ; they know.â€
“ Well, my son, I am glad that you take such a philosophical view
of the State service. I am pleased with your decision. But I once
heard of a man who had a son who wished to see the world, and— â€
“ Well, father?†a
* He went to his father and said, ‘ Father, I want to travel and see
the world.â€
“ And what did his father say?â€
“ He said, ‘My son, I am very willing that you should travel and
see the world, but I would be sorry to have the world see you.â€
“Oh, father, you do not mean that!â€
“I should be unwilling that you should seek employment in the
office of the State Department without a long and a thorough prepara-
tion. Our diplomatic service in the past has often not been a credit
to our country. Politicians have been given places that should have
been filled only by trained men. Your education must begin now.
It must be first in languages, then in mathematics, then in law, and in
general knowledge always.â€
“ Where shall I begin in languages?â€
“Your education in languages must begin in the countries where
those languages are spoken. I shall send you to the city of Mexico
to study Spanish, and then, perhaps, to my friends in Caracas. I shall
then send you for a year to the ports of the Mediterranean, to study
French, Italian, and the eastern tongues, and to learn commercial
2
18 ZIGZAG FOURNEYVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
usages. I have friends in nearly all those ports. I may be able to
go with you myself; we may be able to make together a sort of a Zig-
zag journey from Washington to Port Said, or Zag-a-Zig. Should
you go to Caracas to study, you would indeed make such a journey
around the world as well as across the Mediterranean. The famous
railway up the Andes from La Guayra to Caracas is called the Zig
Zag. 1 will think over your plan. Your education must consist largely
-n educational travel; this is the highest education, and will become a
ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
part of intellectual training of the future. Let us go down to the
Garden. I have been promised a story to-night by one who knows
the history of the Van Ness house.â€
“The ghost story?â€
“Ves.â€
The two passed down the avenue and turned into the monument
grounds. It was near sunset, and the western trees seemed glimmer-
ing with golden fruitage. Light airs rippled the leaves. The day had
_been hot, but was cooling.
The Garden?
All Washington knows of that strangely beautiful place. How
shall I describe it? I cannot better do so than in the story of
A ZICZAG FOURNEY TO ZAG-A-ZIG. 19
the place as it existed in former years, which an old visitor that
night related to the Van der Palms as they sat under the trees in
the mellow air: —
THE MYSTERY OF THE MYSTERY}
AN OLD WASHINGTON GHOST STORY.
ONE keen December day, a few years after the war, I arrived in Washineg-
ton to spend a few weeks with a friend who was making his home at this old
Van Ness mansion, near the White House, and adjoining the grounds where
the Washington Monument now stands. The mansion is almost a ruin now,
and its beautiful grounds are broken and faded, but it was in its glory then, with
its quaint porticos, its halls.and gardens and beautiful trees.
In the same yard with the fine house, which had been associated with the
best social life of many administrations, stood the so-called Marcia Burns's
cottage, in which Sir Thomas Moore was entertained in Jefferson’s days, on the
occasion of his unhappy visit to Washington. In this cottage lived Davie
Burns, the stubborn Scotchman, whom General Washington compelled to sell
his plantation for the site of the city.
“Your position,†said Davie Burns to Washington. ‘makes you feel that
all is grist that comes into your hopper. Who would you have been, I should
like to know, if you hadn't ’a’ married the Widow Custis?â€
I had loved the songs of Tom Moore in my boyhood. My mother used to
sing them. The “ Last Rose of Summer,†the “ Vale of Avoca,†“ The Harp
that once through Tara’s Halls,†came ringing back in memory; and after an
hour with my friend in the Van Ness hall, I went out into the yard, and sat
down on one of the benches, and looked at the little gray cottage where the
famous author of “ Lallah Rookh†and the “Loves of the Angels†had been
entertained when the city was new.
An old negress came sauntering by. With my Northern freedom I said
to her, —
‘Auntie, this all seems to me a place of mysteries!â€
‘““A place of mysteries, dat is wot it is, Massa Nof,—dat am wot it is.
Dat am de suller [cellar] whar dey was goin’ to prison Linkem [Lincoln] in de
las’ days ob de war. Wot you think of dat, Massa Nof? De ‘spirators did n't
intend on killin’ him at first; dey had planned to ’duct him, an’ jus’ hide him
1 Originally published by the author in the “ Household.†Used by permission.
20 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
in dat dar suller. An’ den a sfz/é boat was to come ober de ribber, like de
white hosses, wid sé/Z oars, movin’ up an’ down so séz//, an’ dey were to steal
him away, an’ hold him for a ransom. Dat story sort o' haunts dat suller yet.
It nebber happened, but de ghost of it all am dar jus’ de same.
“Dar be some ghosts dat nebber happened, Massa Nof. De white hosses
ain't de only ghosts that come round here o’ nights. Marcia Burns, she come
on summer nights, when de roses all hang in de dews in de thin light ob de
moon, an’ de mockin’ bird am singin’ his las’ song.
“De white hosses, dey come on Christmas nights, — six white hosses on
seven Christmas nights, Massa Nof, widout any heads on dem an’ dar necks
all smokin’. It may be you'll stay ober Christmas time, Massa Nof, an’ see
‘em wid your own eyes.â€
Of what was this old negress talking? Her eyes dilated as she spoke of
the six white hosses, and she raised her arm and looked like a seeress.
“What are the six white horses?†I asked. “I never heard of them
before.â€
“You didn’t! Now dat am strange! I must call you Massa Up-Nof.
Eberybody knows about ’em here. Dey am ghosts, —- jus’ ghosts. Dey are
de ghosts ob de six white hosses dat all dropped right down dead wid broken
hearts on de night dat Marcia Burns, as dey call Mrs. Van Ness, gabe up her
soul to de angels. Dat am wot dey am.†i
My friend came out of the house. The old negress heard the door close,
and gave her head a toss, and with an air of mystery moved away.
“Tt is rather cool for you to be sitting here,†my friend said. ‘You need
your overcoat. We have kindled the fires.†:
“ Dwight,†said I, “ what is it the old negress has been telling me about six
white horses? — one of the oddest things I ever heard.â€
“Oh, nonsense, Herbert. An old Christmas . tale; the negroes believe it
yet. Iam going to the station; will be back soon. You had better go in.
There’s a chill in the air.â€
He passed out of the gate.
I did not go in. The ancient place seemed to throw over me a spell.
I had heard that the early Presidents used to be entertained here; that
Marcia Burns Van Ness was a kind of Washington saint; that she founded
- the orphan asylum, and that the government stopped on the day that she
was buried.
“The government stopped,†I said to myself, absently, “ but did the. six
white horses really fall down dead?â€
“ Dat dey did.â€
A ZIGZAG FOURNEY TO ZAG-A-ZIG. 21
The words seemed to come out of the air. I looked up, and the old negress
again stood before me. She was on her way to some place outside the gate.
“ An’ Massa Up-Nof, jus’ you let me tell you somethin’: De white hosses
am a mystery, but dar am a mystery ob de mystery. I'll tell you some day, I
will.â€
She passed out of the gate. The sun was setting; the last breeze seemed
to die, and I sat in the silence trying to picture to myself the past of this most
wonderful place.
Dwight refused to talk to me about the six white horses. I went to For-
tress Monroe to spend a week or two, and while there I wrote to a lady in
Georgetown, who well knew the history of the Van Ness place, and asked her
about the legend of the six white horses. The return letter intensely interested
me. It was as follows: —
GEORGETOWN, December 20.
Dear HERBERT, — Scrapbooks, old notes, a few letters from friends living near Seven-
teenth Street in Washington, bring to me about the same data you seem to possess.
The “headless horses †number “ séx,’†because General Van Ness drove to his dest
coach six, when guests were many and distinguished. He died at the age of seventy-six.
He married the beautiful Marcia Burns when he was thirty ; he was then a New York
member of Congress. During all those years he gave annually a large, gay, fashionable
entertainment to all of Congress, during the holidays. They were ¢he Christmas events
of society.
On the anniversary of that event, the six headless horses are said to appear “to this
dayâ€! They are seen at twelve o’clock at night, any or all nights during Christmas week.
(You know, in the South, the Christmas revelry lasts all the week.) An old lady of eighty
tells me, “The horses do gallop round and round the mansion in Mansion Square, and
sometimes stop right in front of the old pillars of the porch and rock to and fro and moan
and sigh. They are white as snow, with smoke and mist and white flame, like burning
brandy, going upward from their shoulders.â€
They stop in their midnight gallops and listen at the door for the old voices of George
Washington, Hamilton, Clay, Jefferson, the Taylors, and hundreds of distinguished men of
that time. They come over the river, as most of the men are buried there. The unseen
spirits of the great dead hover about the grounds, and make the aspen trees shiver, the
willows moan, as the horses dash past.
Old Mr. Van Ness comes with his own horses, and it is his spirit appearing in them.
Tom Moore spent one week there, and comes generally at Christmas time, his voice
repeating verses composed for the beautiful Marcia Van N ess, and as repeated at one
entertainment Zo fer, is still heard as the clock strikes /welve.
One old man says, “ Dey los’ dere heads [the horses] when ole massa was put in de
big, gran’ mos-lem!†(The mausoleum now stands in Oak Hill Cemetery. We see it
22 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
often.) “ An’ dey lay in de dus’; an’ when dey was seen nex’ day, smoke was dere heads,
like onto de day ob jedgment.â€
Another theory says: “ The six beautiful, fiery horses died of grief, and were buried on
the place. A rise in the Potomac River washed them far away. The next Christmas they
returned “like death on the pale horse,†in bodily form, with cloudy heads, and the
general’s eyes flashing through the smoke and flames. Sometimes the very faces of the
guests appeared plainly.â€
Montgomery Blair used to say that the six headless horses dd appear to the servants
annually, and that his own slaves had repeated to him their stories “until he himself
believed them.â€
The lonely Taylor family of “ The Octagon House,†whose collection of curios are now
in the Corcoran building, told funny stories of the “ ghosts,†credited up to the eighties :
“ Six headless horses gallop round the old house and grounds annually ; always white
and large, and with heads of jive. The servants run, and more courageous, intelligent
persons spend the night trying to hold the horses. They fly past them, and dissolve before
their eyes! A noise of rushing wind and voices in the distance, a splash in the water,
and all is still.â€
One note of 1885 says: “ The headless horses are, of course, a myth, but few of the
neighbors care to pass a night in the place, near Christmas time. We have hidden behind
the brick wall, but found it a ghostly spot.â€â€*
The story had grown with the letter, and my imagination grew. The inci-
dents of the smoking necks of the horses, of Tom Moore’s songs at Christmas
at the midnight hour, of the terrified servants, and the dissolving spectres, all
Gxed themselves on my mind, and haunted my sleeping and waking dreams.
On the 24th of December I returned to Washington, to pass the holidays with
my friends at the old Van Ness house.
As I passed the gate into the great garden, I met the old negress again,
“De land! am you come back? Don’ you be frightened now ; you listen
right now to wot you’ Auntie Wisdom’s gwine.to say. Dar am a mystery ob
de mystery. I’se found it out, I dun has.
“ Dem beliebs dat dar are witches,
Dar de witches are;
Dos dat tink dar ain’t no witches,
Dar ain’t no witches dar.
-Now, Massa Up-Nof, don’ you be ’fraid. I'll tell you somethin’ befo’ you
go. Dar’s got to be a mental mind to see dem tings; de ’maginations
1 These are extracts from a real letter, for nearly every incident of this strange story is true. I
have used only a slight framework of fiction, and that framework does not include any essential historical
event.
A ZIGZAG FOURNEY TO ZAG-A-ZI1G. 23
got to hab eyes; you ’member now wot yo’ Auntie Wisdom says, an’ don’
you get scared at anyting dey tells you. Dar’ll be libely times about mid-
night. Glad to see ye. But I mus’ hurry on; wot Massa Blair, he say, if he
heard me talkin’ dis way wid a gent’man from up Nof! No account nigger
like me. But I’se yer true frien’, I’se am! I likes peoples wot live up Nof!â€
It was a beautiful night. The Capitol seemed to stand in the air like a
mountain of marble, and when the moon rose and illumined the grand porticos
of the nation’s halls, the air, as it were, became enchanted, as if it held a celes-
tial palace of light. The Capitol by moonlight is one of the most beautiful
scenes on earth. It rivals the visions of the Taj, and impresses the imagination
as the very genius of American destiny.
There was a gay party in the old house on that Christmas eve. Amid the
social entertainments I once or twice heard an allusion to the ‘six white
horses,†as though the legend were merely a joke. The guests departed by
eleven o’clock, and a half hour later I found myself in the guest-chamber, look-
ing out of the window on Marcia Burns’s cottage, the evergreens, and the
Potomac. The house became still, but sounds of merriment from time to time
broke on the air from the negro quarters. I wondered where Auntie Wisdom
might be, and, but for the impropriety, I would have been glad to talk with her
as the critical hour of twelve drew nigh.
Tom Moore probably wrote the once famous song, “ The Lake of the
Dismal Swamp†here, on returning from Norfolk, or here formed it in his
mind. As I sat by the window, gazing across the Potomac, under the high
moon, I could almost hear my old mother singing that song again: —
«They made her a grave too cold and damp
For a heart so warm and true ;
And she’s gone to the Lake of the Dismal Swamp,
Where all night long by her fire-fly lamp,
She paddles her white canoe.
“ Away to the Dismal Swamp he speeds,
And his path is rugged and sore;
Through tangled juniper, beds of reeds,
Through many a fen where the serpent feeds,
And man never trod before.
« And near. him the she-wolf stirs the brake,
And the copper snake breathes in his ear,
Till he starting cries —â€
24 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
A shriek rent the air at this point of my mental recitation. It came from
the negro quarters. The yard was soon filled with colored servants, and among
them was Aunt Chloe, the woman of wisdom.
“ Comin’, comin’, comin’ on de wings ob de wind!†the old negress began
to exclaim in a wild, high, gypsyish tone, bowing backwards and forwards and
waving her hands ina circle. The negroes around her seemed beside them-
selves with terror.
What was coming?
L looked out on the Potomac over the motionless trees. On the margin of
the river was rising a thin white mist, which formed itself into fantastic shapes
as it rolled along and broke over the marshes in the viewless currents of the air.
One of these mist forms began to condense, and drift toward the gardens of
the house.
“ Comin’, comin’, on de winds! The Revelations am comin’, an’ wot’s
gwine to sabe us now?â€
I opened the window. The clocks were striking twelve in the church
towers.
“The Powers above, sabe us!†shrieked Aunt Chloe. “Fall upon yo’
knees, The dead are upon ye all. You that has bref, rend de skies |â€
“Jerusalem and Jericho!†cried a negro who was called Deacon Ned. He
seemed to think that in the union of these two words was prophylactic virtue,
and repeated them over and over again. Then a cry went up, which might
have reached the skies, had the celestial scenery been as near as it appeared
on that still December morning. Deacon Ned followed the piercing cry with
the startling declaration: —
“De yarth am comin’ up an’ de hebens am comin’ down! â€
With this thrilling announcement in my ears, I left my room, and went
down into the hall, and out into the air. A Christmas carol from the chimes of
some unknown tower was floating through the sky like an angel’s song.
Aunt Chloe, the woman of occult wisdom, rose up when she saw me.
“Oh, Massa Up-Nof, dey is comin’! Wot you say now?â€
“Where?â€
“ Deve —don’ ye see ’em? Clar as de mornin’! WHain’t ye got de clar
vision?â€
_ She pointed wildly to one of the forms of the night mist, and stood with
one arm raised and white-orbed eyes.
“Don’ ye see dat white hoss dar, widout any head, an’ smokin’? An’ don’
ye see dem five white hosses dat am bein’ created behind him?â€
Then she pointed again toward the marshes, and I saw them.
A ZIGZAG FOURNEY TO ZAG-A-ZIG. 25
There, as plainly as I ever saw anything, was a white horse without a head,
his neck smoking. Behind him were five other white horses rising from the
marshes.
“Vou see, now?â€
“Ves,â€
“You hab de clar vision? Wot did I tell ye!â€
“T see.â€
‘“You can’t discern dese tings widout de seein’ eye. Wot did I tell
eye?
The forms rolled over the marshes, and through the outward shrubbery of
the gardens, and disappeared, dissolving as they approached the higher part
of the city. The negroes stood like statues,
“Tt has passed by,†said Deacon Ned. ‘“ Bress de Laud!â€
“ Aunt Chloe,†said I, “ you said there was a mystery of the mystery. What
is it? J must know.â€
She heaved a deep sigh, but as of relief, and then said, slowly, “Massa
Up-Nof, nobody sees ’em as hosses until dey are told dat dey de horses. Den
dey hab de seein’ eye. Do ye see?â€
“T see.†I did, indeed.
‘‘ Dey was hosses, warn’t dey now, Massa Up-Nof?â€
“Yes, Aunt Chloe, I saw them as plainly as I saw the President’s horses on
Inauguration Day.â€
The negroes disappeared in the shadows.
I slept serenely, and when I awoke, all the Christmas Belle: were ringing.
There was a mystery of the mystery, and that key will unlock many doors.
But I shall never forget the impressions made upon my mind that night at
the old Van Ness house; and wherever Christmas may find me, that haunting
memory will always return again. No American Christmas story ever made
such a vivid impression upon me, or left in my mind so many suggestive
lessons. And the story is substantially true.
CHAPTER II.
HOW CONSULS ARE APPOINTED.—THEIR DUTIES.— THE STORY-
TELLING GARDEN.— THE CAPITOL BY MOONLIGHT. —
THE SINGING MOUSE. —THE VILLAGE MYSTERY.
YOUNG mind with an inborn purpose is haunted
by ideals. Dreams of life which shall be realities
float before it. Percy Van der Palm loved to loiter
about the old Washington garden, and read books
that related to the duties and opportunities of the
foreign offices of the Department of State. The
“Register†of the State Department is a very
simple document, but he was often found reading it, and making the
catalogue a wonder-book by associating with some name in it a
mental picture. For example, one would usually find pages like that
on our next page of little interest. Some (like that on page 28).
relate to the consulates of Spain and Italy, to which Percy’s dreams
somehow seemed to be tending after what his father had said.
But however dry such pages of official history may seem to our
readers, they were leaves of story books to Percy, as we have said;
they were titles of fictions which were founded, like old novels, on
facts, which his interpretative fancy filled.
There was another book issued by the Department of State which
his imagination used in a like way. It was entitled “United States
Consular Regulations.†It was a large book for a record, handsomely
bound.
Many afternoons found him in the old haunted Garden, studying
in this book facts that he hoped might have a bearing on his future.
HOW CONSULS ARE APPOINTED. : 27
REGISTER OF EXISTING OFFICERS, EMPLOYES, ETC.
OFFICERS AND CLERKS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
resigned
temporary
class two March
Chief of the Bureau of
18745
1874; class three
class two July 1, 1878;
Offices, salaries, and names. pete Whence Service in the Department.
orn, appointed.
Secretary of State ($8, eek
Joun W. Foster . Ind. .| Ind. Commissioned June 29, 1892.
Assistant Secretary of State
($4,500).
William F. Wharton Mass. . .| Mass. . Commissioned April 2, 1889.
Second Assistant Secretary of
State ($3,500).
Alvey A. Adee .| N.Y D.C Appointed Secretary of Legation at Madrid
September 9, 1870; Chargé ad’ Affaires at dif-
ferent times; transferred from Madrid and
appointed clerk class four July 9, 1877; ap-
pointed Chief of Diplomatic Bureau June 11,
1878; commissioned Third Assistant Secre-
tary July 18, 1882; commissioned Second
Third Assistant Secretary of Assistant Secretary August 3, 1886.
State ($3,500).
William M. Grinnell . . . .| N.Y... NY... Commissioned February 11, 1892.
Solicitor ($3,500).
Frank C. Partridge. . . . ./ Vt. 2. .] Vt. . | Commissioned June to, 1890.
Chief Clerk ($2,750).
Sevellon A. Brown . NAV INV Appointed temporary clerk December 21, 1864;
clerk class one July 1, 1866; class two Octo-
ber 16, 1866; class four June 1, 1870; Chief
of Bureau of Indexes and Archives July 1,
1873; member of Board of Civil Service Ex-
aminers for Department of State August 7,
1873; Chief Clerk August 7, 1873;
to take effect February £, 1888; reappointed
Chief of the Diplomatic Bureau Chief Clerk February 11, 1890.
(2,100).
Thomas W. Cridler «| Va. W. Va. Appointed clerk of $900 class October 1, 1875;
class one July 1, 1880; class three November
1, 1881; class four February 1, 1884; Chief
Chief of the Consular Bureau of the Diplomatic Bureau July, 15, 1889.
(#2.100).
Francis O. St. Clair . . . .| N.Y. Md. . | Appointed temporary clerk November 12, 1865;
class two June 7, 1870; class three June 22,
1871; class four July 1, 1874;
Chief of the Consular Bureau June 7, 1881;
: permanent Chief of the Consular Bureau
Chief of the Bureau of Indexes November 1, 1881.
and Archives ($2,100).
John H, Haswell INCOME sso INL: -| Appointed temporary clerk January 23, 1865;
class one August 1, 1867;
22, 1869; class three Tune 1, 1870; class
four June 22, 1871;
Chief of es of Accounts Indexes and Archives August 7, 1873.
2,100).
Francis J. Kieckhoefer De Cera; ak Dae Appointed temporary clerk August 1,
class one December 1,
November 20, 1877 ;
class three Feburary 27, 1880; class four July
1, 1880; Chief of Bureau of Accounts and
Disbursing Clerk January 28, 1884.
ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
UNITED STATES CONSULAR SERVICE.
ITALY.
3 &., =
2 2s ee
: 8 Es e
Place. Name and Title. 5 & Ba oS
2 Y we ae
g B oe Be) akg
> eS A | # Fa
|
Castellammare | Alfred M. Wood . CAYN-Y.. N.Y... | July 13, 1878 | $1,500}.
Do . .| Nestore Calvano VC Ae le a. as Slow «) os) Septsgo; 4891 oven te
Catania . .| Carl Bailey Hurst* . . . C.| Germany} D.C. . | July 22, 1892} I 500 S151900
Do . .] Augustus Peratoner, V.&D.C.|. .- : Nov. 22, 1883 | . ‘ ee S
Florence .| James Verner Long . . . C.| Pa. Pa. Feb. 27, 1891 1, 500 | 2,314.00
Do . .| Spirito Bernardi V.& D.C. Mar. 3, 1883]- sone
Bologna . Carlo Gardini Agt.}. . . «|. . . |June 2, 1881). - 529 00
Genoa . | James Fletcher (7) . . C.| Gt. Brit..| Iowa . |May 14, 1883} 1,500 3,296.50
Do . .| Frederico Scerni . Vic. Dec. 10, 1883]. + + sa ated
San Remo .| Albert Ameglio i Agi}... 24 Nov. 27, 1883]. - - 40.00
Leghorn Radcliffe H. Ford , fo (CeMe: Me. Jan. 6, 1892] 1,500 1272 3
Do . .|Emilio Masi . V.&D.C Oct. 14, 1889}. :
Carrara . Olisse Boccacct . Agi}. . . . . . | June ro, 1882]. - - 406 £6
Messina. - | Darley R. Brush . « « Cj Towa. S. Dak. | July .22, 1892) 1,500! 5,937.50
Dore Oe ee ae et OM SEDC: LM opt opicer sii leneelnacs coe
Gigja . .|L. Gifoni . Agt.|. Aug. 6, 1868] . No fees.
Milazzo . «| Pietro Siracusa Agt.|. . . .]. . + | Mar. 12, 1880). . 55-00
Milan George W. Pepper (7) . C.| Ireland .| Ohio . | Jan. 30, 1890) 1,500] 2,059.50
Do . .| Anthony Richman. V.&D.C.|. . | ake Mar. 11, 1885|. . .]- - . -
Naples . .| John 5. Twells : woe Oey Pa, Pa. Feb. 27, 1890] 1,500] 2,400.50
Do . Rob’t O’N. Wickersham’. V.C. Nov. 7, 1883].
Do . Philip S. Twells . D.C, July 1, 1890). oat
Bari . .| Micholas Schuck . Agt. Feb. 8, 1892]. 455.50
Rodi T. del Giudice PACED ook “ail cens Mar. 6,1878|. . .- 125.00
Palermo .[Horace C. Pugh... . C./Ind.. . Ind. Oct. 16, 1890| 2,000) 8,028.50
Do. Carmelo G, Lagana†V.C. Dec. 22, 1884]. eas
Girgenti . .| Francis Ciotta Agt. |. Apr. 21,1892 |. 476.00
Licata .| Arthur Verderame . Agt. |. Apr. 27, 1888 |. 171-00
Marsala . George Rayson . Agt. Dec. 21, 1874]- 56.50
Trapani . fonazio Marrone Agt.|- . + . . +» | Oct. 24, 1890|. - 308.00
Rome -| Augustus O. Bourn c.G.|R.1. R.I. . | June 26, 1889] 3,000 79.50
Do . Charles M. Wood V.&D.C.G.|. . lise Feb. 12, 1884]. . -
Do . .|Charles M. Wood . c.C.| Vt. .| Vt. Mar. 24,1873] 1,200 2 eae
Ancona 1A. P. Tomassini . Agt. |. Mar. 19,1875|- - > 74.50
Cagliari . .| Alphonse Dol . Agt. | - ‘ : June 7, 1879). 13.50
Civita Vecchia | G. Marsanich 5 Agt.j}. . . «|. . + |June 14, 1862}... 83.00
Turin (4) St. Leger A. Touhay (z) C.A.| France . D.C.. | Jan. 7, 1892 | Fees. 350.50
Do . .| Hugo Pizzotti V.C.A.[. . . .]. . - | Apr. 28, 192]. - + LPH ons
Venice (4) . .| Henry A. Johnson . i c.|D.Cc.; .|D.C.. | Mar. 29, 1886] 1,000 867.00
Do. Frederick Rechsteiner, V. &D. Cc. June 8, 1891 ae
HOW CONSULS ARE APPOINTED. 29
Let me give a few of them; they will show how our foreign service is
conducted, and will serve as pictures of the beginnings of diplomatic
and consular life.
CLASSES OF CONSULAR OFFICERS: THEIR POWERS AND
DUTIES.
The Consular Service of the United States consists of agents and consuls-
general, vice-consuls-general, deputy consuls-general; consuls, vice-consuls,
deputy consuls; commercial agents, vice-commercial agents, deputy commercial
agents; consular agents, consular clerks, interpreters, marshals, and clerks at
consulates.
Consuls are of two classes: (1) Those who are not allowed to engage in
business, and whose salaries exceed one thousand dollars per annum; (2) Those
who are allowed to engage in business. The latter class of consuls is again sub-
divided into —(1) Those who are salaried (known as consuls in Schedule C), and,
(2) Those who are compensated from the fees which they receive for their services,
These clerks, to the number of thirteen in all, are appointed by the Presi-
dent after examination, and can be removed only for cause stated in writing
and submitted to Congress at the session first following such removal. Appli-
cants must be over eighteen years of age, and citizens of the United States at
the time of their appointment, and must pass examination before an examining
board, who shall report to the Secretary of State that the applicant is qualified
and fit for the duties of the office. They may be assigned to different consul-
ates at the pleasure of the Secretary of State; and, when so assigned, they are
subordinate to the principal consular officer, or the vice or deputy at the post,
as the case may be.
If the applicant for the office of consular clerk is in a foreign country, he
may be examined by a series of written questions by the Minister of the United
States in that country, and two other competent persons to be named by him.
The result of the examination, with the answers of the candidate in his own
handwriting, will then be transmitted to the Secretary of State. Consular
clerks are required to discharge such clerical and other duties of the consul-
ate as may be assigned to them by the principal officer, whose instructions in
all respects they are carefully to observe and obey. Punctual daily attendance
at the consulate during office hours, diligence in the discharge of the consular
duties, a cheerful obedience to the directions of their superiors, a courteous
bearing toward all persons having business with the consulate, and uprightness
30 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
of conduct in all respects will be expected from them. Disobedience, want of
punctuality, neglect of duty, the abuse of their credit in pecuniary transac-
tions, or exceptionable moral conduct will be followed by the revocation of
their commissions.
The department is authorized by law to allow for the hire of clerks, when
the money is actually expended therefor, as follows: To the consul at
Liverpool, a sum not exceeding the rate of two thousand dollars for any one
year; and to the consuls-general at London, Paris, Havana, and Rio de
Janeiro, each a sum not exceeding the rate of one thousand six hundred dollars
for any one year; to the consuls-general at Berlin, Frankfort, Montreal,
Shanghai, Vienna, and Kanagawa, and for the consuls at Hamburg, Bremen,
Manchester, Lyons, Hong-Kong, Havre, Crefeld, and Chemnitz, each a sum
not exceeding the rate of one thousand two hundred dollars for any one year ;
and the consuls at Bradford, Marseilles, and Birmingham, each a sum not
exceeding the rate of nine hundred and sixty dollars for any one year; to
the consuls-general at Calcutta, Port au Prince,and Melbourne, and to the
consuls at Leipsic, Sheffield, Sonneberg, Dresden, Nuremberg, Tunstall, Ant-
werp, Bordeaux, Colon (Aspinwall), Glasgow, Panama, and Singapore, each
a sum not exceeding the rate of eight hundred dollars for any one year ; to
the consuls at Belfast, Barmen, Leith, Dundee, Victoria, and to the consuls-
general at Matamoros and Halifax, each a sum not exceeding the rate of
six hundred and forty dollars for any one year, to the consuls-general at
Mexico and Berne and to the consuls at Beirut, Malaga, Genoa, Naples,
Stuttgart, Florence, Manheim, Prague, Zurich, and Demerara, each a sum not
exceeding the rate of four hundred and eighty dollars for any one year. The
allowance to be made from this appropriation to the several consulates named
being within the discretion of the Department of State, the amount of the
allowance will be determined by the requirements of each office. No clerk
will be employed without special instructions authorizing it, and the name
and nationality, as well as the proposed amount of compensation of each clerk,
will be reported to the department.
APPOINTMENT AND QUALIFICATION OF CONSULAR
OFFICERS.
Consuls-general and consuls are appointed by the President, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate. They qualify by taking the prescribed
oath (a copy of which is furnished by the department for the purpose), and
by executing a bond to the United States in the form prescribed by the
department.
HOW CONSULS ARE APPOINTED. 3I
Consuls-general and all consuls and commercial agents whose salaries.
exceed one thousand dollars a year are required, before receiving a commis-
sion, to execute a bond (Form No. 2) containing an express stipulation,
against engaging in business. Those whose salaries are at the rate of one
thousand dollars or less, all of whom are entitled to the privilege of trading,
execute the bond given in Form No. 3; and those who derive their compen-
sation from fees (who may also engage in business) execute the bond prescribed
inForm No. 4. The prohibition as to transacting business may, however, be
extended, in the discretion of the President, to all consular officers, whether
receiving salary or fees. All principal consular officers are required by law
to take the oath in Form No, 1. For instructions respecting the sureties on.
the bond and the formalities of its execution see note to Form No. 2.
A consul-general or consul appointed to one consulate is prohibited from.
holding the office of consul-general or consul at any other consulate, or from.
exercising the duties thereof.
Commercial agents are appointed by the President. They qualify for
their offices in the same manner in all respects as consuls-general and consuls.
Vice-consuls-general, deputy consuls-general, vice-consuls, deputy consuls,.
vice-commercial agents, deputy commercial agents, and consular agents are:
appointed by the Secretary of State, usually upon the nomination of the
principal consular officer, approved by the consul-general (if the nomination
relates to a consulate or commercial agency), or, if there be no consul-general,
then by the diplomatic representative. If there be no consul-general or
diplomatic representative, the nomination should be transmitted directly to
the Department of State, as should also the nominations for subordinate officers
in Mexico, British India, Manitoba, and British Columbia. The nominations
for vice-consul-general and deputy consul-general must be submitted to the
diplomatic representative for approval, if there be one resident in,the country,
The ‘privilege of making the nominations for the foregoing subordinate officers
must not be construed to limit the authority of the Secretary of State, as
provided by. law, to appoint these officers without such previous nomination
by the principal officer. The statutory power in this respect is reserved, and
it will be exercised in all cases in which the interests of the service or other
public reasons may be deemed to require it.
Consular officers recommending appointments of this character must in all
cases submit some evidence of the capacity, character, and fitness of the nom-
inee for the office, and also information respecting his residence and the State
or country of which he is a citizen or subject. A nomination failing to give
these particulars will not be considered. The nomination must be made ina
32 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
dispatch addressed to the Assistant Secretary of State, transmitted through
the legation or consulate-general, or directly, as the case may be. A minor
will not be approved for any subordinate consular office. All persons nom-
inated for subordinate appointments must be able to speak and read the
English language.
These pages may seem dull, yet they illustrate certain facts that
American boys should know, as it should be a part of education to
show how the departments of our own government are conducted.
Reader, when you are travelling, always visit the consulates, and
also the stations of the missionaries of your own church. You will
find more information in these places than anywhere else. It is the
consul’s business to answer your questions in regard to travel and to
treat you well, and he will usually do these things with great pleasure
to himself as well as to you. As for the missionary stations, they stand
for progressive education, and you may make yourself a kind of mis-
sionary by bearing good reports of the progress that such places usually
illustrate. Such visits will educate your heart as well as your head,
and perhaps stimulate your conscience. Go!
Percy was delighted with the tales of the East. Let me give you
from time to time some of the books that he read.
“Count Lucanor,†a Spanish book, written a century Neiote the
invention of printing, was a favorite study. It had the charm of old
Spain and Moorish places. Its author was Don Juan Manuel, the
Spanish Chaucer. We will give you some tales from this curious
book,
“ Folk-Lore Legends, Russian and: Polish,†as published by W. W.
Gibbings, 18 Bury Street, London, he also found rich in tales that were
almost as charming to the fancy as the story of the days of “ Good
‘Haroun Alraschid.†|
We shall give you adaptions of the best stories from these pages,
as they are still the delight of the Eastern ports. |
Percy also liked those American stories that closely resemble those
of the East.
THE SINGING MOUSE. 33
The long twilights of the story-telling garden had the atmosphere
for such curious tales and wonder-tales. His father’s friends in the
State Department and old consular friends would gather under the
trees, and with them social travellers, and tell tales of many lands.
After the story-telling they would leave the garden to see the dome of
the Capitol gleaming over the city in the moonlight.
Let me give you some of these old stories by visitors from the New
England port cities, that have the Oriental curiosity and flavor. There
were two that particularly held Percy’s fancy. The boy used to repeat
them to new visitors, and they seemed to many to have an almost
Eastern charm. The favorite of all these peculiar stories which he
used to relate with sympathetic coloring, after the Eastern way, and
which we reproduce in our own, was, —
THE SINGING MOUSE.
*Goop-By, Alice. It is a cold morning, and it seems hard to go away
and leave you all alone in the dark; but I must work. We have to work to
live: To-morrow will be Christmas. I wish I had something to give you; but
Thaven’t. Never mind, Alice, I love you.â€
The old man opened the door to go, then looked back on his blind daughter,
whom he was about to leave all alone for the day. He wished to say something
more to comfort her in the long hours of loneliness that were to follow.
“Well, be good, Alice. Perhaps the good fairies will come to you; they
come at Christmas-time, they say, to those who believe that the world is
good.â€
He closed the door.
‘The world.’ The words had a strange far-away meaning to Alice. She
had never seen the world. She had felt the sunshine, she had heard distant
bells ringing on Sundays, and happy birds singing in the cool green trees of
the park on summer morns. She knew when the seasons came and changed,
- but she had never seen the springs light up the hills, and burst into flowers, or
the summer dawns and groves and rivers and hay-fields, or the autumn fruits
- and burning leaves, or the fleecy fall of white snows. The winds of the seasons
sang to her; she had listened to their music for sixteen years. When a young.
3
34 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
child she had had the scarlet-fever, and it had left her weak and helpless, and
a slow darkness had come over her eyes, shutting out the light more and more
day by day, until at last the bright world disappeared, and was lost. She was.
blind. She could now only dimly remember that she had ever seen the world.
Only two things had left pictures on her mind; they were the face of her
mother, who was now dead, and a canary-bird that had sung over her bed in
her sickness. She loved to dream of them always, —the beautiful face and the
golden bird.
Late in the morning an old woman named Lucy came into the room. She
always visited the blind girl once a day, and in winter oftener.
“Can I do anything for you, Alice?†she asked kindly.
“ Father says that to-morrow will be Christmas. It is the day of Christ, and
I suppose that everything is beautiful. Shall I ever see Christmas? I wish I
could!â€
“Oh, Alice, believe that you will, and you will. How bright the snows.
glisten on the roof of the Perkins Institute for the Blind! I wish you could
see the wings of the doves that fly among the chimneys over there. It always
looks bright up there; all places look pleasant where people do good.â€
“For the blind? Did you say for the blind? Could I not go there? Per-
haps they would help me.â€
“But you would have to leave your dear old father. That is an asylum,
and your eyes are all grown over. But don't lose heart, child. Strange things
happen to those that believe. The believing heart receiveth all things. Ask
the Lord to send you the good fairies of Christmas, and the good fairies will
come. I have always noticed that the good fairies come to those who expect
them.â€
“Oh, Lucy, I do so wish I could see, like you! The bells will ring, but I
shall not see the Day Beautiful. Don’t you pity me, Lucy? Let me kiss you.â€
The old woman clasped the girl to her bosom. ‘ Lucy, | believe in you — and
father.â€
The faith of the girl touched the old woman’s heart. There are few sweeter
words than these, “I believe in you.†The confidence made old Lucy wish to
help the sightless girl. Faith always has this influence. Lucy turned away,
and a happy thought came into her mind, like an angel flying across the sky.
She had a few pennies. She would buy some chestnuts from the grizzly old
chestnut-roaster on the street, and would put them in Alice’s stocking. So she
stopped at the door as she was about to go, and said, —
‘Alice, other girls hang their stockings under the shelf on Christmas Eve,
and they do say that the good fairies come in the night and put things into
THE SINGING MOUSE, . Bh
them. You hang up yours to-night above the stove. You cannot tell what
may happen. I see you have faith in your heart. It is a good thing to
believe in God and everybody. If all people did this, what a happy world
it would be!â€
Alice did not comprehend all this homely philosophy, but she felt the spirit
of it. She heard Lucy going. A new delight came into her heart, her face
grew bright, and she said, —
“Oh, Lucy, I feel that everything is good around me and above me, and
I believe in everything! I shall see Christmas — the Day Beautiful —some
day. Yes, Lucy, I surely will. I feel it Zeve. I shall see.â€
She crossed her white hands on her heart, and sat smiling. Old Lucy went
away, but Alice sat there still, as lovely as a mute statue of Faith. She heard
the footsteps hurrying by on the street, a rift of sunlight came into the room
from the thinly parting snow clouds, and she felt the brightness of the light that
she could not see.
There was a little noise in the room—a rustle. Something was there, —a
tiny something. Was it a fairy’s foot? It was now here, now there, airy,
timid.
Alice listened. She heard nothing more for atime. She recalled the tales
of Grimm, Anderson, Fouqué, Haupt, and Hoffmann that her mother used to tell
her. Was ita fairy? It was not the wind, for the air was still.
Again an airy trip across the floor like a little wing. Was it the spirit of
the dead canary that she could see still in the dim twilight of memory? Her
heart beat. Again and again it sped across the floor, like a thing of air. Once
it came near her feet. Oh, that she could see!
What was that? Music? Surely it was. In acorner of the room. Soft
music like the summer wind among the high wires over the street, like a harp
in the park, like the dead canary’s remembered song, only not sharp like that
— more light, more soft, more timid. Fairy music it might be. A fairy play-
ing a harp.
It came again. It could not be a cricket. Crickets sometimes came to
those tenement-houses in the dead world, but it was winter now. How it sang
and sang! Alice listened with a thrilled and wonder-delighted heart. She
moved her foot. The music was gone with a little rustle like a wing.
“Lucy!†she screamed.
Old Lucy came. ‘What, Alice, girl?†;
“My old canary has come back, and has been singing to me. Something
good is going to happen. Do dead birds sing?â€
Lucy did not know. She saw nothing and heard nothing. She kissed:
36 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
Alice, and only said, “You have been dreaming, child; but dreams of faith
often come true.â€
That afternoon the street was all bells. Door-bells were ringing. There
were bells on the horses, bells on the sleds of the children. The sun of the
short day faded out of the room, and all the air became melodious and palpita-
ting with chimes. At twilight all was music, — bells, bells, bells.
Then fell a hush between the twilight and the evening festivals. The street
lamps were lit; one of them flashed into the window. There were a few still
moments, a rustle, and the same sweet harp-like, cricket-like music filled the
room again. Alice did not stir. It lasted long. There was a footfall on the
stairs, another little rustle and an airy run, and the music was gone,
The door opened. “ Oh, father, father, my dead canary has been here, and
has been singing to me! Oh, it was like silver; so beautiful— beautiful! I
wish that I could see!â€
‘Be patient, my little daughter. Perhaps it will all come by-and-by. I
told you that the fairies of good came to those who believe in them. I have
brought home a whole loaf of pound-cake and two oranges to-night because it
is Christmas Eve, and I have been thinking so much of you to-day. We will
eat them together.â€â€™
Poor old Hugh Meadowcraft, the laborer at ches docks where ships unloaded
their freight, felt a new vitality in his weary limbs as he rattled the grate, and
put the meat on the stove to fry, and poured out the coffee into the coffee-pot,
and prepared the evening meal. His employer, the ship-master, had added two
dollars to his simple wages for this week. He had paid his rent for his two
rooms, and bought a pound-cake for er, and he was a happy man. He heard
nothing but goodness in all the bells that were ringing near and far, and as he
sat down to his tea with his blind child, he said, ‘I tell you what it is, Alice,
this is a good world to live in; and I think that the next will be better still.
There’s nothing, child, like love and faith and hope; they are all the world of
happiness. A king can have no more. Smell the coffee, and hear the kettle
sing. The bells are all ringing yonder, everywhere.â€
They ate in happy silence. Suddenly there was a lute-like sound, like a
harp of air.
“ Listen, father.â€
“ Fairies.â€
Old Hugh moved his chair. The music ceased.
“ You have heard it, father — the canary?â€
“Tt is very strange. It is nothing bad, Alice; it bodes no evil; only a
good fairy ever sang like that.â€
LHE SINGING MOUSE. 37
Night came, with the temples of the stars shining in the sky; the streets
thronged; there were merry voices in the clear still air. Old Lucy came in,
and laughed at Alice’s fairy. Nine o’clock came, and Hugh went to his room,
and Alice for the first time in her life hung up her stocking for Santa Claus, or
the fairies, or the spirit of good that haunts the world’s better self. She went
to bed — it had been a thrilling day to her — and went to sleep to dream of the
song of the golden bird.
She awoke early, or was awakened by a little noise. What was that? A
nibbling sound under the shelf and over the stovepipe; in the very place where
she had hung her stocking.
She rose softly, slowly. The nibbling sound continued, and there was a
rustle as of nuts. Hush! The canary was singing again; — in the dark, under
the shelf, over the stove-pipe, where she had hung her stocking,
She crept toward the place silently and listened. Could it be? Yes, the
music was zz her stocking, away down in her stocking toward the foot. How
sweet and silvery and happy it was! She put out her trembling hand and
grasped the top of the stocking; she felt a motion of some living thing in it.
She pinched the toe; it was full of something. What had happened? She
screamed.
Her father came to the door with a light. ‘“ What is it, Alice?â€
“The canary in my stocking.â€
“No, no, girl. Here, let me see.â€
Old Hugh opened the top of the stocking. ‘ Santa Claus has been to see
you, Alice; and he has left a mouse, I do declare.â€
Old Lucy came, running. “See here, will wonders ever cease? Alice has
found a mouse in her stocking.â€
“Kill it!†said old Lucy. “It is after the nuts that — â€
“Oh, no, no; don’t kill it!†said Alice. “T beg of you, don’t kill it! It
sings.â€
“Oh, no, girl, it don’t sing; and it will eat up all the nuts. Let me call the
â€)
cat
“Oh, no; I tell you it sings like a canary. Let me have the stocking ;â€
and Alice seized it, and threw herself upon the bed. “Let me have it — let
me have it until day!†said she. “Let me be alone with it for a little while.
Oh, please do! It means good to me. I feel it does. Let me have it a little
while.â€
“Let her be,†said old Hugh. “Perhaps it is a singing mouse — who
knows? I have heard of them. They bring good luck. Likely it was that
she heard yesterday, and that we heard at tea.â€
38 ZIGZAG FOURNEYVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
Morning came, —a splendor of billowy clouds, sunshine, and glistening
snow. Old Hugh rose late, and came into the room.
“ Oh, father, it has been singing again; and the stocking is half full of nuts,
and I have touched i¢ with my hand. It is soft, and its heart makes its little
body tremble all over. Did Santa Claus leave it, father?â€
“T don’t know; and it isn’t much matter, I guess, as long as you are
happy.â€
The mouse continued to nibble the nuts and to sing. Hugh began to be
interested in it. He called old Lucy into the room to hear it sing.
“Just you be still and listen,†said he.
The mouse began to nibble, then to sing.
The doctor called to see a sick woman who lived in the house.
“ Doctor,†said Lucy, “did you ever hear of such a thing as a singing
mouse?â€
« Yes.â€
“There ’s one in the other room, and I want you to hear it.â€
The doctor was in a hurry to go, but his curiosity was excited. He stepped
into Alice’s room, saw the little mouse in the trap cage, and presently heard
it sing.
It looked so cunning standing there on its hind-feet, and moving its fore-
feet as though playing on a tiny violin — so pretty, so toy-like, so comical —
that the doctor was delighted, and he lingered there for nearly half an hour,
notwithstanding his haste at first to go. Then his face turned to Alice — how
happy and lovely she looked ! — and he said, —
“ What is the matter with your eyes, my girl?â€
_ “Tam blind. I cannot see you or father; I cannot see Christmas, the day
that they call Beautiful; I cannot see the singing mouse. Oh, doctor, I wish
I could see! I feel that some good influence is following me. Can’t you
help me?â€
“Come to the window with me, my girl, and let me examine your eyes.
You ought to be treated by an oculist,†said he. ‘‘I declare, I must tell my
friend Phillips about you. His wife is an invalid; she will want to see the
singing mouse. Ske likes to meet everybody who has trouble and to make
_them happy. She feeds with coin all the organ-grinders in the street, and
watches at her window for faces in distress. Here is a case for her. My girl,
I have hopes that you may see again. There is a growth over your eyes; it
may be removed. I will be your friend. What is your name?â€
“ Alice — Alice Meadowcraft.â€
He went away slowly, leading Alice back to her chair, And the mouse
was singing.
THE SINGING MOUSE. 39
“Will be your friend.†Alice’s face was a picture of happiness, and beauti-
ful with hope. “Friend!†He might cause the heavens to lift again before
her eyes full of sunrises, moonrises, sunsets, rainbows, and stars. He might
cause the flowers to bloom again, the birds to come again, to her eyes. He
might bring again the face of her father to hers, and she might yet see the Day
Beautiful.
There lived on Essex Street at this time a tall, patriarchal man, with grand
manners and a most beautiful face, whom the whole nation feared, but whom
all the poor people of that neighborhood loved. He would face a political
mob with perfect calmness, but he could never say “No†to an unfortunate
man or a homeless child. He was of distinguished family, and had inherited
wealth; a graduate of Harvard, and a correspondent of the greatest statesmen
of the world, yet he lived in a simple way, and died poor, having given away
all that he had. He sleeps now in a lot assigned him by friendly charity in
the beautiful Milton (Massachusetts) burying-ground, near the old house of
the “Suffolk Resolves,†which “resolves†was the first Declaration of
Independence.
This man, whose criticism even good President Lincoln declared that he
dreaded more than any other, and whose white hand waved mobs backward
like a prophet’s, at this time towered through the streets near where the Old
Colony and Albany depots now are, loved, feared, hated, carrying his own
market basket in the morning, and at night thrilling assemblies with silver-
tongued eloquence such as is not now heard in Boston. His wife was an
invalid, and he was her nurse for a lifetime.
The next day the doctor came to the long rambling house where Alice
lived, and he brought with him this statesman who scorned public office, but
whose words moved the conscience of the people and led the struggles of the
world.
How grand and noble he looked as he stood there in that poor room and
took the hand of Alice, the blind girl!
“T have come to hear your little mouse sing,†said he. Then he started
back. He looked upon the blind eyes of that beautiful face. “I must let you
go over and see Ann, She will send you to Mrs. Anagnos.â€
The little mouse was induced to sing after a time, and the two went away.
“J will call for you some day,†said the patriarch.
“Mrs. Anagnos!†Who was Mrs. Anagnos? The name rang in Alice’s
mind. She asked the few that came into her room who was Mrs. Anagnos.
None of them knew.
At last the grocer came with a simple parcel. Alice asked him the question
that so haunted her.
40. ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
“ Oh, she is the daughter of Julia Ward Howe — she who wrote, —
‘Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.â€
And he hurried away. But the mouse was singing.
The line seemed a prophecy. Who wrote it, — Mrs. Julia Ward Howe or
Mrs. Anagnos? She would ask the newsboy when he passed. She did. His
answer was odd, but satisfactory: —
“She is the wife of Mr. Anagnos, who keeps the Blind Asylum over in
South Boston, and helps blind people to read. He might make you see.
Better go and see her. She is a great big woman, and she’s just good to
everybody, like dfs’ eras She’d make you see, like’s not. I’d try her,
anyway.â€
Alice went back to her room, her mind all roses, and the little mouse was
singing again.
One day the patriarch came again, and he took Alice to the two-story brick
house on Essex Street, to meet his invalid wife. How tenderly they talked to
her! And‘ Ann†kissed her, and said, —
* We will see your father, and I think I will send a carriage for you some
day, and you shall visit Mrs. Anagnos. I think, too, that Mrs. Anagnos will
want you to stay with her a while, and I perhaps will take care of your mouse
while you are gone. I love little animals, and I live in my room alone.â€
“Do you think that she will make me see?†said Alice, — ‘‘see father and
the day that they call Beautiful? â€
_The high rooms of the Blind Asylum at South Boston overlook the city,
the bowery suburbs, and the glorious harbor. The world of life, of spires,
towers, ships, parks, and gardens, lies under them. In one of these rooms
Alice found a new home. And here one day the doctors gave her a breath of
ether, and she went away to dreamland; and when she came back again, Mrs.
Anagnos stood over her, and kissed her, and a doctor said, —
“ The operation has been successful. You will see again.†;
‘“When?†said Alice, whose eyes were in thick bandages. ‘Oh, when?â€
“JT will say on Christmas Day, —the day you call Beautiful, You must be
kept ina dark room until then. If your eyes do well, I will let your friends
_come to see you. next Christmas, and I will lift the Cunsainy and you shall see
the world again.â€
Touchingly faithful were the visits of Mrs. Anagnos to the silent room of
Alice. All the blind people loved this woman whom they could not see, but
whose presence was a spiritual benediction. Her heart was always with them,
“*WAIT TILL THE SUN GOES INTO A CLOUD,’ SAID THE DOCTOR.â€
THE SINGING MOUSE. 43
and when she lay dying, her last request was, ‘Don’t forget my poor blind
children.â€
Christmas was drawing near; streets were crowded and bells were ringing
again; the mellowness of autumn lingered, and there was an April blue in the
December sky.
“TI shall see the world to-morrow,†said Alice.
“Yes, to-morrow,†said the doctor; ‘‘and your father and friends will be
here.â€
It was Christmas afternoon. Alice sat in a dim room, the bandages had
long been removed from her eyes, and she had seen Mrs. Anagnos in the
shadows, and had kissed her face. For a few days, indeed, she had sat in a
room that was almost light. She had been tempted again and again to lift the
curtain, and open the blind, and steal one glimpse of the new world.
Her father came. She looked upon his old hard hands— into his eyes.
They were like her own. His hair was white—not like hers. Were other
men’s heads so white? One of the teachers had sent her a Christmas rose.
How lovely it was! How pitiable it seemed that any one should be unable to
see it! Dr. Howe came, his soul of love shining through his noble face. The
doctor came —he who had promised to be her friend—and the patriarch.
Shadow people were they all, but such glorious shadow people!
The doctor’s hair was not white; it was like her own. His face was not
white; it was olive, and a rose was on it. Alice was filled with wonder at the
stately shadow people, but her heart went out to the doctor at once. Was it
not he who had said, ‘I will be your friend�
‘Wait till the sun goes into a cloud,†said the hospital doctor. A shadow
passed over the glimmering window. ‘“ Now!â€
The curtain was lifted.
There it lay —the Day Beautiful! The blue sky, with the sun curtained in
a cloud; the broad city, with its dome; the long harbor, with its white sails;
the streets full of people; the parks; the far horizons; there it lay, — the world;
and she had come among the people of all this beautiful existence to be one
of them.
“This is Christ’s day,†she said.
eovesr.
“ Are other days like this?â€
“Yes — all.â€
* And I shall see them? Oh, what a bliss it will be to live!â€
She turned to her friend the doctor with streaming eyes, and said, “It was
you that promised to be my friend. I owe this all to you.â€
44 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
“No,†he said; “it was the mouse, — the singing mouse.â€
“Tt was not acommon mouse. Do you think so?â€
“No: it was a singing mouse.â€
“JT did not mean that; it was all a finger of — something.†She held out her
hand and looked at her own finger. “I can’t tell what I want to say. Don't
you know, doctor?â€
It was a wet day in February; I recall it well. It had rained and rained,
and all the tall houses were dripping. It had been announced that a private
qa
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citizen would that day Jie in state in Faneuil Hall. The Shaw Guards were to
escort the remains thither, and stand guard over them. He had never held
an office; he had never led Senates or armies, or anything but the march of
human thought. Yet the great square filled with people in the rain. Faneuil
THE VILLAGE MYSTERY. | : 45
Hall market-places were full of drenched people, — poor people, shivering
people, teamsters, old farmers, Irishmen, Irishwomen, colored men, colored
women, children, folk from out of town, men of the trades, an army of laborers.
Social leaders were not there, politicians were not there; men who trade in
the hopes of the poor were not there; nor any who, under any pretext, take
from the poor their birthright. But the squares were full. There was a dirge
in the rain, a procession of black faces, and then a stay in the pouring rain; after
which the great tide of hearts was allowed to pour into the hall.
A man and a very beautiful woman came with the surging crowd, and as the
woman bent over to kiss the white form of the dead, it seemed as if her heart
was broken. The man was compelled to force her away that others might rain
tears on the cold roses. That woman was Alice Meadowcraft Holly, and the
man was her husband, the doctor. Then I thought of the singing mouse, of
the Day Beautiful, and of the good Angel of Faith, whose hand, unseen, had
been in it all.
Another of these stories which the American practical mind, unlike
the Eastern, seeks to explain, was a mid-New-England fireside tale which
has found many versions, of which the following is one.
THE VILLAGE MYSTERY.
ONE April morning in the early part of the present century, a very curious
group of farmers might have been seen in an old blacksmith’s shop near the
village of Henniker, N. H., intent on discussing a remarkable event that had
recently occurred in the neighborhood.
A common farm-horse, of no especial note, except it was white, had walked
in the night across the deep torrents of Contoocook River at a point where
the bridge had been lately washed away by a freshet, carrying a young woman
on his back. The river at the time was swollen, and from twelve to fifteen feet
deep. The night was dark and cloudy, and had followed an early spring tem-
pest, which the farmers had called the “ breaking-up of winter.†The young
woman was not aware that the bridge had been carried away until the day after
this mysterious crossing of the swollen stream.
The event was regarded as well-nigh miraculous, and had caused great excite-
ment in the usually quiet little village. The proof was positive that the horse
had crossed the torrent, and people came daily to visit the old white animal in
the stable; and the poor creature that had led an uneventful life of good and
46 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
steady service among the roads, fields, and pastures of the Contoocook received
the name of The Miraculous Horse.
How many people in Henniker many years ago were familiar with the story
of The Enchanted Horse in the “ Arabian Nights,†or with the Magic Horse of
Dan Chaucer’s delightful fiction, we do not know. But many of them were
proud that their town had produced a horse that could walk upon the water,
even if he could not fly.
There were other people, in a very small minority, as is usual in such cases,
or was at that time, who believed that some natural explanation could be found
for the feat of the water-walking horse, and that time would bring to light some
curious solution of the mystery.
Such was the state of the public mind on this blue April morning that
found a gathering of rugged farmers at the old New Hampshire smithy.
The occasion of the extraordinay gathering was as follows: Smith Smart,
the honest blacksmith, had been told the day before, by Samuel Samson, the
owner of The Miraculous Horse, that the latter would ride over to the smithy
the next morning, and have the white horse shod. The interesting animal had
not been shod since he had walked upon the water on the cloudy night. Smith
Smart therefore regarded the shoeing of the horse as a matter of no common
concern, and he had told his friends to “ come around†and see the shoes set
on the miraculous roadster, and further discuss the mystery. -
“What time did Samson say that he would be here?†asked old Judge Camp-
bell, stamping the snow from his feet, and holding his great hands over the fire
of the smithy.
“ About nine, I guess,†said the blacksmith, bearing down on the lever of the
bellows, and so sending a red flame into the air which touched the judge’s coat-
sleeve. ;
“ Cracky! don’t you burn me!†said the judge. “I am not made of iron or
steel, if I do sit upon the bench and administer justice. There he comes now,
I do declare. I don’t know how it may be with the rest of you, but I can’t see
anything peculiar about that old white horse. He is just a horse, a white horse,
to me; and I wouldn’t have given twenty dollars for him before he walked
across the Contoocook on the water.
Farmer Samson came riding up to the smithy. He had often done so
‘before, as now, on horseback, and neither he nor the horse had been objects of
any special interest to anybody. But he came now gravely and silently, as
though he were a prophet, and the heavens were about to fall; and the old
farmers gaped at the horse with open mouths and wide eyes. The farmer dis-
mounted, and left the horse standing in the April sun, that poured through the
great doors of the smithy.
THE VILLAGE MYSTERY. A7
“Well,†he said at last, “there he is. If you can shoe the air and the
water, shoe him. These are solemn times, judge, —solemn times! Signs and
wonders, wheels within wheels, like Ezekiel’s vision; and I don’t know what
the world is a-comin’ to. I sometimes think that the times of Cotton Mather
and ghosts and flying women are about to return again to New England.
It is a mystery why fate should set its sign on that old white horse, but so
it is.â€
The horse stood there, very quiet and demure. He did not look as though
he had been the medium of any special revelation. He did not so much as
wink, He was worn with hard work of many years ; had an intelligent, reliable ©
look; did not fear the forge; and seemed to be glad that spring had come, and
to enjoy the sunshine. No one would have taken him for an oracle.
“Samson, did you ever notice anything peculiar about that horse before
that awful night?†asked the judge.
“No; only he is the most sure-footed animal I ever had. Whatever I set
him to doin’, he will do, — plough without a driver; furrow without lines ; go
home from mill all alone with a bag of meal on his back, and leave the grist at
the door. He never had no antics nor capers, nor nothin’ of that kind; but he
has had the strongest horse-sense of any animal I ever knew. Seems as though
sometimes he had a soul. -I always thought that I would hate to kill him when
he became old. He might haunt me.
“He carried me to be married, and bore away two of my children to their
graves; and Martha would have been dead, too, if he hadn’t a-walked over the
water like a spirit horse in the dead o’ night, under the scudding clouds, and
brought the doctor just in the nick o’ time. Poor old Jack! there are not
many more weddings and funerals for you to go to in my family. I do think,
judge, that there ought to be some law to protect an old family horse,—a
hospital, or somethin’.â€
Samson twined his fingers in the animal’s mane.
‘I always noticed that that animal had a kind of far-away look in his eye,
as though he was sort of pryin’ into futurity,†said old Deacon Bonney. “ It’s.
a case like Balaam, you may depend. It ain’t no use talkin’ ; your Martha is a
good woman, and she was goin’ to die without a doctor, and the powers above
just let the good old white horse have his way; and he went over the river,
waterfalls and all, dry shod, like the Israelites of old. He was uplifted.â€
“He never went over the Contoocook River dry shod, without there was
somethin’ under his feet,†said the village schoolmaster, Ephraim Cole, who
had come with the rest, as the day was Saturday and a holiday. “Even the
Israelites had the winds to help them. There are no effects without causes,
48 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
and that horse went across the river in some perfectly natural way, you may
be sure, Wait and see. Time will tell the truth about all things.â€
“Samson,†said the judge, ‘I want you to tell us the true story of that
night, while Smart sets the shoes on that marvellous animal.â€
Smith Smart plied the lever again. The forge began to blaze. Some new
shoes were dropped into the fire, and the blacksmith began to pare down the
horse’s hoofs with his steel scraper. The horse was quite used to these things,
and did not move, except at the will of the smith.
“He is the patientest horse to be shod that ever I see,†said Smart.
“ Always was. I noticed that years ago. I always thought that there was
somethin’ mysterious about him.â€
The men sat down on sooty benches and boxes, and Samson began his
strange story.
“ Well, this is how it was, this way, as I remember. It was early in March,
of a Tuesday night. Wife began to feel sick in the evening: chills, and fever
flashes. Then she began to have a difficulty of breathin’, and Tsee that she was
threatened with pneumonia, and says I to Minnie, my daughter, ‘You bridle
Jack and go for the doctor as quick as you can. ’Tis a dark night, but
Jack knows the way. He’s been after the doctor in the night before. Wrap
up warm, and don’t mind the thunder. It will be cold when you cross the
bridge, so wrap up warm.’
“T had n’t heard then that the bridge had been carried away by the freshet.
Well, Minnie, she bridled up Jack and started. It was a troubled night; I
could hear the wind in the branches of the trees, and see the clouds scud across
the half-moon. The wind was keen, and Minnie drew the shawl over her head,
and gave Jack the rein, and let him go.
“Well, when they came to the bridge, or the place where the bridge was,
Minnie drew ‘the shawl more closely about her ears, and dropped the rein ;
and Jack walked right across the river, carefully like, and Minnie never so
much as thought that there was no bridge there, except once during a flash
© lightning. The water was pouring down from the hills in torrents. There
had n’t been such a freshet for years. Minnie called the doctor, and returned
in the same way.
“ The doctor came late, and found wife very sick ; and J incline to think that
his comin’ just saved her. After givin’ her medicines, he said to me, said he,
‘J should have been here before, but for the bridge being washed away. It is
a bad road round.’
“«The bridge washed away?’ said I.
“No, doctor,’ said Minnie, ‘the bridgé is not washed away. I went over it,
and came back the same way.’
THE VILLAGE MYSTERY. AQ
«No, no,’ said the doctor, said he, in surprise, ‘there is no bridge over this
part of the Contoocook. You must have been dreaming, Minnie. The horse
went round,
“*No, doctor, I crossed the bridge direct. You will find it so by the
horse's tracks. There was a minute or two that seemed to me kind o’ strange.
There came a flash of lightning and all around me looked like water.’
“Wife was better in the mornin’, and I had to go to the river. I followed
the tracks of Jack goin’ and comin’. The horse certainly went to the river, and
as Minnie was gone but half an hour, and it would have been an hour’s hard
riding to have gone and returned the other way, the horse surely crossed the
river.
“But to make the matter clear beyond a doubt, Minnie’s scarf blew off
while crossin’ the river, and we saw it on the next day at the place that she
crossed on a rock in the river. My hired ,man found the horse’s tracks on the
other side of the river.— No, sure as preachin’, and the stars above us, that
horse crossed the river with Minnie on his back. It was a supernatural event
of some kind. The horse crossed the bridge, and there was no bridge to
cross.â€
There was another confirmation to this amazing story, —a rheumatic old
woman living near the river, who stood by her window that night, looking out
on the breaking clouds. There came a flash of lightning, and she saw a white
horse with a black rider, walking on the water in the middle of the river. She
said that she had seen her “ death fetch.â€
A long silence followed the emphatic “there!†of the blacksmith. It was
broken by the mathematical schoolmaster.
“Will you let me ride the horse down to the tiver after he is shod? If
Minnie could cross where there is no bridge, I can.â€
“You can?†exclaimed a chorus of voices.
“Just follow me,†he continued. “I think I can show you all how a horse
can walk upon the water. What has been done, can be done.â€
Mounting the horse, the schoolmaster rode to the edge of the swollen river,
where the old bridge had been. But he did not stop there. Old Jack went on,
not stepping far into the water, but seemingly walking upon it. Very care-
fully went the horse, but steadily, as though feeling his way. The men gazed
in wonder.
“That stream is ten feet deep,†said one.
“Was there ever such a sight before, — a horse walking upon the water?â€
said another,
When Jack reached the other side, the old schoolmaster turned his head,
5
50 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
and waved his hat. He then turned the horse’s head, and the two came back
again, like a general and his war-steed. It was noticed that before taking a
step forward, Jack lifted high his right fore-foot and very carefully felt for a
place on which to rest it, as though there were hard and reliable places in the
gliding water.
As soon as the schoolmaster returned, he clasped the horse around the
neck, and said, —
* Jack, you are a good animal, and know more than most other people do.â€
The farmers began to investigate. They walked into the river. They
found that they, too, could walk upon the water. A line of posts covered by
wide strips of board belonging to the old bridge, had not been carried away,
but remained about half a foot under the surface, the foaming current passing
over them.
“Time tells the truth about all things,’
there are no effects without causes.â€
“ That was risky business,†said the judge.
It was a very thoughtful procession that followed the trustworthy old white
horse back to the smithy. Then the old breadcart man came along, with a
jingle of bells, and the judge bought five cakes of gingerbread and treated the
company at the blacksmith’s.
‘‘Cracky!†continued the judge, philosophically, “ fingers are fingers, and
thumbs are thumbs. If we haven't a miraculous horse, we have a miraculous
schoolmaster. Let us be thankful, deacon. What do you say?â€
And the Deacon said, ‘‘ Amen.â€
And the bluebirds sang, and the woodpeckers pecked, and flocks of robins
chorused, “ Cheer up, cheer up!†in the gnarled old apple-trees, and all the
world went on happily, as before.
?
repeated the schoolmaster, “ and
THE VALLEY OF MEXICO.
CHAPTER III.
A PLAN FOR A JOURNEY OF EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL.
THE PLACES TO BE VISITED: THE Ciry of Mexico; Caracas; A ZIGZAG JOURNEY
ACROSS THE SEA FROM PERNAMBUCO TO GIBRALTAR; THEN ALL THE
CONSULAR PorTS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN.
4] HE journey began to Mexico and La Guayra. One
i} day in the Garden Mr. Van der Palm said to Percy,
“I have business which will take me to the city
of Mexico for some months, and then to Caracas
for a few weeks. I shall then go to Pernambuco,
and thence sail on a Portuguese steamer directly
for Lisbon, stopping for a short time at the Cape Verd Islands and
the Canaries. Here is a map; let me trace the route with a pencil.â€
Mr. Van der Palm slowly traced the route to Mexico, South
America, and Europe.
“I should think such a journey,†said Percy, “would be one of the
most delightful in all the world.â€
“It is. I know the route well. The valley of the City of Mexico
is one of the most beautiful spots in North America, and there are few
places in the world more beautiful than Caracas and Valentia in the
Maritime Andes. The sea-route from Brazil to Portugal by way of
the Southern Islands is unequalled at the right seasons of the year.â€
“You will be gone a year?â€
a Yess
54 ZIGZAG YOURNEYVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
And he
“] shall take you with me. You will begin your studies in educa-
tional travel in the City of Mexico. You will find it a good place to
commence Latin-America Spanish. You can continue the study in
‘Caracas and Valentia; take Portuguese in Pernambuco, and Castilian
Spanish at the port of Gibraltar and at Barcelona. You will be able
to learn at these ports the commercial law and usages of Spain and
Portugal, and to study the literature of those countries in the
original language.â€
“Where shall we go from Lisbon and the ports of Spain?â€
“To all the consular ports of the Mediterranean. It will be a zig-
zag journey, as I shall not follow the coast on either side, but pass
from the port cities of one coast to the other, as yak commission
directs.â€
The journey thus planned was at once begun. In Monterey, Percy
spoke his first Buenos dias, Senor; Felizes trades, Senora; Como lo (pase,
usted? In the City of Mexico he began to hear, for the first time,
those characteristic Spanish words, in which may be read the decline
of the Latin empire in the New World,— Hasta manana (until
to-morrow). Here he also began to be familiar with those terms of
elegant and deferential politeness which form a part of all the dialogue
of Spanish America: Con mucho gusta; A los pres de usted, — At the
feet of you (to ladies); and Beso a usted los manos, Caballero, —1 kiss
your hands (to gentlemen).
Here he was not rudely asked to sit ‘down in cold business terms,
but, “ Be pleased to sit down;†and he received not ome thank for any
favor that he did, but a thousand, — mil gracias.
Here, too, instead of the old Washington garden, he used to go
out to study on the Paseo, which we must describe and picture.
POPOCATEPETL,
THE PASEO. 57
THE GOD OF FIRE.
THE PASEO, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STREET IN THE
NEW WORLD.
The Paseo, from the plaza of the City of Mexico to the castle and
gardens of Chapultepec, is probably the most beautiful street in the
New World. It is certainly the most historic. It was trodden by
ancient monarchs and priests of the Sun; by Montezumas, caciques,
and Spanish viceroys; and now, at last, by the people’s presidents.
Its history and traditions cover a period of one thousand years, and no
other street in the New World has such a record. —
The street, or boulevard, or paseo, is some three miles long, and
stretches from the place where the great Mexican pyramid once stood,
but where now is the cathedral and official palace, to the Castle of
Chapultepec, which was once the famous Halls of the Montezumas.
It is one long procession of statuary. It might be called the boulevard
of the Montezumas. One leaves the grand plaza, where once the great
pyramid stood, passes the old palace of Iturbide (the first Mexican
monarch after the overthrow of the Spanish power), the Alemada (a
music park of enchanting beauty), and comes to two colossal statues
of Montezumas. He is now in the Paseo proper. The vista before
58 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANAEN.
him is one of the most beautiful in the world. The highway is lined
with Spanish cypress and eucalyptus trees, and is sentinelled, as it were,
with statues of heroes. Around it stretch meadows of flowers and
alfalfa grass. Clarinas sing in the air, and at the end rise the white
porticos of Chapultepec, over gigantic trees and beautiful gardens, and
shine down on the city like things of life and joy.
But this is not all; over the white castle and the gardens of giant
cypresses, gray with mosses and crumbling with the shadows of centu-
THE PRESIDENT’S PALACE.
ries, loom Popocatapetl and Istaccihuatl like white clouds in the sky,
a pearly splendor of glistening snow. The first of these dead volca-
noes is higher than Mount Blanc, or any mountains in Europe. One
may here gather oranges and one hundred varieties of Mexican roses,
and tread the alfalfa meadows, and then glance upward to crystal
winters of the sky.
ih i Taal iH it i) :
iat t ie
if n i
THE SACRIFICIAL STONE.
THE PASEO. 61
The tourist who would see the glory and grandeur of this historic
highway would do well to devote to it a day, and to make his first visit
to the National Museum, which joins the palace in the plaza. Here
he will see Chae Mool, the Aztec god of fire, and the stone statue of
TOP OF SACRIFICIAL STONE.
Death. The Aztec sacrificial stone is here, and the Calendar Stone.
A study of the latter great stone puzzle will give to his mind the proper
historical mood and coloring for the three-mile journey to Chapultepec,
over which he is to pass.
What is the meaning of this mysterious Calendar Stone? The
view in Mexico follows a famous lecture by Philip G. G. Valentini,
62 ZIGZAG FOURNEYVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
published by F. P. Hoeck, that it was an altar for human sacrifices.
The learned archzeologist thus interprets it: —
“T will, in the first place, inform you in what year, by whose
order, and upon what particular festival occasion this stone disk was
first made.
“It was, according to our reckoning, about the year 1478, or nearly
four hundred years ago, and only two years before the death of the
then reigning king of Mexico, Axayacatl, that he was reminded by
the high priest of the State of a vow that he had once made, who
spoke as follows (I will give the long text of the Indian writer,
Tezozomoc, in the fewest words): ‘“ The building of the large sacrificial
1,
ee eee
Ona
SCULPTURE ON THE SIDE OF THE SACRIFICIAL STONE.
pyramid which you have undertaken approaches its end. You vowed
to decorate it with a beautiful work, in which the preserver of man-
kind, Huitzilopochtli, could take pleasure. Time presses; do not
delay the work any longer.†“I think,†said the king, “to replace
the sacrificial stone which my father once devoted to the god of the
sun, with a new one. Let that be laid aside, but carefully preserved.
I will give the laborers provisions and clothing that they may select
the most proper stone from the quarries, and I will send the sculptor
gold, cocoa, and colored cloth, that he may engrave a picture of the
sun as it is surrounded by our other great gods.†So the workmen
went out and quarried the stone, laying it upon rollers, and fifty thou-
sand strong men rolled it along. But as it was upon the bridge of
.
THE PASEO. 63
Xoloc, the beams gave way, the bridge broke in pieces, the stone fell
into the water, and no one dared to remove it from the bottom of the
lake. Then the king was angry and said, “Let them build a new
bridge, with double beams and planks, and bring a new stone from the
quarries of Cuyoacan. Let them bring a second stone here, out of
which a’trough may be made to receive the blood which flows as
expiation from the sacrificial stone.†When the stone had been
THE CATHEDRAL.
quarried and prepared, and had been rolled over the bridge in good
condition, there was a feast of joy. Then was the question asked,
How should the immense stone be placed on the pyramid? After
it was placed in position, we read that it was sunk in the surface of
an altar. The altar is of stone, of the height of eight men, and of
the length of twenty cubits. Before it the trough was placed. A
bloody festival was held for the dedication of this sacrificial slab, and
64. ZIGZAG JOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
upon it thousands of victims were slain. The king, as chief sacrificer,
on the first day killed a hundred of victims with his own hand, drank
of their blood, and ate of their flesh; and so arduous was his labor,
and so much did he eat, that he became sick, and soon after died. He
had only time to have his portrait sculptured upon the surface of the
rock of Chapultepec, according to the custom of Mexican kings. So
much for Tezozomoc’s report.
“ That the sacrificial stone here mentioned is the one still extant,
I will, in addition to the description, bring a still further proof. No
doubt this stone served for all their bloody sacrifices up to the year
1521. In that year the Spaniards captured the city; and Cortez
ordered the destruction of the entire pyramid, and that the canals
of the city be filled with its fragments. Neither Cortez nor Bernal
Diaz, nor any of the chroniclers of the conquerors, make mention of
the existence of any such monument as the afore-described stone.
They did not undertake its destruction; nay, they even placed it in
the market-place, on exhibition, where the pyramid once stood. This
we have from a missionary chronicler named Duran, ‘between the
years 1551 and 1569, who says he has always seen it in the same place,
and that there has been so much talk about it, among Spaniards and
natives, that finally his eminence, the Bishop of Montufar, took
umbrage, and ordered its burial in the place where it stood, in order
that the memory of the infamous actions that had been perpetrated
upon it might be blotted out. Until the year 1790 no one of the
many writers on Mexican antiquities has made the least mention of
it. In that year the repair of the pavement of the market-place was
undertaken. Ina deep excavation the laborers struck a slab of stone
which gave such a hollow sound from the stroke of the iron that they
thought a treasure-vault might be concealed under it. When they
lifted the slab they found no treasure-vault, but were astonished when
they beheld on one side, the spectacle of this incomparable treasure
of ancient Mexican art. The clergy wished it to be again buried,
THE PASEO. 7 68
but the art-loving and liberal viceroy, Revillagigedo, ordered it to be
exposed. He caused it to be built in on the southerly side of the
cathedral, in the ashlar work of one of its towers, so that all could see
it. Here it remained until the year 1885, when it was removed to
the National Museum, where it now stands.
“No one had then the least idea that such a stone had ever
existed, or for what purpose it might have served. The archzeologists
said at once that it must have some connection with the worship of
the sun. They thought the shield in the centre represented the
ancient sun-god; and as they found the always well-known twenty
pictures of the days of the Mexican month engraved about in a circle,
they gave to the disk the name by which it is still known, — the Mex-
ican Calendar Stone.
“The ancient Mexicans had a superstition that the sun-god would
destroy the world in the last night of the fifty-second year, and that
he would never come back. To prevail on him to remain, they offered
to him of their own free will. the greatest sacrifices; not a human
life only, but also on all their hearths, and in all their dwellings and
temples, they extinguished their fires. They left it to the goodness of
the god to give them back this element so necessary to mankind.
They broke all their household furniture ; they hung black masks
before their faces ; they prayed and fasted; and on the evening of the
last night they formed a great procession to a neighboring mountain.
Arriving, there is found a man lying on a circular stone, who gives
himself voluntarily as a sacrifice to the god. Exactly at the midnight
hour a priest thrust a knife into his breast, tore out the heart, and
raised it toward the starry heavens with uplifted hands, while another
‘priest laid a small round block of dry soft wood upon the open wound,
and a third priest, springing on the stone and kneeling over the body,
placed a hard stick perpendicularly on the block, which he then with
his hands caused to revolve. This violent friction produced a spark,
which was caught up, and was immediately carried to a neighboring
5
66 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN,
funeral pile, whose rising flame proclaimed to the people the promise
of the god to delay for a season the destruction of the world, and to
grant to mankind a new lease of fifty-two years of existence.â€
This is thrilling history. The tourist may now go out into the
open air, under the blue sky, pass the palace, the cathedral, the flower
and bird market, and enter San Francisco Street on his way to the
wonderful Paseo.
The great cathedral shines like the sun, holding its great bells in
air. The palace where the great pyramid once stood throngs with
bright, happy faces. The bazaars are gay with color. Women with-
THE TOMB OF JUAREZ.
out bonnets, or any head covering, mingle with the gayly dressed
sehors ; and lazy, happy peons, as the poorer classes of Mexicans are
called, sit in the sun along the crowded way.
‘Passing the old palace of Iturbide, now a grand hotel, one pauses
at the Alemada, and rests among the statues and fountains in the
deep cool shadows of cathedral-like trees. Or perhaps he crosses a
S PALACE,
’
BISHOP
MONTEREY,
TAIN PLAZA,
N
THE PASEO. 69
street or two beyond the Alemada, and visits the Mexican garden of
the dead, called the Pantheon, in the shadows of the crumbling church
of San Fernando. Here is the pyramidal tomb of Juarez, hung
with wreaths of immortelles from all the Mexican States, and bright
with living flowers. In the chamber of the pyramid is the effigy of
STATUE OF CHITAAHUAC.
the emancipator of Mexico in white marble. It represents Juarez as
lying dead on the lap of Mexico, the face of the goddess nation being
turned to the sun. It is one of the most. beautiful works of art in
America. Iturbide was the first monarch of Mexico. He threw off
the Spanish yoke; but it was Juarez who made the Indian races free
and gave them the rights of men.
Entering the Paseo between the statues of the Montezumas, the
charm of the wonderful highway begins. Before the tourist rises a
7O ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
most beautiful statue of Columbus, surrounded, as it were, by a court
of Montezumas and later heroes. One of these monuments is very
4 painful, but long holds the eye. It
= represents two Aztec kings, chained
to blocks of stone, and being tortured
by the Spaniards, who have lighted
slow fires under their feet to make
them disclose their treasures of gold.
On one side of the Paseo is
the ruin of a gigantic aqueduct man-
THE PLAZA AND LA MITRA, MONTEREY.
tled with vines. The way is lined with heavy stone seats. Cool
trees wave above them. Out of these shadowy vistas one sees the
houses of Mexican officials and foreign ministers, — prison-like look-
THE PASEO. oar
ing structures on the outside, but beautiful within, where patios or
open courts, surrounded by zwdas or halls, stand open to the sky.
Chapultepec glimmers in the distance, —a pile of simple beauty
that haunts one forever.
The castle and gardens of Chapultepec! Who can describe them?
Their charm is overwhelming, and yet money did not nor could not
create them. There is poetry and sentiment in the air. The birds
sing of the spirit of the place. One sits down under the ancient
cypresses, some of which are fifty feet in circumference, and pictures
the past. Here were the halls of the Montezumas; here a romantic
viceroy, Galvez, lifted his white palace out of the ruins of the past;
here Carlotta saw a few happy days; and here come the cantering
presidents of the last republic to spend their summers! One won-
ders how the American soldiers ever scaled the walls of rock-ribbed
elevation. |
From the airy porticos one looks down upon the white city burn-
ing in pure, clear sunlight, and up to the mountains that glimmer in
the cerulean splendor of the far sky, and feels that this is the throne
of beauty in the New World. Below are the old baths of the
Montezumas, and close at hand is the military academy. Clarinas
sing; soldiers without occupation march to and fro; glittering officers
on slick ponies and gay saddles disappear in the winding ways of the
ancient cypresses; children play about the cages of native wild animals
in the cool gardens below, and afar the air is a melody of bells.
But the present vanishes from the mind. Here the tourist, be he
a poet or not, dreams. The visions of Prescott’s history rise before
him. The vanished courts of the Montezumas glitter around him,
and in fancy he sees the ¢ocalfi smoking where the melodious city
now stands.
As he returns past the orange sellers, the flower-girls, and the
pulque dealers, he is perhaps glad that the native Indian races are
again masters of their own country. Juarez was an Indian; President
ae ZIGZAG FOURNEYVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
Diaz has native blood. The Indian races in all Spanish-American
countries are retrieving their ancient rights, and are seeking to put
education in the place of ignorance. The influence of the Latin
conquerors is failing and departing, and the halls of the viceroys are
being changed into seats of learning. In this movement, the Mexican
President leads, and the twentieth century will be likely to find the
beautiful Paseo of Mexico more glorious than in all the eventful and
picturesque centuries of the past.
After six months’ studies in Mexico, under a Spanish teacher, Percy
accompanied his father to Caracas, whose port is La Guayra. At this
port he made the acquaintance of genial Consul Hanna; and at the
window of the consulate that looked out on a narrow street, he listened
to many stories of the Spanish Main, one of which we give here, —
our first story of a consulate: —
AN ESCAPE FROM PIRATES.
IF a feeling of superstition with regard to unlucky vessels were ever pardon-
able, it must surely have been so in the case of the brig ‘‘ Crawford,†owned
first at Freetown, Mass., and afterwards for many years at Warren, R. I.
It would seem as if no nervous person, acquainted with her history, could
have trod her decks in the still midnight watches upon the ocean, without a
creeping sensation of dread.
The writer has a distinct recollection of this little full-rigged brig, as a
vessel which figured prominently among the notable craft of his boyhood.
There were dark stains on her deck which had the appearance of iron rust, but
which all knew were not iron rust. She had been the scerie of a tragedy that,
with its associations, was one of the most remarkable upon record.
Her whaling voyages from Warren, of which she made a number, were
all unfortunate in a pecuniary sense. From one of them, after an absence of
fourteen, months, she returned without having taken a drop of oil, — her cap-
tain having actually been obliged to purchase a supply for the binnacle laip
at some foreign port.
By Geo. H, Coomer, in the “Household,†by permission.
AN ESCAPE FROM PIRATES. 73
But the one dreadful event of her history had occurred while she belonged
to Freetown. In fact, it was chiefly in consequence of this that she was sold
to her purchasers in Warren, — her original owners feeling that they could no
longer bear to look upon her.
It was, I think, about 1829, that the “ Crawford†sailed for the West Indies,
under the command of a Captain Brightman, whose crew consisted of his two
mates, a cook, and three foremast hands.
Her outward cargo was disposed of at Havana, and she was nearly ready
for the homeward voyage when four Spaniards came on board, seeking for a}
passage to the United States. They were villanous-looking fellows, with
swarthy faces and flashing black eyes.
The mate advised Captain Brightman not to accept them, and urged his
objections with some force. The captain himself hesitated at first; but the
thought of the passage-money was too tempting, and he finally consented to
take the strangers on board.
One ofthe four passengers could speak English, but his companions knew
only Spanish. After the brig had been at sea a few days, the cook detected
this man, whose name was Tardy, in the act of sprinkling some white substance
on a quantity of food inthe galley. Tardy explained that the article was a
kind of seasoning well known in Cuba, and that he wished the officers and
crew to try its flavor.
The cook scraped off as much of it as he could; but, although the fact of
his doing so shows that he must have had a suspicion of foul play, he unfor-
tunately did not make known the incident until too late. He may have thought
that his knife had removed all danger.
Immediately after eating, the captain and chief mate were taken violently
il. The foremast hands also felt some bad effects from their meal, though in
a less degree; but the second mate escaped, as his duties on deck had kept
him from eating with the captain. As to the four passengers, they, of course,
had taken care not to touch the food on which the white powder had been
sprinkled.
It was now that the terrified cook told the mate what had occurred in the
galley. But in a few moments his voice was silenced forever. He was struck
down by the murderous pirates, who, seeing that their work was but half accom-
plished by the poison, at once proceeded to complete it with their knives.
The captain and chief mate they killed in the cabin; the cook and one of
the foremast hands were murdered close by the windlass, on the forward part
of the deck; while another sailor was killed as he stood at the wheel.
Meanwhile, the second mate, whose name was Durfee, and a man named
74. ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
Allen Bicknell, of Barrington, R. I., who were now the only survivors, ran aloft,
in the forlorn hope of thus saving their lives. The pirates fired at Bicknell
with pistols, wounding him as he stood in the foretop.
Tardy now hailed the second mate, promising to spare his life if he would
come down, as they required him to navigate the vessel. He accordingly
decended, and was not harmed. Seeing the officer in present safety, Bicknell,
the poor sailor, already wounded, asked if they would spare him also. Upon
receiving a reply in the affirmative, he came painfully down the rigging; but
the moment he reached the deck he was killed.
The vessel was now entirely in the possession of these monsters, and the
feelings of Durfee must have been indescribable, as he realized the extent of
the tragedy and his own dreadful situation.
He knew, of course, that the pirates would never, if they could help it,
permit him to leave the vessel alive. It might serve their purpose to spare
him for a time, but unless he should be able to hit upon some manner of
deliverance, the fate of his shipmates must at last be his.
The bodies of the victims were thrown into the sea, and the four murder-
ous scoundrels then commenced searching the cabin, being apparently aware
that she had on board aconsiderable amount of money. This they brought
on deck and divided, all the while talking rapidly in Spanish.
Tardy now informed the second mate that the brig must be taken to South
America. Durfee well knew that should he carry the wretches to that part of
the world, his own doom would be sealed the moment they reached its shores.
He sought for some excuse to land elsewhere and fortunately found one.
“T can take you to South America,†he said, “but for such a voyage we
must have more water. We have only enough to last for a short time, and we
may be sixty or seventy days on the passage.â€
Tardy uttered a Spanish oath or two, and then asked if a supply could not
be obtained by entering some inlet of the coast where there would be no
danger of capture.
“Yes,†replied Durfee, glad that the pirate had anticipated a proposition
which he himself had intended to make. “We could runin at night and get
out before morning. Then we should be all ready for a voyage to South
America or anywhere else.â€
Tardy flourished his knife fiercely before the face of his helpless prisoner,
thus indicating what would be done in case of the least attempt at deception.
Durfee’s nerves had already suffered terribly, and it was only by the greatest
effort that he could maintain anything like an appearance of calmness.
Hastily running over in his thoughts the various inlets of the coast, he
STATUE OF COLUMBUS, MEXICO.
AN ESCAPE FROM PIRATES. Say.
resolved upon making for Chesapeake Bay. He was far, however, from telling
the pirates of his decision, but led them to suppose that the destination was
some obscure nook among islands and promontories. It was fortunate for him
that they knew nothing whatever of the coast, and were ignorant even of the
existence of the wide water sheet which he had in mind.
He used to relate that while the vessel was running on the course he had
chosen, and he was filled with the most dreadful anxiety lest his plans should,
after all, miscarry, Tardy would come to him, and with oaths, boast of the
murders he had committed.
Great was Durfee’s anxiety as the brig made the land. Soon his fate would
be decided. He thought with a sickening sensation of the pirates’ threats, but
he thought, too, of the fort at Old Point Comfort; and upon this his hope
rested. It must, of course, be approached at night; and luckily the Spaniards
were as anxious for the cover of darkness as was he himself, so that he was
permitted to keep off shore until past sunset.
Then the little brig stood in under all sail. With a fine breeze she passed
Cape Henry, and continued her course up the bay. It was for Durfee an hour
of unspeakable suspense. At any moment the pirates might take alarm, and
he felt almost a surprise to find that they did not do so. Here and there
could be seen distant lights, but the shores were hidden in darkness, and the
evil-eyed wretches, wary as they were, seemed not to suspect treachery.
Being for the time in command, as navigator and pilot, the anxious officer
was at the wheel, while his unwelcome companions stood ready to shorten sail
and let go the anchor at his bidding. It may well be imagined that he
measured with every nerve alert each inch of the way.
The brig’s yawl hung at the stern davits. He had made sure that its tackles
were in running order. How near to the fort would he dare to approach before
bringing the brig to?
Presently he directed his dangerous crew to take in the light sails and the
courses. Tardy repeated the order in Spanish, and it was obeyed.
“ Let go the topsail halyards,†was the next command; and down came the
top-sail yards upon the caps.
Clearing his throat for another effort, Durfee felt that his heart-throbs were
almost suffocating. Nevertheless, he was able to command his voice.
“Stand by to let go anchor!†he cried, feeling that in another moment he
would know his fate. The four pirates ran to the windlass.
“Let go!â€
There was a splash under the bow, and a swift paying out of the cable.
Just then Durfee sprang over the taffrail and into the boat, lowering it instantly,
78 | ZIGZAG FOURNEYVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
and with a violent push sent it spinning from under the brig’s counter; then,
seizing an oar, he commenced sculling with all his might. As he did so, he
heard the Spaniards rushing aft, but they were too late to get more than a
glimpse of him in the darkness.
The grim fortress at Old Point Comfort was not a quarter of a mile distant.
Durfee’s calls drew the attention of the sentries, and in a few minutes there
were lights gleaming from a row of port-holes, with the black muzzles of cannon
looking threateningly forth into the darkness, and a dozen soldiers were at once
ordered to board the vessel. On reaching her, they found only three of the
pirates on deck. These were at once made prisoners. Hurrying into the
cabin, they found Tardy lying dead upon the floor. Struck with despair at
the impossibility of escape, he had chosen to die by his own hand rather than
to await the inevitable halter.
His three accomplices were tried and hanged at Norfolk. They died pro-
testing their innocence, and declaring that the entire guilt rested upon their
dead confederate.
As to poor Durfee, the second mate, after the dreadful scenes he had passed
through, he was never really himself. His nervous system had been thoroughly
shattered.
Who can wonder that painful thoughts were always associated with the
“ Crawford,†or that a gloom should seem to invest even the old Warren wharf
where she used to lie? ;
CHAPTER TV.
CARACAS ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE REVOLUTION, 1892. —
AMUSEMENTS AT SEA.
EH] ERCY was in Caracas on the first day of the last
B| revolution, when President Palacio issued his proc-
lamation that made the revolution inevitable.
Percy will never forget that scene as he stood in
the plaza of Bolivar.
It was a bright March day, and the circle of
hills —a part of the “thousand hills†of the Caraci — shone serenely
in the clear purple sky. It is eternal springtime here. The port of
Caracas, La Guayra, three thousand feet below, is one of the hottest
cities in the three Americas, but the capital is cooled by its altitude.
Caracas stands on a plateau or valley in the maritime range of
the Andes, which here rise to a height of nearly ten thousand feet ;
and the city itself is three thousand feet above its port and the sea.
It has a most romantic history, being associated with the names of
the early discoverers, — with Drake, Raleigh, and the poetic cavalier,
Ponce de Leon. ;
Percy and his father had been wandering about the beautiful city,
among the crowds that stood telling each other with terribly serious
faces that great political events were at hand. They had seen the
solitary church that survived the great earthquake nearly a hundred
years ago, and had wondered how the worshippers in that church
must have felt on that eventful Saint’s day, when they rushed to
the doors, to find that all the other churches and houses had gone
down, and twelve thousand people had perished! Every tourist who
80 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
is familiar with history sees in fancy that scene. They had been to
Calvario, or Calvary Hill, where Guzman Blanco, Venezuela’s ambi-
tious ex-president, had made a park, as it were, in the sky, and placed
his own statue upon it, — which was erected too soon, for the people
forced him into exile and tore it down.
ey
ee
saat
aN
ae
BOLIVAR.
On returning from the long walk they found the plaza and all the
public squares filled with excited people. They sat down in the plaza
near the statue of Bolivar.
The statue is a wonder, and commemorates the deeds of a most
LA GUAYRA,
Se
sateen
A kes
Mu
CARACAS ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE REVOLUTION, 1892. 83
wonderful man. It was made in Germany, is equestrian, and to the
imagination, the horse of brass seems to have leaped proudly into the
air, leaving the hero in a most gracious attitude in his saddle to face
the people he had liberated. It is the pride of Caracas, as well it
may be, and one of the marvellous creations of art in the world.
l / Gu fo
aos" Y = AE &
7 24 wept ‘ MUL Hi Z-.
Ser ap E ; He we /; i See
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remota a a eatin,
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STATUE OF BOLIVAR, CARACAS.
The guards came out of the military palace in front of the plaza.
The press began to issue copies of the President’s manifesto, and the
newsboys to sell them on the street. Every one knew what it was, but
desired to read it with his own eyes. His own life and destiny might
be involved in it.
Every copy was eagerly seized as it came out from the press, and
was read with staring eyes, and passed on to others. .
84 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
“ Tt means war,’ was the one short sentence that passed from lip to
lip. In many cases those three words covered the thought, “ It means
me!†The Venezuelan well knows the meaning of a revolution.
The political situation may be briefly stated. President Palacio
desired a re-election by the House of Deputies. He saw that he
would fail to secure it, and imprisoned certain of the deputies for
political reasons; but it was popularly believed it was a
subterfuge that there might be left no quorum, and that he
might thus have an excuse for con-
tinuing in office, in default of an
election. He thus assumed dictato-
rial powers, in the name and in the
interest of the liberal party which
had done so much for Venezuela.
The Supreme Court declared his
course illegal, and he imprisoned
the judges. The country
rose against
him; and Ca-
racas,the cap-
ital, found it-
self in a state
of siege.
The shad-
OWS of the A YOUTHFUL BEGGAR OF CARACAS.
high Andes |
began to fall upon the valleys and the green palms and coffee plan-
tations of La Guayra. The top of Calvary Hill flashed in the paling
sun. The plaza and streets were black with men, each holding in
his hand- the white sheet of the manifesto.
The bells rang, —it was Lent,—and _half-veiled women pushed
their way through the excited crowds to the golden churches.
CARACAS ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE REVOLUTION, 1892. 85
It was not a noisy, but a silent crowd. There was an expression
of inquiry in every dark face. It was like those days of our own war,
when President Lincoln’s proclamation made the pulses of great cities
to stand still. There was an awful silence in those crowds, and the
same was here. ;
A Venezuelan was with our travellers. He owned an estate in
the interior, twenty-four miles square, as large as a province. His
ANCIENT HOUSE IN CARACAS.
brother had been killed in a former revolution, and he had lived much
in Europe and could speak English well.
He turned his face toward the grand statue of Bolivar, that looked
like a thing of life in the sunset of the Andes. He did not talk
politics. No one did. He simply said,“ They offered Simon Bolivar
the crown, and he answered them: ‘I have achieved the liberation of
36 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
five countries. That is all the honor I desire!’ His heart is in the
cathedral of Santa Martha, and his dust is in yonder Parthenon. I
would that his s427¢¢ were here !â€
From Caracas, Percy sailed for Pernambuco. He was now in the
seas of the great American discoverers.
“ The years roll back — we see again
Thy fleet, Columbus, dare the main,
Upborne by Faith, till rises fair
The new world in prophetic air !
The mighty waves yield to thy prow;
The stormy heavens before thee bow,
The sun stands still, and earth appears
A wheeling star ’mid circling spheres!
“Then Science rose ; then Learning woke ;
And Freedom’s voice to heroes spoke ;
And Progress broke the chains of time,
And upward marched to heights sublime.
No day like this ’neath purple skies
E’er met expectant prophets’ eyes ;
The drums of peace the roll-call beat,
And nations pass on children’s feet!
“© Star of Faith, that led afar
Columbus, ’neath the Hesperian. Star,
Shine on the world’s new march, and light
Hope’s aspirations for the right !
Achievement waits yet bolder keels
Than broke the waves of old Antilles,
The unattained to find and prove
In virtue, brotherhood, and love !â€
THE CONSULAR FLAG.
“T keep the flag of my country always waving,†said Consul Hanna
of La Guayra. Percy looked upon that flag as one of the most beau-
tiful objects in the narrow streets. It is one of the most beautiful
objects in. the world.
“Do all consuls fly the American flag daily?†asked Percy of his
father at the beginning of his voyage towards the islands of the Canary
birds.
CARACAS ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE REVOLUTION, 1892. 87
“Consuls,†said his father, “have no claim to any foreign ceremo-
nial, but they may glory in the flag. The consular regulations as
issued from the State Department are something like this : —
“*The consuls have a right to the private use of the flag, and the right to
place the national arms and the name of the consulate on the offices is given by
treaties with Austria-Hungary, Italy, and the Netherlands (and colonies); on
fe LILLE
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SSS
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ISS
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GRAND OPERA HOUSE, CARACAS.
‘their offices or dwellings by treaty with Belgium and Germany; the right to
place the national flag on their dwellings, except where there is a legation, by
treaties with Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Germany, Roumania,; and Serbia; the
right to place the arms, name, and flag on their offices or dwellings by treaties
with France and Salvador; and the right to place the name and flag on their
dwellings by treaty with Colombia.’
“And,†added Mr. Van der Palm, “the consular office in some coun-
tries, like the old Hebrew cities of refuge, is practically inviolable.
838 LIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
“To quote the instructions : —
“<«This inviolability of office and dwelling is secured by treaties with Bel-
gium, Bolivia, Corea, France, Germany (of consuls not citizens), Italy, Morocco,
Muscat, Roumania, Salvador, and Serbia; but the dwelling cannot be used as
WA
h
ees]
(
\
ca
a
a
==
A DONKEY CAR, CARACAS.
an asylum. It is agreed with Colombia that the persons and dwellings of con-
suls are to be subject to the laws of the country, except as specially exempted
by treaty. The consulates in Germany are not to be made asylums for the
subjects of other powers.’â€
He added, still! quoting the consular instructions of the State
Department : —
“«By convention with Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Roumania, Serbia
and Italy, the consul is exempted from arrest, except for crimes. By treaty with
Turkey he is entitled to suitable distinction and necessary aid and protection.
In Muscat he enjoys the inviolability of a diplomatic officer. In Austria-
AMUSEMENTS AT SEA, — 89
Hungary and France he is to enjay personal immunities; but in France, if a
citizen of France, or owning property there, or engaged in commerce, he can
claim only the immunities granted to other citizens of the country who own
property, or to merchants. In Austria-Hungary and Roumania, if engaged in
business, he can be detained only for commercial debts. In Colombia, the
fourteen consuls of the United States have no diplomatic character. In Great
Britain, Liberia, Netherlands (as to colonies), Nicaragua, and Paraguay they are
regarded as appointed for the protection of trade.’
“So you see that a consul in his little office somewhat resembles
the old Roman officer of that name. He has a little republic of his
â€
own.
Percy began to study Portuguese stories and poems ‘on the ship,
which belonged to Lisbon. One of these stories, which we quote, we
found very curious. We give the version that we find in English
Folk-Lore : —
THE SEVEN IRON SLIPPERS.
(From PORTUGUESE FOLK-TALES, BY CONSIGLIERI PEDROSO.)
THERE lived once together a king and a queen, and a princess who was their
daughter. The princess had worn out every evening seven pair of slippers
made of iron; and the king could not make out how that could be, though
he was always trying to find out. The king at last issued a decree that who-
soever should be able to find out how the princess managed to wear out seven
pairs of slippers made of iron in the short space of time between morning and
evening, he would give the princess in marriage if he were a man, and if a
woman he would marry her to a prince.
It happened that a soldier was walking along an open country road, carry-
ing on his back a sack of oranges, and he saw two men fighting and giving
each other great blows. .
The soldier went up to them and asked them, “O men, why are you
giving each other such blows?â€
““Why,.indeed should it be!†they replied. “ Because our father is dead ;
and he has left us this cap, and we both wish to possess it.â€
“Ts it possible that for the sake of a cap you should be fighting?†inquired
the soldier.
90 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
The men then said, “The reason is that this cap has a charm, and if any
one puts it on and says, ‘Cap, cover me so that no one shall see me!’ no one
can see us.â€
The soldier upon hearing this said to them, “I'll tell you what I can do
for you; you let me remain here with the cap whilst I throw this orange to a
great distance, and you run ater it, and the one that shall is it up first
shall be the possessor of the cap.â€
The men agreed to this, and the soldier threw the orange to a great dis-
tance, as far as he possibly could, whilst the men both ran to pick it up-
Here the soldier, without loss of time, put on the cap, saying, “ Cap, make me
invisible !â€
When the men returned with the orange they could see nothing and nobody.
The soldier went away with the cap, and further on he met on his road two
other men fighting, and he said to them, “O foolish men, why do you give
each other such blows?â€
The men replied, “ Indeed, you may well ask why, if it were not that
father died and left us this pair of boots, and we each of us wish to be the
sole possessor of them.â€
The soldier replied, ‘Is it possible that for the matter of a pair of boots
you should be fighting thus? â€
And they replying said, “It is because these boots are charmed, and
when one wishes to go any distance he has only to say, ‘ Boots, take me here
or there, wherever one should wish to go, and instantly they convey one to
any place.â€
The soldier said to them, ‘I will tell you what to do; I will throw an
orange to a great distance, and you give me the boots to keep. You run for
the orange, and the first that shall pick it up shall have the pair of boots.â€
He threw the orange to a great distance, and both men ran to catch it.
Upon this the soldier said, ‘Cap, make me invisible, boots take me to the
city; ’’? and when the men returned they missed the boots and the soldier, for
he had gone away.
He arrived at the capital and heard the decree read which the king had
promulgated, and he began to consider what he had better do in this case.
“With this cap, and with these boots, I can surely find out what the princess
does to wear out seven pairs of slippers made of iron in one night.â€
He went and presented himself at the palace. When the king saw him he
said, ‘“ Do you really know a way of finding out how the princess, my daughter,
can wear out seven pairs of slippers in one night?â€
The soldier replied, “I only ask you to let me try —â€
AMUSEMENTS AT SEA. : OI
“ But you must remember,†said the king, “that if at the end of three days
you have not found out the mystery, I shall order you to be put to death.â€
The soldier to this replied that he was prepared to take the consequences.
The king ordered him to remain in the palace. Every attention was paid to
all his wants and wishes; he had his meals with the king at the same table, and
slept in the princess’s room.
But what did the princess do? She took him a beverage to his bedside
and gave it to him to drink. This beverage was a sleeping-draught, which
she gave him to make him sleep all night.
Next morning the soldier had not seen the princess do anything, for he
had slept very soundly the whole night. When he appeared at breakfast the
king asked him, ‘‘ Well, did you see anything? â€
“Your Majesty must know that I have seen nothing whatever.â€
“The king said, “ Look well what you are at, for now there only remains
two days more for you, or else you die!â€
The soldier replied, “I have not the least misgivings.â€
Night came on and the princess acted as before. Next morning the king
asked him again at breakfast, “‘ Well, did you see anything last night?â€
The soldier replied, ‘“ Your Majesty must know that I have seen nothing
whatever.â€
“Be careful, then, what you do. Only one day more, and you die!â€
The soldier replied, ‘I have no misgivings.â€
He then began to think itover. “It is very curious that I should sleep all
night. It cannot be from anything else but from drinking the beverage which
the princess gives me. Leave me alone! I know what I will do. When the
princess brings me the cup I shall pretend to drink, but shall throw away the
beverage.â€
The night came, and the princess did not fail to bring him the beverage
to drink to his bedside. The soldier made a pretence to drink it, but instead
threw it away, and feigned sleep though he was awake.
In the middle of the night he saw the princess rise up, prepare to go out,
and advance towards the door to leave. What did he dothen? He put on
the cap, drew on the pages and said, ‘‘ Cap, make me invisible ; boots, take me
wherever the princess goes.â€
The princess entered a carriage, and the soldier followed her into the
carriage and accompanied her. He saw the carriage stop at the seashore.
The princess then embarked on board a vessel decked with flags. The
soldier on seeing this, said, “Cap, cover me, that I may be invisible,†and
embarked with the princess. She reached the lands of giants; and when on
g2 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
passing the first sentinel, he challenged her with, “Who’s there?†“The
Princess of Harmony,†she replied. The sentinel rejoined, “Pass with your
suite.†‘
The princess looked behind her, and not seeing any one following her, she
said to herself, ‘The sentinel cannot be in his sound mind; he said ‘Pass with
your suite;’ Ido not see any one.†;
She reached the second sentinel, who cried out at the top of his voice,
“Who's there?†“The Princess of Harmony,†replied the princess. “Pass
with your suite,†said the sentinel. The princess was each time more and
“more astonished. |
She came to the third sentinel, who challenged her as the others had done,
“Who’s there?†“The Princess of Harmony.†‘Pass on with your suite,â€
rejoined the sentinel. The princess, as before, wondered what the man could
mean.
After journeying for a long time the soldier, who followed her closely, saw
the princess arrive at a beautiful palace, enter in, and go into a hall for dancing,
where he saw many giants.
The princess sat upon a seat by the side of her lover who was a giant.
The soldier hid himself under their seat. The band struck up, and she rose
to dance with the giant, and when she finished the dance she had her iron
slippers allin pieces. She took them off and pushed them under her seat.
The soldier immediately took possession of them and put them inside his
sack. The princess again sat down to converse with her lover. The band
again struck up some dance music, and the princess rose to dance. When she
finished this dance another pair of her slippers had worn out. She took them
off and left them under her seat. The soldier put these also into his sack.
Finally, she danced seven times, and each time she danced she tore a pair
of slippers made of iron. The soldier kept them all in his sack.
After the ball the princess sat down to converse with her lover; and what
did the soldier do? He turned their chairs over and threw them both on the
middle of the floor. They were very much surprised, and they searched every-
where and through all the houses and could find no one. The giants then
looked out for a book of facts they had, wherein could be seen the course of
the winds and other agencies peculiar to their race. They called in a black
servant to read in the book and find out what was the matter.
The soldier rose up from where he was and said, “ Cap, make me invisible.â€
He then gave the negro a slap on the face; the negro fell to the ground, while
he took possession of the book and kept it. The time was approaching when
the princess must depart and return home; and not being able to stay lon-
ger, she went away.
AMUSEMENTS AT SEA. | 93
The soldier followed her, and she returned by the same way she came.
She went on board; and when she reached the city, the carriage was already
waiting for her. The soldier then said, “ Boots, take me to the palace;â€â€™ and
he arrived there, took off his clothes, and went to bed.
When the princess arrived she found everything in her chamber just as she
left it, and even found the soldier fast asleep. In the morning the king said,
“ Well, soldier, did you see anything remarkable last night?â€
‘Be it known to your Majesty that I saw nothing whatever last night,â€
replied the soldier.
The king then said, “ According to what you say, I do not know if you are
aware that you must die to-day.â€
The soldier replied, “Tf it is so I must have patience, what else can I
_ do?â€
When the princess heard this she rejoiced much. The king then ordered
that everything for the execution should be prepared before the palace
windows.
When the soldier was proceeding to execution he asked the king to grant
him a favor for the last time, and to send for the princess so that she should
be present.
The king gave the desired permission, and the princess was present when ~
he said to her, “Is it not true to say that the princess went out at mid-
night?â€
“Tt is not true,†coed the princess.
“Is it true to say,†again asked the soldier, “that the princess entered a
carriage, and afterwards went on board a vessel and proceeded to a ball given
in the kingdom of the giants?â€
“Tt is not true.â€
The soldier yet asked her another question, “Is it true that the princess
wore out seven pairs of iron slippers during the seven times she danced? Then
he shewed her the slippers.
“ There is no truth in all this,†replied the princess.
The soldier at last said to her, “Is it true to say that the princess at the end
of the ball fell on the floor from her seat, and the giants had a book brought to
them to see what bewitchery and magic pervaded and had taken possession of
the house, and which book is here?â€
The princess now said, “ It is so.â€
The king was delighted at the discovery and happy ending of this affair, and
the soldier came to live in the palace and married the princess.
94 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
The voyage to the volcanic Cape Verd Islands was a delightful
one, over the smooth waters of tropical seas. The stars of the South-
ern Cross gleamed over the waters; the nights were clear, cool, and
refreshing; the days, long splendors.
There were on board English, Spanish, and Portuguese, some
forty in number. Time at last hung heavily, and Percy was sought
for diversions. He found himself able to speak Spanish well, and he
introduced to the passengers the simple educational amusements of
his old Washington life. Among these were “ Daft Day,†in which
each one was expected to act the most simple character, like Simple
Simon. People were easily imposed upon and cheated. The origin
of this play is very odd, and Mr. Van der Palm, one evening on board,
gave the following history of it: —_
HOGMANAY.
Perhaps no poet has ever presented such a pleasing picture of the
old Yule Days, in the halls of the barons, as Sir Walter Scott. Who
‘does not love to recall it during mid-winter holidays, even now?
“On Christmas eve the bells were rung,
On Christmas eve the mass was sung,
Then opened wide the Baron’s hall,
To vassal, tenant, serf and all.â€
When the white towers of Abbotsford rose over the Tweed, and
became Sir Walter Scott’s home, its master delighted to reproduce the
old Christmas games and customs of the time of the barons. The
songs of the old minstrels of the camp and court were sung; the bag-
pipes were played, and the old legends of England and Scotland were
told.
The stories have entered into Scott’s prose works, and the songs
of the old harpers and minstrels, which he loved to revive on such
occasions, have been made familiar to the world through his poems,
AMUSEMENTS AT SEA, 95
especially through the “ Lay of the Last Minstrel†and the “ Lady of
the Lake.†The Christmas days at Abbotsford were a picture of the
past. Scott wrote the “Bonnets of Bonny Dundee†on Christmas
days.
Christmas days, we say, for the old-time Christmas was not a single
day, but a season. It often lasted from Christmas Eve until Tweifth
Night, the sixth of January, and at Abbotsford, from Christmas Eve
until Hogmanay.
“ Hogmanay?†What is that? It is a lost holiday of old provin-
cial France and England and Scotland. It meant “on to the mistle-
toe!†a cry of the minstrels and the children in the old provinces of
France on that merry day. It really means “the last day of the year,â€
or the end of the Christmas season.
“Daft Day†it was called in Scotland, because on that day the
people were at liberty to act as foolishly as they pleased. It became,
in Sir Walter Scott’s time, a children’s day, and Hogmanay was the
crowning event of the Abbotsford’s Christmas holidays.
Scott was, at this time, at the prime of life, and was writing “The
Tales of the Crusaders.†He was concealing the authorship of his
works, and was spoken of as “The Great Unknown.†Every one
believed him to be the real author of the Waverley Novels, but none of
his guests could ever discover how or when he did his literary work.
Captain Hall thus speaks of an evening at Abbotsford during the
holidays: “In the evening we had a great feast indeed. Sir Walter
asked us if we had ever read ‘Christabel,’ and upon some of us admit-
ting with shame that we never had seen it, he offered to read-it, and
took a chair in the midst of all the party in the library... . He also
read to us the famous poem on ‘Thomas the Rhymer’s Adventure
with the Queen of the Fairies.’ There was also much pleasing sing-
ing; many old ballads, and many ballads pretending to be old, were
sung to the harp and piano-forte.â€
We note this programme, for it is suggestive. The reading and
96 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
singing of old historic ballads is a worthy entertainment for the even-
ings of the Christmas holidays.
The mood of Scott, at this time, is thus pictured by Hall, in the
description of a breakfast after the holidays: “At breakfast, to-day, we
had, as usual, many stories.
“T quite forget all these stories but one. ‘My cousin, Walter
Scott,’ said he, ‘was a midshipman some forty years ago, in a ship at
Portsmouth. He and two companions had gone ashore, and had over-
stayed their leave, and spent their money, and run up an immense bill
at the tavern on the Point.
“«The ship made a signal for sailing, but the landlady said, —
“<« No, gentlemen, you shall not go without paying your reckoning.â€
“«But they had nothing wherewith to pay.
“<« Tl] give you one chance,†said she. “I am so circumstanced
here that I cannot carry on my business as a single woman, and |
must contrive, somehow, to have a husband. You may go, if one of
you will marry me. I do not care which it is, but one of you shall
have me, or you shall all go to jail, and the ship sail without you.â€
“« They agreed to comply. The marriage ceremony was performed,
and the three sailed away, including the husband. Some months after,
at Jamaica, a file of papers reached the husband, and looking them
over carelessly, he suddenly jumped up, and exclaimed in ecstasy,
“Thank heaven, my wife has been hanged!â€â€™â€
We give this story with slight abridgment.
“Yesterday being Hogmanay,†says Hall, in his Journal, January 1,
1825, “there was a constant succession of Guisards,— that is, boys
dressed up in fantastic caps, with their shirts over their jackets, and with
-wooden swords in their hands.†About one hundred boys, in fools’
costumes, used to visit Sir Walter on this Daft Day. They sometimes
acted a masque or pantomime.
Sir Walter used to Bie each boy and girl who visited him on Mee
manay a “penny apiece†and an oaken cake.
AMUSEMENTS AT SEA. Oey
The memories of the Christmases at Abbotsford were a delight to
the people of Melrose for many years. There are some yet living who
remember them, with their celebration of the old lost holiday of Hog-
manay.
“A Christmas gambol oft would cheer
A poor man’s heart for half the year.â€
The picture of the gracious face of Sir Walter Scott at the doors
of Abbotsford, with his dogs, the hills showing above the clustered
towers of the great mansion, and the Tweed rolling below; the pipers
with their bagpipes; the gathering children on the grounds, with their
harlequin caps, and shirts over their jackets, and wooden swords; the
funny play, the distribution of the pennies and oaken cakes is one
worthy of a poet or artist, and one in which any reader will love to
remember the Wizard of the North.
The spirit of it, too, has a Christmas lesson for all, — the happiness
that makes happiness, and the equality of love that the herald angels
eae “ Centuries ago.â€
Among the diversions that Percy used to entertain his English
friends were : —
BOOK PARTIES.
The book party consists of a reading family, or several families,
who hold a meeting once a week, or at stated periods, to rehearse to
each other the contents of books that each member has lately read.
Each member of the circle presents a title of a book, new or old,
gives an analysis of its contents, perhaps reads a few selections from it
as an illustration, and criticises it and gives his view of its literary
value and moral worth.
A general discussion may follow the presentation of this subject-
matter.
It will be better that the books shall not be presented in a topical
way, — as, for instance, scientific books on one evening, fiction on
7
98 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
another, or travel, art, or poetry, at stated times. It is more interesting
if the analysis is made miscellaneous ; there should be variety and
contrasts.
Parties of this kind stimulate good reading and educate the mind
to an acquaintance with the best thought. The social feature is healthy,
and the discussions are sure to be animating and entertaining.
A very pleasant amusement of this order is the play which we may
call “ Animated Book Titles.†A party is given in which each guest is
to appear as the representative of a title of a book, or as a character of
a popular and well-known book. A young man who comes with a
hoe may represent “Ivanhoe†(I’ve an hoe). The “dude†who appears
in contortions may be “ Oliver Twist†(all-of-a-twist). We have seen
“Lucille†puzzle a company by being acted as a scene in a shoe-
maker’s shop, — Loose heel.
Such titles as “ The Ring and the Book,†“ We are Seven,
too Late to Mend†(a seamstress), are sufficiently suggestive.
The word Eurydice will admit of carefully prepared classical tableau:
The word may be used as a sentence, as “ You-ride-I-see,†in a mock
dialogue between two persons of fortunate and unfortunate social
standing. The conductor of the entertainment may say, “ My whole
is one word, and represents a character of classical fiction. The whole
word will first be acted as a sentence, in the form of a dialogue between
a poor debtor, who has to go on foot, and an equestrian, who has just
alighted from a fine horse. The second scene will represent the
DB
“ Never
character in tableau.â€
The second scene will be Orpheus and his lyre (the music may
be played on a piano) at the door of a darkened room, and an appear-
ance of the shade of Eurydice. She follows Orpheus as he beckons
over his shoulder until she comes to a place near the door, when he,
contrary to the commands of the gods, looks around, and she vanishes
after the manner of the old mythological story, which should be care-
fully studied by the leader of such an entertainment. The tableau can
be made very beautiful.
|
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ZIGZAG JOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
THE ZIGZAG. SERIES:
HEZEKIAH BUTTERWORTH.
oes
ZIGZAG FYOURNEYVS IN E OROPE.
ZIGZAG FÂ¥OURNEYS IN CLA SSIC LANDS.
ZIGZAG FOURNEYS IN THE ORIENT.
ZIGZAG FOURNEYS IN THE OCCIDENT.
ZIGZAG FOURNEYS IN NOR THERN LANDS.
ZIGZAG FOURNEYS IN ACADIA.
ZIGZAG JOURNEYS IN THE LEVANT.
ZIGZAG YOURNEVS IN THE SUNNY SOUTH.
ZIGZAG JOURNEYS IN INDIA.
ZIGZAG YOURNEYVS IN THE ANTIPODES.
ZIGZAG YOURNEYS IN THE BRITISH
ISLES. :
ZIGZAG FOURNEVS IN THE GREAT NORTH-
WEST
ZIGZAG FOURNEYVS IN AUSTRALIA.
ZIGZAG JOURNEYS ON THE MISSISSIPPT.
ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITER-
RANEAN.
Nest Side eg
ESTES AND LAURIAT, Publishers,
ie BOSTON, MASS.
THE MEDITERRANEAN.
ZIGZAG JOURNEYS.
ON THE
MEDITERRANEAN.
BY
HEZEKIAH BUTTERWORTH.
FULLY ILLUSTRATED.
BOSTON: |
ESTES AND LAURIAT,
PUBLISHERS.
Copyright, 1898,
By Estes AND LAURIAT-
All Rights Reserved.
Aniversity [ress :
Joun Witson anp Son, CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A.
PREFACE.
2HE purpose of this book is to explain the Consular
Service of the United States, and to relate those
curious stories which are often told in the Con-
sulates of the East and which resemble the “ Thou-
sand and One Nights,†or the “Arabian Nightsâ€
Entertainments.†The Consulates of the East sometimes become
famous story-telling places in which caravan tales, sea tales, andi
travellers’ tales are told in an original way; and it is with this.
peculiar lore that this, the fifteenth volume of the « Zigzag Series,â€
seeks to interest the ‘reader. Many of the tales of Consulates are
geographically and historically instructive, and some of them have
the peculiar flavor of old Oriental traditions. The pet animals and
birds of Consulates are also interesting topics, and are introduced in
these Consular museums.
The Zigzag books or annuals, like many magazines with a definite
educational purpose, make use of interpolated stories to illustrate and
to give interest to their pages. Most of these stories have been
written by the author, but helps from other pens have sometimes been
sought. In this book the author is indebted to George H. Coomes, of
Warren, R. Ian old sailor, anda popular writer of sea stories, for helps
8 PREFACE.
which are credited in their places. He is also indebted to Messrs.
Harper Brothers for permission to reproduce here some of his own
stories, using the illustrations originally made for them. He has sought
in this, as in former volumes, to make clear a useful subject by that
sympathetic story-telling art, which, although a mélange, leaves the
purpose at last clear in the mind. Few books have been written
to make our diplomatic and consular service better known to the
young people, and the author hopes that these Tales of the Consulates
may serve this purpose of popular information.
The Oriental stories in this volume are selected and edited out of
a careful study of books on Oriental folk-lore, it being the author's
purpose to give to young people those which most interested him.
The sources of these stories are fully credited, so that the lover of
Oriental tales can follow the study, if he have access to the best
libraries.
H. B.
28 WORCESTER STREET, Boston, Mass.
CONTENTS,
CHAPTER
I,
II,
IT],
IV.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
XI.
XII.
XII.
XIV.
XV.
XVI.
A ZiGzaG JouRNEY To ZAG-A-ZIG
How Consuls ARE APPOINTED. — Turin Duties. — Tur STory-
TELLING GARDEN. — THE Capito. By Moonticutr. — Tur
SINGING Mouse. — Tue Vittacre Mystery
A PLAN FOR A JouRNEY oF EpuCATIONAL TRAVEL
CaRACAS ON THE First Day oF THE REVOLUTION, 1892. —
AMUSEMENTS AT SEA
GIBRALTAR
ALGERIA. — Tunis. —Tue Hottest Prace In. AFRICA
MARSEILLES .
CONSULAR Pets AND Parrots
VENICE
STORIES AND STUDIES WHILE DETAINED IN QUARANTINE
THE MEDITERRANEAN AND ITs LEGENDS
ST. Sopuia. — Tue Dervisy’s Farry TALE
Brinpist. — AN opp StTory-TELLER
RIENzI, THE Last oF THE Roman TRIBUNES.
Nac Rone Farry TaLtes.— Tue Srory oF SorDELLOo
THe WHITE-BORDERED FLaG .. ... .,
PAGE
13
26
53
79
130
146
156
165
IQI
216
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
The Mediterranean. . . . . Frontispiece
Pitti Palace, Florence. . - . - - + 15
On the Mediterranean. . . ae
“*Wait till the Sun goes into a Cloud,’
said the Doctor†. . . +... -- 4!
Faneuil Hall . 2. 2. ee eee 44
The Valley of Mexico. . » » - + + SI
Popocatepetl . . - - - ee + + +) 55
The God of Fire . . ... . + + 57
The President's Palace . . ..-- 58
The Sacrificial Stone . - . + + + + 59
Top of Sacrificial Stone . . . 61
Sculpture on the Side of the Saeeficial
GE Gre ee. ols et ee tid ai ath 02
The Cathedral: 0. al a ae ee 6B
The Tomb of Juarez . . 66
Main Plaza, Monterey, Bishop’ s palaces 67
Statue of Chitaahuac . . . . . 69
The Plaza and La Mitra, Moiitevey ay 279
Statue of Columbus, Mexico . . - «75
Bolivate ssc. we a eo uk! ie Se doe 80
La Guayra. . . Syrtenva ca o> $B
Statue of Bolivar, Catacas Siete es P88
A youthful Beggar of Caracas . . - - 84
Ancient House in Caracas . . . » + 85
Grand Opera House, Caracas . . . - 87
A Donkey Car, Caracas . . . . . - 88
Old Mission near Caracas . . . - + 107
The Rock of Gibraltar . . - . . . ¥N3
The Grinding over young . . - . - II
The City of Morocco. . . «© - + + 123
Nemours. . ig SR aS a eT,
Travelling in Rigen che Wished Ssh Seed ecre LO
An Algerian Antelope-Hunter
An Algerian Beauty
Tailpiece -
Public Garden, ‘Marseilles
“The Old Red Settle by the Fireâ€
“The Quaker smiled ‘neath his Sunday
Hatâ€
“Silas the Bass- Rol: strungâ€
“The Turnpike Coach †;
“Take that, and pay Ben’ s debtsâ€
“The old Man powdered his Wigâ€
The Great Bridge of Rialto
Pigeons of St. Mark’s
Venetian Glass .
Foot of Flagstaff in Font af St. Maries, 8,
Venice . PGs lacs
Masquer ading in Vieaiess
Ca D’Oro, Venice . :
Library of St. Mark’s, ven :
A Venetian Garden
Sciollo and Colleoni, Venice
A Vision of Egypt
A Camping-Place in Sight se Bish
A Daughter of Egypt .
Florence . ;
The Duomo, lerence
Loggia di Lanzi, Florence
Fountain of Neptune, Florence
Turkish Woman
Interior of a Mosque .
Moslem at Prayer
Appian Way
Tomb of Cecilia Mattella, Appa Way
PAGE
135
TAL.
145
147
158
158
159
160
163
164
166
167°
168
169
173
175
t79
183
187
193
197
201
217
221
225
229
233
235
241
244
249 |
12 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
The Baptistery, Duomo, and Campanile Monument of Vico, Naples .
of Giotto, Florence . . . . ., 253 | Morning in Venice
Whe Campagna ee ses er 258 | The Tower of St. Mark’s
she A Venting 20! ile na tee Ser Capra es as en,
St. Paul Basilica.) 265 | National Villa, Naples
Square of the Capitol, Rome . . . . 269 | Roman Gate, Genoa .
House of Cola di Rienzi. . . 2. 274 | Pilo Gate, Genoa .
Old Entrance to National Villa, Naples 278 | South Bastion, Genoa
Naples and Mount Vesuvius . . . , 279 | Tailpiece .
The Aquarium, Naples . . . . . . 282
PAGE
284
293
301
309
311
318
319
319
320
FIC ZAG JOURNEYS
&
ON THE
MEDITERRANEAN.
CHAPTER I.
A ZIGZAG JOURNEY TO ZAG-A-ZIG.
Za HE days of the caliphs and the palaces of the
fm,
caliphates are gone. The United States and
the English consular offices of the ports of the
Mediterranean are the interesting story-telling
places of to-day. How I have enjoyed the hours
spent in the consular offices of the Southern ports
of Europe! It was once my good fortune to visit all the American
and English consulates on the coasts of the Mediterranean and of the
Red Sea to the ports of Mecca. In other words, I made a journey
‘under Government instructions from Washington to Zag-a-zig, aS a
town near Suez was called: a Zigzag journey of the Mediterranean
from Cadiz to Zag-a-zig. The evenings in half of the consulates I
visited were spent in story-telling, and I collected at the time a
library of English, French, and Oriental story-books.â€
The speaker was Captain John Van der Palm, a veteran in the
consular service of the United States. The place was the picnic-
grounds of the old Van Ness mansion near the White House in
Washington.
14 ZIGZAG JOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
John Van der Palm was a middle-aged man, a widower, with an
only son, named Percy. This boy had accompanied his father in
several journeys to consular ports, in the interest of the State Depart-
ment. Mr. Van der Palm had once served as a consul in several
ports, but in late years had been employed as a general agent of the
State Department in the consular service.
Percy Van der Palm was a story-loving boy. He early developed
a lively appreciation of sea tales, wonder tales, and Oriental imagina-
tion. It was his delight to accompany his father to the social rooms
of the State Department, and meet there old foreign ministers,
consuls, and commercial agents, and to listen to their narratives, which
often had all the interest and force of the best story-telling.
The Van der Palms were friends of the occupants of the old Van
Ness mansion, who used often to invite their friends to the famous
garden of the house to spend the spring and summer evenings.
These friends were usually consuls or commercial agents. So stories
of all lands came to be told here, in this unconventional way, greatly
to the delight of Percy. He himself began to wish: to travel, and he
formed a plan to study to make himself an acceptable candidate as a
consular clerk.
“Well, Percy,†said his father one day, “ what profession will you
choose for life? Your education should now be turned into some
preparation for a single thing. Life is too short for many things.
The age demands superior fitness for one thing to open the door to
one’s success. Your story-telling days are now over. The time for
fables has passed.â€
“No, father; my story-telling days have only begun. Let me
study languages, commercial book-keeping, and commercial law. I
intend to apply to the President for a place as consular clerk.â€
“And what would you do then?â€
“ After such a clerkship?â€
“Yes, you would not wish to be a consular clerk for life?â€
"MUON
PITTI PALACE,
FLORENCE,
me
Ta
ye
7
i
ie
Of
A ZIGZAG JOURNEY TO ZAG-A-~-ZIG. 17
“]T would seek to become a secretary of legation, a diplomatic
agent, a naval a¢éaché, or a consul, such as you have been. Let me
qualify myself for some place in the service of the Department of
State. I would like a government position in that department above
all things. Such people are in touch with all the world. They study
everything. The world is their country, and their countrymen are
all mankind. Their minds have no latitude or longitude; they take
the world as a whole. Their very forms of conversation make other
men seem small. Other men suppose ; they know.â€
“ Well, my son, I am glad that you take such a philosophical view
of the State service. I am pleased with your decision. But I once
heard of a man who had a son who wished to see the world, and— â€
“ Well, father?†a
* He went to his father and said, ‘ Father, I want to travel and see
the world.â€
“ And what did his father say?â€
“ He said, ‘My son, I am very willing that you should travel and
see the world, but I would be sorry to have the world see you.â€
“Oh, father, you do not mean that!â€
“I should be unwilling that you should seek employment in the
office of the State Department without a long and a thorough prepara-
tion. Our diplomatic service in the past has often not been a credit
to our country. Politicians have been given places that should have
been filled only by trained men. Your education must begin now.
It must be first in languages, then in mathematics, then in law, and in
general knowledge always.â€
“ Where shall I begin in languages?â€
“Your education in languages must begin in the countries where
those languages are spoken. I shall send you to the city of Mexico
to study Spanish, and then, perhaps, to my friends in Caracas. I shall
then send you for a year to the ports of the Mediterranean, to study
French, Italian, and the eastern tongues, and to learn commercial
2
18 ZIGZAG FOURNEYVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
usages. I have friends in nearly all those ports. I may be able to
go with you myself; we may be able to make together a sort of a Zig-
zag journey from Washington to Port Said, or Zag-a-Zig. Should
you go to Caracas to study, you would indeed make such a journey
around the world as well as across the Mediterranean. The famous
railway up the Andes from La Guayra to Caracas is called the Zig
Zag. 1 will think over your plan. Your education must consist largely
-n educational travel; this is the highest education, and will become a
ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
part of intellectual training of the future. Let us go down to the
Garden. I have been promised a story to-night by one who knows
the history of the Van Ness house.â€
“The ghost story?â€
“Ves.â€
The two passed down the avenue and turned into the monument
grounds. It was near sunset, and the western trees seemed glimmer-
ing with golden fruitage. Light airs rippled the leaves. The day had
_been hot, but was cooling.
The Garden?
All Washington knows of that strangely beautiful place. How
shall I describe it? I cannot better do so than in the story of
A ZICZAG FOURNEY TO ZAG-A-ZIG. 19
the place as it existed in former years, which an old visitor that
night related to the Van der Palms as they sat under the trees in
the mellow air: —
THE MYSTERY OF THE MYSTERY}
AN OLD WASHINGTON GHOST STORY.
ONE keen December day, a few years after the war, I arrived in Washineg-
ton to spend a few weeks with a friend who was making his home at this old
Van Ness mansion, near the White House, and adjoining the grounds where
the Washington Monument now stands. The mansion is almost a ruin now,
and its beautiful grounds are broken and faded, but it was in its glory then, with
its quaint porticos, its halls.and gardens and beautiful trees.
In the same yard with the fine house, which had been associated with the
best social life of many administrations, stood the so-called Marcia Burns's
cottage, in which Sir Thomas Moore was entertained in Jefferson’s days, on the
occasion of his unhappy visit to Washington. In this cottage lived Davie
Burns, the stubborn Scotchman, whom General Washington compelled to sell
his plantation for the site of the city.
“Your position,†said Davie Burns to Washington. ‘makes you feel that
all is grist that comes into your hopper. Who would you have been, I should
like to know, if you hadn't ’a’ married the Widow Custis?â€
I had loved the songs of Tom Moore in my boyhood. My mother used to
sing them. The “ Last Rose of Summer,†the “ Vale of Avoca,†“ The Harp
that once through Tara’s Halls,†came ringing back in memory; and after an
hour with my friend in the Van Ness hall, I went out into the yard, and sat
down on one of the benches, and looked at the little gray cottage where the
famous author of “ Lallah Rookh†and the “Loves of the Angels†had been
entertained when the city was new.
An old negress came sauntering by. With my Northern freedom I said
to her, —
‘Auntie, this all seems to me a place of mysteries!â€
‘““A place of mysteries, dat is wot it is, Massa Nof,—dat am wot it is.
Dat am de suller [cellar] whar dey was goin’ to prison Linkem [Lincoln] in de
las’ days ob de war. Wot you think of dat, Massa Nof? De ‘spirators did n't
intend on killin’ him at first; dey had planned to ’duct him, an’ jus’ hide him
1 Originally published by the author in the “ Household.†Used by permission.
20 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
in dat dar suller. An’ den a sfz/é boat was to come ober de ribber, like de
white hosses, wid sé/Z oars, movin’ up an’ down so séz//, an’ dey were to steal
him away, an’ hold him for a ransom. Dat story sort o' haunts dat suller yet.
It nebber happened, but de ghost of it all am dar jus’ de same.
“Dar be some ghosts dat nebber happened, Massa Nof. De white hosses
ain't de only ghosts that come round here o’ nights. Marcia Burns, she come
on summer nights, when de roses all hang in de dews in de thin light ob de
moon, an’ de mockin’ bird am singin’ his las’ song.
“De white hosses, dey come on Christmas nights, — six white hosses on
seven Christmas nights, Massa Nof, widout any heads on dem an’ dar necks
all smokin’. It may be you'll stay ober Christmas time, Massa Nof, an’ see
‘em wid your own eyes.â€
Of what was this old negress talking? Her eyes dilated as she spoke of
the six white hosses, and she raised her arm and looked like a seeress.
“What are the six white horses?†I asked. “I never heard of them
before.â€
“You didn’t! Now dat am strange! I must call you Massa Up-Nof.
Eberybody knows about ’em here. Dey am ghosts, —- jus’ ghosts. Dey are
de ghosts ob de six white hosses dat all dropped right down dead wid broken
hearts on de night dat Marcia Burns, as dey call Mrs. Van Ness, gabe up her
soul to de angels. Dat am wot dey am.†i
My friend came out of the house. The old negress heard the door close,
and gave her head a toss, and with an air of mystery moved away.
“Tt is rather cool for you to be sitting here,†my friend said. ‘You need
your overcoat. We have kindled the fires.†:
“ Dwight,†said I, “ what is it the old negress has been telling me about six
white horses? — one of the oddest things I ever heard.â€
“Oh, nonsense, Herbert. An old Christmas . tale; the negroes believe it
yet. Iam going to the station; will be back soon. You had better go in.
There’s a chill in the air.â€
He passed out of the gate.
I did not go in. The ancient place seemed to throw over me a spell.
I had heard that the early Presidents used to be entertained here; that
Marcia Burns Van Ness was a kind of Washington saint; that she founded
- the orphan asylum, and that the government stopped on the day that she
was buried.
“The government stopped,†I said to myself, absently, “ but did the. six
white horses really fall down dead?â€
“ Dat dey did.â€
A ZIGZAG FOURNEY TO ZAG-A-ZIG. 21
The words seemed to come out of the air. I looked up, and the old negress
again stood before me. She was on her way to some place outside the gate.
“ An’ Massa Up-Nof, jus’ you let me tell you somethin’: De white hosses
am a mystery, but dar am a mystery ob de mystery. I'll tell you some day, I
will.â€
She passed out of the gate. The sun was setting; the last breeze seemed
to die, and I sat in the silence trying to picture to myself the past of this most
wonderful place.
Dwight refused to talk to me about the six white horses. I went to For-
tress Monroe to spend a week or two, and while there I wrote to a lady in
Georgetown, who well knew the history of the Van Ness place, and asked her
about the legend of the six white horses. The return letter intensely interested
me. It was as follows: —
GEORGETOWN, December 20.
Dear HERBERT, — Scrapbooks, old notes, a few letters from friends living near Seven-
teenth Street in Washington, bring to me about the same data you seem to possess.
The “headless horses †number “ séx,’†because General Van Ness drove to his dest
coach six, when guests were many and distinguished. He died at the age of seventy-six.
He married the beautiful Marcia Burns when he was thirty ; he was then a New York
member of Congress. During all those years he gave annually a large, gay, fashionable
entertainment to all of Congress, during the holidays. They were ¢he Christmas events
of society.
On the anniversary of that event, the six headless horses are said to appear “to this
dayâ€! They are seen at twelve o’clock at night, any or all nights during Christmas week.
(You know, in the South, the Christmas revelry lasts all the week.) An old lady of eighty
tells me, “The horses do gallop round and round the mansion in Mansion Square, and
sometimes stop right in front of the old pillars of the porch and rock to and fro and moan
and sigh. They are white as snow, with smoke and mist and white flame, like burning
brandy, going upward from their shoulders.â€
They stop in their midnight gallops and listen at the door for the old voices of George
Washington, Hamilton, Clay, Jefferson, the Taylors, and hundreds of distinguished men of
that time. They come over the river, as most of the men are buried there. The unseen
spirits of the great dead hover about the grounds, and make the aspen trees shiver, the
willows moan, as the horses dash past.
Old Mr. Van Ness comes with his own horses, and it is his spirit appearing in them.
Tom Moore spent one week there, and comes generally at Christmas time, his voice
repeating verses composed for the beautiful Marcia Van N ess, and as repeated at one
entertainment Zo fer, is still heard as the clock strikes /welve.
One old man says, “ Dey los’ dere heads [the horses] when ole massa was put in de
big, gran’ mos-lem!†(The mausoleum now stands in Oak Hill Cemetery. We see it
22 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
often.) “ An’ dey lay in de dus’; an’ when dey was seen nex’ day, smoke was dere heads,
like onto de day ob jedgment.â€
Another theory says: “ The six beautiful, fiery horses died of grief, and were buried on
the place. A rise in the Potomac River washed them far away. The next Christmas they
returned “like death on the pale horse,†in bodily form, with cloudy heads, and the
general’s eyes flashing through the smoke and flames. Sometimes the very faces of the
guests appeared plainly.â€
Montgomery Blair used to say that the six headless horses dd appear to the servants
annually, and that his own slaves had repeated to him their stories “until he himself
believed them.â€
The lonely Taylor family of “ The Octagon House,†whose collection of curios are now
in the Corcoran building, told funny stories of the “ ghosts,†credited up to the eighties :
“ Six headless horses gallop round the old house and grounds annually ; always white
and large, and with heads of jive. The servants run, and more courageous, intelligent
persons spend the night trying to hold the horses. They fly past them, and dissolve before
their eyes! A noise of rushing wind and voices in the distance, a splash in the water,
and all is still.â€
One note of 1885 says: “ The headless horses are, of course, a myth, but few of the
neighbors care to pass a night in the place, near Christmas time. We have hidden behind
the brick wall, but found it a ghostly spot.â€â€*
The story had grown with the letter, and my imagination grew. The inci-
dents of the smoking necks of the horses, of Tom Moore’s songs at Christmas
at the midnight hour, of the terrified servants, and the dissolving spectres, all
Gxed themselves on my mind, and haunted my sleeping and waking dreams.
On the 24th of December I returned to Washington, to pass the holidays with
my friends at the old Van Ness house.
As I passed the gate into the great garden, I met the old negress again,
“De land! am you come back? Don’ you be frightened now ; you listen
right now to wot you’ Auntie Wisdom’s gwine.to say. Dar am a mystery ob
de mystery. I’se found it out, I dun has.
“ Dem beliebs dat dar are witches,
Dar de witches are;
Dos dat tink dar ain’t no witches,
Dar ain’t no witches dar.
-Now, Massa Up-Nof, don’ you be ’fraid. I'll tell you somethin’ befo’ you
go. Dar’s got to be a mental mind to see dem tings; de ’maginations
1 These are extracts from a real letter, for nearly every incident of this strange story is true. I
have used only a slight framework of fiction, and that framework does not include any essential historical
event.
A ZIGZAG FOURNEY TO ZAG-A-ZI1G. 23
got to hab eyes; you ’member now wot yo’ Auntie Wisdom says, an’ don’
you get scared at anyting dey tells you. Dar’ll be libely times about mid-
night. Glad to see ye. But I mus’ hurry on; wot Massa Blair, he say, if he
heard me talkin’ dis way wid a gent’man from up Nof! No account nigger
like me. But I’se yer true frien’, I’se am! I likes peoples wot live up Nof!â€
It was a beautiful night. The Capitol seemed to stand in the air like a
mountain of marble, and when the moon rose and illumined the grand porticos
of the nation’s halls, the air, as it were, became enchanted, as if it held a celes-
tial palace of light. The Capitol by moonlight is one of the most beautiful
scenes on earth. It rivals the visions of the Taj, and impresses the imagination
as the very genius of American destiny.
There was a gay party in the old house on that Christmas eve. Amid the
social entertainments I once or twice heard an allusion to the ‘six white
horses,†as though the legend were merely a joke. The guests departed by
eleven o’clock, and a half hour later I found myself in the guest-chamber, look-
ing out of the window on Marcia Burns’s cottage, the evergreens, and the
Potomac. The house became still, but sounds of merriment from time to time
broke on the air from the negro quarters. I wondered where Auntie Wisdom
might be, and, but for the impropriety, I would have been glad to talk with her
as the critical hour of twelve drew nigh.
Tom Moore probably wrote the once famous song, “ The Lake of the
Dismal Swamp†here, on returning from Norfolk, or here formed it in his
mind. As I sat by the window, gazing across the Potomac, under the high
moon, I could almost hear my old mother singing that song again: —
«They made her a grave too cold and damp
For a heart so warm and true ;
And she’s gone to the Lake of the Dismal Swamp,
Where all night long by her fire-fly lamp,
She paddles her white canoe.
“ Away to the Dismal Swamp he speeds,
And his path is rugged and sore;
Through tangled juniper, beds of reeds,
Through many a fen where the serpent feeds,
And man never trod before.
« And near. him the she-wolf stirs the brake,
And the copper snake breathes in his ear,
Till he starting cries —â€
24 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
A shriek rent the air at this point of my mental recitation. It came from
the negro quarters. The yard was soon filled with colored servants, and among
them was Aunt Chloe, the woman of wisdom.
“ Comin’, comin’, comin’ on de wings ob de wind!†the old negress began
to exclaim in a wild, high, gypsyish tone, bowing backwards and forwards and
waving her hands ina circle. The negroes around her seemed beside them-
selves with terror.
What was coming?
L looked out on the Potomac over the motionless trees. On the margin of
the river was rising a thin white mist, which formed itself into fantastic shapes
as it rolled along and broke over the marshes in the viewless currents of the air.
One of these mist forms began to condense, and drift toward the gardens of
the house.
“ Comin’, comin’, on de winds! The Revelations am comin’, an’ wot’s
gwine to sabe us now?â€
I opened the window. The clocks were striking twelve in the church
towers.
“The Powers above, sabe us!†shrieked Aunt Chloe. “Fall upon yo’
knees, The dead are upon ye all. You that has bref, rend de skies |â€
“Jerusalem and Jericho!†cried a negro who was called Deacon Ned. He
seemed to think that in the union of these two words was prophylactic virtue,
and repeated them over and over again. Then a cry went up, which might
have reached the skies, had the celestial scenery been as near as it appeared
on that still December morning. Deacon Ned followed the piercing cry with
the startling declaration: —
“De yarth am comin’ up an’ de hebens am comin’ down! â€
With this thrilling announcement in my ears, I left my room, and went
down into the hall, and out into the air. A Christmas carol from the chimes of
some unknown tower was floating through the sky like an angel’s song.
Aunt Chloe, the woman of occult wisdom, rose up when she saw me.
“Oh, Massa Up-Nof, dey is comin’! Wot you say now?â€
“Where?â€
“ Deve —don’ ye see ’em? Clar as de mornin’! WHain’t ye got de clar
vision?â€
_ She pointed wildly to one of the forms of the night mist, and stood with
one arm raised and white-orbed eyes.
“Don’ ye see dat white hoss dar, widout any head, an’ smokin’? An’ don’
ye see dem five white hosses dat am bein’ created behind him?â€
Then she pointed again toward the marshes, and I saw them.
A ZIGZAG FOURNEY TO ZAG-A-ZIG. 25
There, as plainly as I ever saw anything, was a white horse without a head,
his neck smoking. Behind him were five other white horses rising from the
marshes.
“Vou see, now?â€
“Ves,â€
“You hab de clar vision? Wot did I tell ye!â€
“T see.â€
‘“You can’t discern dese tings widout de seein’ eye. Wot did I tell
eye?
The forms rolled over the marshes, and through the outward shrubbery of
the gardens, and disappeared, dissolving as they approached the higher part
of the city. The negroes stood like statues,
“Tt has passed by,†said Deacon Ned. ‘“ Bress de Laud!â€
“ Aunt Chloe,†said I, “ you said there was a mystery of the mystery. What
is it? J must know.â€
She heaved a deep sigh, but as of relief, and then said, slowly, “Massa
Up-Nof, nobody sees ’em as hosses until dey are told dat dey de horses. Den
dey hab de seein’ eye. Do ye see?â€
“T see.†I did, indeed.
‘‘ Dey was hosses, warn’t dey now, Massa Up-Nof?â€
“Yes, Aunt Chloe, I saw them as plainly as I saw the President’s horses on
Inauguration Day.â€
The negroes disappeared in the shadows.
I slept serenely, and when I awoke, all the Christmas Belle: were ringing.
There was a mystery of the mystery, and that key will unlock many doors.
But I shall never forget the impressions made upon my mind that night at
the old Van Ness house; and wherever Christmas may find me, that haunting
memory will always return again. No American Christmas story ever made
such a vivid impression upon me, or left in my mind so many suggestive
lessons. And the story is substantially true.
CHAPTER II.
HOW CONSULS ARE APPOINTED.—THEIR DUTIES.— THE STORY-
TELLING GARDEN.— THE CAPITOL BY MOONLIGHT. —
THE SINGING MOUSE. —THE VILLAGE MYSTERY.
YOUNG mind with an inborn purpose is haunted
by ideals. Dreams of life which shall be realities
float before it. Percy Van der Palm loved to loiter
about the old Washington garden, and read books
that related to the duties and opportunities of the
foreign offices of the Department of State. The
“Register†of the State Department is a very
simple document, but he was often found reading it, and making the
catalogue a wonder-book by associating with some name in it a
mental picture. For example, one would usually find pages like that
on our next page of little interest. Some (like that on page 28).
relate to the consulates of Spain and Italy, to which Percy’s dreams
somehow seemed to be tending after what his father had said.
But however dry such pages of official history may seem to our
readers, they were leaves of story books to Percy, as we have said;
they were titles of fictions which were founded, like old novels, on
facts, which his interpretative fancy filled.
There was another book issued by the Department of State which
his imagination used in a like way. It was entitled “United States
Consular Regulations.†It was a large book for a record, handsomely
bound.
Many afternoons found him in the old haunted Garden, studying
in this book facts that he hoped might have a bearing on his future.
HOW CONSULS ARE APPOINTED. : 27
REGISTER OF EXISTING OFFICERS, EMPLOYES, ETC.
OFFICERS AND CLERKS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
resigned
temporary
class two March
Chief of the Bureau of
18745
1874; class three
class two July 1, 1878;
Offices, salaries, and names. pete Whence Service in the Department.
orn, appointed.
Secretary of State ($8, eek
Joun W. Foster . Ind. .| Ind. Commissioned June 29, 1892.
Assistant Secretary of State
($4,500).
William F. Wharton Mass. . .| Mass. . Commissioned April 2, 1889.
Second Assistant Secretary of
State ($3,500).
Alvey A. Adee .| N.Y D.C Appointed Secretary of Legation at Madrid
September 9, 1870; Chargé ad’ Affaires at dif-
ferent times; transferred from Madrid and
appointed clerk class four July 9, 1877; ap-
pointed Chief of Diplomatic Bureau June 11,
1878; commissioned Third Assistant Secre-
tary July 18, 1882; commissioned Second
Third Assistant Secretary of Assistant Secretary August 3, 1886.
State ($3,500).
William M. Grinnell . . . .| N.Y... NY... Commissioned February 11, 1892.
Solicitor ($3,500).
Frank C. Partridge. . . . ./ Vt. 2. .] Vt. . | Commissioned June to, 1890.
Chief Clerk ($2,750).
Sevellon A. Brown . NAV INV Appointed temporary clerk December 21, 1864;
clerk class one July 1, 1866; class two Octo-
ber 16, 1866; class four June 1, 1870; Chief
of Bureau of Indexes and Archives July 1,
1873; member of Board of Civil Service Ex-
aminers for Department of State August 7,
1873; Chief Clerk August 7, 1873;
to take effect February £, 1888; reappointed
Chief of the Diplomatic Bureau Chief Clerk February 11, 1890.
(2,100).
Thomas W. Cridler «| Va. W. Va. Appointed clerk of $900 class October 1, 1875;
class one July 1, 1880; class three November
1, 1881; class four February 1, 1884; Chief
Chief of the Consular Bureau of the Diplomatic Bureau July, 15, 1889.
(#2.100).
Francis O. St. Clair . . . .| N.Y. Md. . | Appointed temporary clerk November 12, 1865;
class two June 7, 1870; class three June 22,
1871; class four July 1, 1874;
Chief of the Consular Bureau June 7, 1881;
: permanent Chief of the Consular Bureau
Chief of the Bureau of Indexes November 1, 1881.
and Archives ($2,100).
John H, Haswell INCOME sso INL: -| Appointed temporary clerk January 23, 1865;
class one August 1, 1867;
22, 1869; class three Tune 1, 1870; class
four June 22, 1871;
Chief of es of Accounts Indexes and Archives August 7, 1873.
2,100).
Francis J. Kieckhoefer De Cera; ak Dae Appointed temporary clerk August 1,
class one December 1,
November 20, 1877 ;
class three Feburary 27, 1880; class four July
1, 1880; Chief of Bureau of Accounts and
Disbursing Clerk January 28, 1884.
ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
UNITED STATES CONSULAR SERVICE.
ITALY.
3 &., =
2 2s ee
: 8 Es e
Place. Name and Title. 5 & Ba oS
2 Y we ae
g B oe Be) akg
> eS A | # Fa
|
Castellammare | Alfred M. Wood . CAYN-Y.. N.Y... | July 13, 1878 | $1,500}.
Do . .| Nestore Calvano VC Ae le a. as Slow «) os) Septsgo; 4891 oven te
Catania . .| Carl Bailey Hurst* . . . C.| Germany} D.C. . | July 22, 1892} I 500 S151900
Do . .] Augustus Peratoner, V.&D.C.|. .- : Nov. 22, 1883 | . ‘ ee S
Florence .| James Verner Long . . . C.| Pa. Pa. Feb. 27, 1891 1, 500 | 2,314.00
Do . .| Spirito Bernardi V.& D.C. Mar. 3, 1883]- sone
Bologna . Carlo Gardini Agt.}. . . «|. . . |June 2, 1881). - 529 00
Genoa . | James Fletcher (7) . . C.| Gt. Brit..| Iowa . |May 14, 1883} 1,500 3,296.50
Do . .| Frederico Scerni . Vic. Dec. 10, 1883]. + + sa ated
San Remo .| Albert Ameglio i Agi}... 24 Nov. 27, 1883]. - - 40.00
Leghorn Radcliffe H. Ford , fo (CeMe: Me. Jan. 6, 1892] 1,500 1272 3
Do . .|Emilio Masi . V.&D.C Oct. 14, 1889}. :
Carrara . Olisse Boccacct . Agi}. . . . . . | June ro, 1882]. - - 406 £6
Messina. - | Darley R. Brush . « « Cj Towa. S. Dak. | July .22, 1892) 1,500! 5,937.50
Dore Oe ee ae et OM SEDC: LM opt opicer sii leneelnacs coe
Gigja . .|L. Gifoni . Agt.|. Aug. 6, 1868] . No fees.
Milazzo . «| Pietro Siracusa Agt.|. . . .]. . + | Mar. 12, 1880). . 55-00
Milan George W. Pepper (7) . C.| Ireland .| Ohio . | Jan. 30, 1890) 1,500] 2,059.50
Do . .| Anthony Richman. V.&D.C.|. . | ake Mar. 11, 1885|. . .]- - . -
Naples . .| John 5. Twells : woe Oey Pa, Pa. Feb. 27, 1890] 1,500] 2,400.50
Do . Rob’t O’N. Wickersham’. V.C. Nov. 7, 1883].
Do . Philip S. Twells . D.C, July 1, 1890). oat
Bari . .| Micholas Schuck . Agt. Feb. 8, 1892]. 455.50
Rodi T. del Giudice PACED ook “ail cens Mar. 6,1878|. . .- 125.00
Palermo .[Horace C. Pugh... . C./Ind.. . Ind. Oct. 16, 1890| 2,000) 8,028.50
Do. Carmelo G, Lagana†V.C. Dec. 22, 1884]. eas
Girgenti . .| Francis Ciotta Agt. |. Apr. 21,1892 |. 476.00
Licata .| Arthur Verderame . Agt. |. Apr. 27, 1888 |. 171-00
Marsala . George Rayson . Agt. Dec. 21, 1874]- 56.50
Trapani . fonazio Marrone Agt.|- . + . . +» | Oct. 24, 1890|. - 308.00
Rome -| Augustus O. Bourn c.G.|R.1. R.I. . | June 26, 1889] 3,000 79.50
Do . Charles M. Wood V.&D.C.G.|. . lise Feb. 12, 1884]. . -
Do . .|Charles M. Wood . c.C.| Vt. .| Vt. Mar. 24,1873] 1,200 2 eae
Ancona 1A. P. Tomassini . Agt. |. Mar. 19,1875|- - > 74.50
Cagliari . .| Alphonse Dol . Agt. | - ‘ : June 7, 1879). 13.50
Civita Vecchia | G. Marsanich 5 Agt.j}. . . «|. . + |June 14, 1862}... 83.00
Turin (4) St. Leger A. Touhay (z) C.A.| France . D.C.. | Jan. 7, 1892 | Fees. 350.50
Do . .| Hugo Pizzotti V.C.A.[. . . .]. . - | Apr. 28, 192]. - + LPH ons
Venice (4) . .| Henry A. Johnson . i c.|D.Cc.; .|D.C.. | Mar. 29, 1886] 1,000 867.00
Do. Frederick Rechsteiner, V. &D. Cc. June 8, 1891 ae
HOW CONSULS ARE APPOINTED. 29
Let me give a few of them; they will show how our foreign service is
conducted, and will serve as pictures of the beginnings of diplomatic
and consular life.
CLASSES OF CONSULAR OFFICERS: THEIR POWERS AND
DUTIES.
The Consular Service of the United States consists of agents and consuls-
general, vice-consuls-general, deputy consuls-general; consuls, vice-consuls,
deputy consuls; commercial agents, vice-commercial agents, deputy commercial
agents; consular agents, consular clerks, interpreters, marshals, and clerks at
consulates.
Consuls are of two classes: (1) Those who are not allowed to engage in
business, and whose salaries exceed one thousand dollars per annum; (2) Those
who are allowed to engage in business. The latter class of consuls is again sub-
divided into —(1) Those who are salaried (known as consuls in Schedule C), and,
(2) Those who are compensated from the fees which they receive for their services,
These clerks, to the number of thirteen in all, are appointed by the Presi-
dent after examination, and can be removed only for cause stated in writing
and submitted to Congress at the session first following such removal. Appli-
cants must be over eighteen years of age, and citizens of the United States at
the time of their appointment, and must pass examination before an examining
board, who shall report to the Secretary of State that the applicant is qualified
and fit for the duties of the office. They may be assigned to different consul-
ates at the pleasure of the Secretary of State; and, when so assigned, they are
subordinate to the principal consular officer, or the vice or deputy at the post,
as the case may be.
If the applicant for the office of consular clerk is in a foreign country, he
may be examined by a series of written questions by the Minister of the United
States in that country, and two other competent persons to be named by him.
The result of the examination, with the answers of the candidate in his own
handwriting, will then be transmitted to the Secretary of State. Consular
clerks are required to discharge such clerical and other duties of the consul-
ate as may be assigned to them by the principal officer, whose instructions in
all respects they are carefully to observe and obey. Punctual daily attendance
at the consulate during office hours, diligence in the discharge of the consular
duties, a cheerful obedience to the directions of their superiors, a courteous
bearing toward all persons having business with the consulate, and uprightness
30 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
of conduct in all respects will be expected from them. Disobedience, want of
punctuality, neglect of duty, the abuse of their credit in pecuniary transac-
tions, or exceptionable moral conduct will be followed by the revocation of
their commissions.
The department is authorized by law to allow for the hire of clerks, when
the money is actually expended therefor, as follows: To the consul at
Liverpool, a sum not exceeding the rate of two thousand dollars for any one
year; and to the consuls-general at London, Paris, Havana, and Rio de
Janeiro, each a sum not exceeding the rate of one thousand six hundred dollars
for any one year; to the consuls-general at Berlin, Frankfort, Montreal,
Shanghai, Vienna, and Kanagawa, and for the consuls at Hamburg, Bremen,
Manchester, Lyons, Hong-Kong, Havre, Crefeld, and Chemnitz, each a sum
not exceeding the rate of one thousand two hundred dollars for any one year ;
and the consuls at Bradford, Marseilles, and Birmingham, each a sum not
exceeding the rate of nine hundred and sixty dollars for any one year; to
the consuls-general at Calcutta, Port au Prince,and Melbourne, and to the
consuls at Leipsic, Sheffield, Sonneberg, Dresden, Nuremberg, Tunstall, Ant-
werp, Bordeaux, Colon (Aspinwall), Glasgow, Panama, and Singapore, each
a sum not exceeding the rate of eight hundred dollars for any one year ; to
the consuls at Belfast, Barmen, Leith, Dundee, Victoria, and to the consuls-
general at Matamoros and Halifax, each a sum not exceeding the rate of
six hundred and forty dollars for any one year, to the consuls-general at
Mexico and Berne and to the consuls at Beirut, Malaga, Genoa, Naples,
Stuttgart, Florence, Manheim, Prague, Zurich, and Demerara, each a sum not
exceeding the rate of four hundred and eighty dollars for any one year. The
allowance to be made from this appropriation to the several consulates named
being within the discretion of the Department of State, the amount of the
allowance will be determined by the requirements of each office. No clerk
will be employed without special instructions authorizing it, and the name
and nationality, as well as the proposed amount of compensation of each clerk,
will be reported to the department.
APPOINTMENT AND QUALIFICATION OF CONSULAR
OFFICERS.
Consuls-general and consuls are appointed by the President, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate. They qualify by taking the prescribed
oath (a copy of which is furnished by the department for the purpose), and
by executing a bond to the United States in the form prescribed by the
department.
HOW CONSULS ARE APPOINTED. 3I
Consuls-general and all consuls and commercial agents whose salaries.
exceed one thousand dollars a year are required, before receiving a commis-
sion, to execute a bond (Form No. 2) containing an express stipulation,
against engaging in business. Those whose salaries are at the rate of one
thousand dollars or less, all of whom are entitled to the privilege of trading,
execute the bond given in Form No. 3; and those who derive their compen-
sation from fees (who may also engage in business) execute the bond prescribed
inForm No. 4. The prohibition as to transacting business may, however, be
extended, in the discretion of the President, to all consular officers, whether
receiving salary or fees. All principal consular officers are required by law
to take the oath in Form No, 1. For instructions respecting the sureties on.
the bond and the formalities of its execution see note to Form No. 2.
A consul-general or consul appointed to one consulate is prohibited from.
holding the office of consul-general or consul at any other consulate, or from.
exercising the duties thereof.
Commercial agents are appointed by the President. They qualify for
their offices in the same manner in all respects as consuls-general and consuls.
Vice-consuls-general, deputy consuls-general, vice-consuls, deputy consuls,.
vice-commercial agents, deputy commercial agents, and consular agents are:
appointed by the Secretary of State, usually upon the nomination of the
principal consular officer, approved by the consul-general (if the nomination
relates to a consulate or commercial agency), or, if there be no consul-general,
then by the diplomatic representative. If there be no consul-general or
diplomatic representative, the nomination should be transmitted directly to
the Department of State, as should also the nominations for subordinate officers
in Mexico, British India, Manitoba, and British Columbia. The nominations
for vice-consul-general and deputy consul-general must be submitted to the
diplomatic representative for approval, if there be one resident in,the country,
The ‘privilege of making the nominations for the foregoing subordinate officers
must not be construed to limit the authority of the Secretary of State, as
provided by. law, to appoint these officers without such previous nomination
by the principal officer. The statutory power in this respect is reserved, and
it will be exercised in all cases in which the interests of the service or other
public reasons may be deemed to require it.
Consular officers recommending appointments of this character must in all
cases submit some evidence of the capacity, character, and fitness of the nom-
inee for the office, and also information respecting his residence and the State
or country of which he is a citizen or subject. A nomination failing to give
these particulars will not be considered. The nomination must be made ina
32 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
dispatch addressed to the Assistant Secretary of State, transmitted through
the legation or consulate-general, or directly, as the case may be. A minor
will not be approved for any subordinate consular office. All persons nom-
inated for subordinate appointments must be able to speak and read the
English language.
These pages may seem dull, yet they illustrate certain facts that
American boys should know, as it should be a part of education to
show how the departments of our own government are conducted.
Reader, when you are travelling, always visit the consulates, and
also the stations of the missionaries of your own church. You will
find more information in these places than anywhere else. It is the
consul’s business to answer your questions in regard to travel and to
treat you well, and he will usually do these things with great pleasure
to himself as well as to you. As for the missionary stations, they stand
for progressive education, and you may make yourself a kind of mis-
sionary by bearing good reports of the progress that such places usually
illustrate. Such visits will educate your heart as well as your head,
and perhaps stimulate your conscience. Go!
Percy was delighted with the tales of the East. Let me give you
from time to time some of the books that he read.
“Count Lucanor,†a Spanish book, written a century Neiote the
invention of printing, was a favorite study. It had the charm of old
Spain and Moorish places. Its author was Don Juan Manuel, the
Spanish Chaucer. We will give you some tales from this curious
book,
“ Folk-Lore Legends, Russian and: Polish,†as published by W. W.
Gibbings, 18 Bury Street, London, he also found rich in tales that were
almost as charming to the fancy as the story of the days of “ Good
‘Haroun Alraschid.†|
We shall give you adaptions of the best stories from these pages,
as they are still the delight of the Eastern ports. |
Percy also liked those American stories that closely resemble those
of the East.
THE SINGING MOUSE. 33
The long twilights of the story-telling garden had the atmosphere
for such curious tales and wonder-tales. His father’s friends in the
State Department and old consular friends would gather under the
trees, and with them social travellers, and tell tales of many lands.
After the story-telling they would leave the garden to see the dome of
the Capitol gleaming over the city in the moonlight.
Let me give you some of these old stories by visitors from the New
England port cities, that have the Oriental curiosity and flavor. There
were two that particularly held Percy’s fancy. The boy used to repeat
them to new visitors, and they seemed to many to have an almost
Eastern charm. The favorite of all these peculiar stories which he
used to relate with sympathetic coloring, after the Eastern way, and
which we reproduce in our own, was, —
THE SINGING MOUSE.
*Goop-By, Alice. It is a cold morning, and it seems hard to go away
and leave you all alone in the dark; but I must work. We have to work to
live: To-morrow will be Christmas. I wish I had something to give you; but
Thaven’t. Never mind, Alice, I love you.â€
The old man opened the door to go, then looked back on his blind daughter,
whom he was about to leave all alone for the day. He wished to say something
more to comfort her in the long hours of loneliness that were to follow.
“Well, be good, Alice. Perhaps the good fairies will come to you; they
come at Christmas-time, they say, to those who believe that the world is
good.â€
He closed the door.
‘The world.’ The words had a strange far-away meaning to Alice. She
had never seen the world. She had felt the sunshine, she had heard distant
bells ringing on Sundays, and happy birds singing in the cool green trees of
the park on summer morns. She knew when the seasons came and changed,
- but she had never seen the springs light up the hills, and burst into flowers, or
the summer dawns and groves and rivers and hay-fields, or the autumn fruits
- and burning leaves, or the fleecy fall of white snows. The winds of the seasons
sang to her; she had listened to their music for sixteen years. When a young.
3
34 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
child she had had the scarlet-fever, and it had left her weak and helpless, and
a slow darkness had come over her eyes, shutting out the light more and more
day by day, until at last the bright world disappeared, and was lost. She was.
blind. She could now only dimly remember that she had ever seen the world.
Only two things had left pictures on her mind; they were the face of her
mother, who was now dead, and a canary-bird that had sung over her bed in
her sickness. She loved to dream of them always, —the beautiful face and the
golden bird.
Late in the morning an old woman named Lucy came into the room. She
always visited the blind girl once a day, and in winter oftener.
“Can I do anything for you, Alice?†she asked kindly.
“ Father says that to-morrow will be Christmas. It is the day of Christ, and
I suppose that everything is beautiful. Shall I ever see Christmas? I wish I
could!â€
“Oh, Alice, believe that you will, and you will. How bright the snows.
glisten on the roof of the Perkins Institute for the Blind! I wish you could
see the wings of the doves that fly among the chimneys over there. It always
looks bright up there; all places look pleasant where people do good.â€
“For the blind? Did you say for the blind? Could I not go there? Per-
haps they would help me.â€
“But you would have to leave your dear old father. That is an asylum,
and your eyes are all grown over. But don't lose heart, child. Strange things
happen to those that believe. The believing heart receiveth all things. Ask
the Lord to send you the good fairies of Christmas, and the good fairies will
come. I have always noticed that the good fairies come to those who expect
them.â€
“Oh, Lucy, I do so wish I could see, like you! The bells will ring, but I
shall not see the Day Beautiful. Don’t you pity me, Lucy? Let me kiss you.â€
The old woman clasped the girl to her bosom. ‘ Lucy, | believe in you — and
father.â€
The faith of the girl touched the old woman’s heart. There are few sweeter
words than these, “I believe in you.†The confidence made old Lucy wish to
help the sightless girl. Faith always has this influence. Lucy turned away,
and a happy thought came into her mind, like an angel flying across the sky.
She had a few pennies. She would buy some chestnuts from the grizzly old
chestnut-roaster on the street, and would put them in Alice’s stocking. So she
stopped at the door as she was about to go, and said, —
‘Alice, other girls hang their stockings under the shelf on Christmas Eve,
and they do say that the good fairies come in the night and put things into
THE SINGING MOUSE, . Bh
them. You hang up yours to-night above the stove. You cannot tell what
may happen. I see you have faith in your heart. It is a good thing to
believe in God and everybody. If all people did this, what a happy world
it would be!â€
Alice did not comprehend all this homely philosophy, but she felt the spirit
of it. She heard Lucy going. A new delight came into her heart, her face
grew bright, and she said, —
“Oh, Lucy, I feel that everything is good around me and above me, and
I believe in everything! I shall see Christmas — the Day Beautiful —some
day. Yes, Lucy, I surely will. I feel it Zeve. I shall see.â€
She crossed her white hands on her heart, and sat smiling. Old Lucy went
away, but Alice sat there still, as lovely as a mute statue of Faith. She heard
the footsteps hurrying by on the street, a rift of sunlight came into the room
from the thinly parting snow clouds, and she felt the brightness of the light that
she could not see.
There was a little noise in the room—a rustle. Something was there, —a
tiny something. Was it a fairy’s foot? It was now here, now there, airy,
timid.
Alice listened. She heard nothing more for atime. She recalled the tales
of Grimm, Anderson, Fouqué, Haupt, and Hoffmann that her mother used to tell
her. Was ita fairy? It was not the wind, for the air was still.
Again an airy trip across the floor like a little wing. Was it the spirit of
the dead canary that she could see still in the dim twilight of memory? Her
heart beat. Again and again it sped across the floor, like a thing of air. Once
it came near her feet. Oh, that she could see!
What was that? Music? Surely it was. In acorner of the room. Soft
music like the summer wind among the high wires over the street, like a harp
in the park, like the dead canary’s remembered song, only not sharp like that
— more light, more soft, more timid. Fairy music it might be. A fairy play-
ing a harp.
It came again. It could not be a cricket. Crickets sometimes came to
those tenement-houses in the dead world, but it was winter now. How it sang
and sang! Alice listened with a thrilled and wonder-delighted heart. She
moved her foot. The music was gone with a little rustle like a wing.
“Lucy!†she screamed.
Old Lucy came. ‘What, Alice, girl?†;
“My old canary has come back, and has been singing to me. Something
good is going to happen. Do dead birds sing?â€
Lucy did not know. She saw nothing and heard nothing. She kissed:
36 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
Alice, and only said, “You have been dreaming, child; but dreams of faith
often come true.â€
That afternoon the street was all bells. Door-bells were ringing. There
were bells on the horses, bells on the sleds of the children. The sun of the
short day faded out of the room, and all the air became melodious and palpita-
ting with chimes. At twilight all was music, — bells, bells, bells.
Then fell a hush between the twilight and the evening festivals. The street
lamps were lit; one of them flashed into the window. There were a few still
moments, a rustle, and the same sweet harp-like, cricket-like music filled the
room again. Alice did not stir. It lasted long. There was a footfall on the
stairs, another little rustle and an airy run, and the music was gone,
The door opened. “ Oh, father, father, my dead canary has been here, and
has been singing to me! Oh, it was like silver; so beautiful— beautiful! I
wish that I could see!â€
‘Be patient, my little daughter. Perhaps it will all come by-and-by. I
told you that the fairies of good came to those who believe in them. I have
brought home a whole loaf of pound-cake and two oranges to-night because it
is Christmas Eve, and I have been thinking so much of you to-day. We will
eat them together.â€â€™
Poor old Hugh Meadowcraft, the laborer at ches docks where ships unloaded
their freight, felt a new vitality in his weary limbs as he rattled the grate, and
put the meat on the stove to fry, and poured out the coffee into the coffee-pot,
and prepared the evening meal. His employer, the ship-master, had added two
dollars to his simple wages for this week. He had paid his rent for his two
rooms, and bought a pound-cake for er, and he was a happy man. He heard
nothing but goodness in all the bells that were ringing near and far, and as he
sat down to his tea with his blind child, he said, ‘I tell you what it is, Alice,
this is a good world to live in; and I think that the next will be better still.
There’s nothing, child, like love and faith and hope; they are all the world of
happiness. A king can have no more. Smell the coffee, and hear the kettle
sing. The bells are all ringing yonder, everywhere.â€
They ate in happy silence. Suddenly there was a lute-like sound, like a
harp of air.
“ Listen, father.â€
“ Fairies.â€
Old Hugh moved his chair. The music ceased.
“ You have heard it, father — the canary?â€
“Tt is very strange. It is nothing bad, Alice; it bodes no evil; only a
good fairy ever sang like that.â€
LHE SINGING MOUSE. 37
Night came, with the temples of the stars shining in the sky; the streets
thronged; there were merry voices in the clear still air. Old Lucy came in,
and laughed at Alice’s fairy. Nine o’clock came, and Hugh went to his room,
and Alice for the first time in her life hung up her stocking for Santa Claus, or
the fairies, or the spirit of good that haunts the world’s better self. She went
to bed — it had been a thrilling day to her — and went to sleep to dream of the
song of the golden bird.
She awoke early, or was awakened by a little noise. What was that? A
nibbling sound under the shelf and over the stovepipe; in the very place where
she had hung her stocking.
She rose softly, slowly. The nibbling sound continued, and there was a
rustle as of nuts. Hush! The canary was singing again; — in the dark, under
the shelf, over the stove-pipe, where she had hung her stocking,
She crept toward the place silently and listened. Could it be? Yes, the
music was zz her stocking, away down in her stocking toward the foot. How
sweet and silvery and happy it was! She put out her trembling hand and
grasped the top of the stocking; she felt a motion of some living thing in it.
She pinched the toe; it was full of something. What had happened? She
screamed.
Her father came to the door with a light. ‘“ What is it, Alice?â€
“The canary in my stocking.â€
“No, no, girl. Here, let me see.â€
Old Hugh opened the top of the stocking. ‘ Santa Claus has been to see
you, Alice; and he has left a mouse, I do declare.â€
Old Lucy came, running. “See here, will wonders ever cease? Alice has
found a mouse in her stocking.â€
“Kill it!†said old Lucy. “It is after the nuts that — â€
“Oh, no, no; don’t kill it!†said Alice. “T beg of you, don’t kill it! It
sings.â€
“Oh, no, girl, it don’t sing; and it will eat up all the nuts. Let me call the
â€)
cat
“Oh, no; I tell you it sings like a canary. Let me have the stocking ;â€
and Alice seized it, and threw herself upon the bed. “Let me have it — let
me have it until day!†said she. “Let me be alone with it for a little while.
Oh, please do! It means good to me. I feel it does. Let me have it a little
while.â€
“Let her be,†said old Hugh. “Perhaps it is a singing mouse — who
knows? I have heard of them. They bring good luck. Likely it was that
she heard yesterday, and that we heard at tea.â€
38 ZIGZAG FOURNEYVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
Morning came, —a splendor of billowy clouds, sunshine, and glistening
snow. Old Hugh rose late, and came into the room.
“ Oh, father, it has been singing again; and the stocking is half full of nuts,
and I have touched i¢ with my hand. It is soft, and its heart makes its little
body tremble all over. Did Santa Claus leave it, father?â€
“T don’t know; and it isn’t much matter, I guess, as long as you are
happy.â€
The mouse continued to nibble the nuts and to sing. Hugh began to be
interested in it. He called old Lucy into the room to hear it sing.
“Just you be still and listen,†said he.
The mouse began to nibble, then to sing.
The doctor called to see a sick woman who lived in the house.
“ Doctor,†said Lucy, “did you ever hear of such a thing as a singing
mouse?â€
« Yes.â€
“There ’s one in the other room, and I want you to hear it.â€
The doctor was in a hurry to go, but his curiosity was excited. He stepped
into Alice’s room, saw the little mouse in the trap cage, and presently heard
it sing.
It looked so cunning standing there on its hind-feet, and moving its fore-
feet as though playing on a tiny violin — so pretty, so toy-like, so comical —
that the doctor was delighted, and he lingered there for nearly half an hour,
notwithstanding his haste at first to go. Then his face turned to Alice — how
happy and lovely she looked ! — and he said, —
“ What is the matter with your eyes, my girl?â€
_ “Tam blind. I cannot see you or father; I cannot see Christmas, the day
that they call Beautiful; I cannot see the singing mouse. Oh, doctor, I wish
I could see! I feel that some good influence is following me. Can’t you
help me?â€
“Come to the window with me, my girl, and let me examine your eyes.
You ought to be treated by an oculist,†said he. ‘‘I declare, I must tell my
friend Phillips about you. His wife is an invalid; she will want to see the
singing mouse. Ske likes to meet everybody who has trouble and to make
_them happy. She feeds with coin all the organ-grinders in the street, and
watches at her window for faces in distress. Here is a case for her. My girl,
I have hopes that you may see again. There is a growth over your eyes; it
may be removed. I will be your friend. What is your name?â€
“ Alice — Alice Meadowcraft.â€
He went away slowly, leading Alice back to her chair, And the mouse
was singing.
THE SINGING MOUSE. 39
“Will be your friend.†Alice’s face was a picture of happiness, and beauti-
ful with hope. “Friend!†He might cause the heavens to lift again before
her eyes full of sunrises, moonrises, sunsets, rainbows, and stars. He might
cause the flowers to bloom again, the birds to come again, to her eyes. He
might bring again the face of her father to hers, and she might yet see the Day
Beautiful.
There lived on Essex Street at this time a tall, patriarchal man, with grand
manners and a most beautiful face, whom the whole nation feared, but whom
all the poor people of that neighborhood loved. He would face a political
mob with perfect calmness, but he could never say “No†to an unfortunate
man or a homeless child. He was of distinguished family, and had inherited
wealth; a graduate of Harvard, and a correspondent of the greatest statesmen
of the world, yet he lived in a simple way, and died poor, having given away
all that he had. He sleeps now in a lot assigned him by friendly charity in
the beautiful Milton (Massachusetts) burying-ground, near the old house of
the “Suffolk Resolves,†which “resolves†was the first Declaration of
Independence.
This man, whose criticism even good President Lincoln declared that he
dreaded more than any other, and whose white hand waved mobs backward
like a prophet’s, at this time towered through the streets near where the Old
Colony and Albany depots now are, loved, feared, hated, carrying his own
market basket in the morning, and at night thrilling assemblies with silver-
tongued eloquence such as is not now heard in Boston. His wife was an
invalid, and he was her nurse for a lifetime.
The next day the doctor came to the long rambling house where Alice
lived, and he brought with him this statesman who scorned public office, but
whose words moved the conscience of the people and led the struggles of the
world.
How grand and noble he looked as he stood there in that poor room and
took the hand of Alice, the blind girl!
“T have come to hear your little mouse sing,†said he. Then he started
back. He looked upon the blind eyes of that beautiful face. “I must let you
go over and see Ann, She will send you to Mrs. Anagnos.â€
The little mouse was induced to sing after a time, and the two went away.
“J will call for you some day,†said the patriarch.
“Mrs. Anagnos!†Who was Mrs. Anagnos? The name rang in Alice’s
mind. She asked the few that came into her room who was Mrs. Anagnos.
None of them knew.
At last the grocer came with a simple parcel. Alice asked him the question
that so haunted her.
40. ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
“ Oh, she is the daughter of Julia Ward Howe — she who wrote, —
‘Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.â€
And he hurried away. But the mouse was singing.
The line seemed a prophecy. Who wrote it, — Mrs. Julia Ward Howe or
Mrs. Anagnos? She would ask the newsboy when he passed. She did. His
answer was odd, but satisfactory: —
“She is the wife of Mr. Anagnos, who keeps the Blind Asylum over in
South Boston, and helps blind people to read. He might make you see.
Better go and see her. She is a great big woman, and she’s just good to
everybody, like dfs’ eras She’d make you see, like’s not. I’d try her,
anyway.â€
Alice went back to her room, her mind all roses, and the little mouse was
singing again.
One day the patriarch came again, and he took Alice to the two-story brick
house on Essex Street, to meet his invalid wife. How tenderly they talked to
her! And‘ Ann†kissed her, and said, —
* We will see your father, and I think I will send a carriage for you some
day, and you shall visit Mrs. Anagnos. I think, too, that Mrs. Anagnos will
want you to stay with her a while, and I perhaps will take care of your mouse
while you are gone. I love little animals, and I live in my room alone.â€
“Do you think that she will make me see?†said Alice, — ‘‘see father and
the day that they call Beautiful? â€
_The high rooms of the Blind Asylum at South Boston overlook the city,
the bowery suburbs, and the glorious harbor. The world of life, of spires,
towers, ships, parks, and gardens, lies under them. In one of these rooms
Alice found a new home. And here one day the doctors gave her a breath of
ether, and she went away to dreamland; and when she came back again, Mrs.
Anagnos stood over her, and kissed her, and a doctor said, —
“ The operation has been successful. You will see again.†;
‘“When?†said Alice, whose eyes were in thick bandages. ‘Oh, when?â€
“JT will say on Christmas Day, —the day you call Beautiful, You must be
kept ina dark room until then. If your eyes do well, I will let your friends
_come to see you. next Christmas, and I will lift the Cunsainy and you shall see
the world again.â€
Touchingly faithful were the visits of Mrs. Anagnos to the silent room of
Alice. All the blind people loved this woman whom they could not see, but
whose presence was a spiritual benediction. Her heart was always with them,
“*WAIT TILL THE SUN GOES INTO A CLOUD,’ SAID THE DOCTOR.â€
THE SINGING MOUSE. 43
and when she lay dying, her last request was, ‘Don’t forget my poor blind
children.â€
Christmas was drawing near; streets were crowded and bells were ringing
again; the mellowness of autumn lingered, and there was an April blue in the
December sky.
“TI shall see the world to-morrow,†said Alice.
“Yes, to-morrow,†said the doctor; ‘‘and your father and friends will be
here.â€
It was Christmas afternoon. Alice sat in a dim room, the bandages had
long been removed from her eyes, and she had seen Mrs. Anagnos in the
shadows, and had kissed her face. For a few days, indeed, she had sat in a
room that was almost light. She had been tempted again and again to lift the
curtain, and open the blind, and steal one glimpse of the new world.
Her father came. She looked upon his old hard hands— into his eyes.
They were like her own. His hair was white—not like hers. Were other
men’s heads so white? One of the teachers had sent her a Christmas rose.
How lovely it was! How pitiable it seemed that any one should be unable to
see it! Dr. Howe came, his soul of love shining through his noble face. The
doctor came —he who had promised to be her friend—and the patriarch.
Shadow people were they all, but such glorious shadow people!
The doctor’s hair was not white; it was like her own. His face was not
white; it was olive, and a rose was on it. Alice was filled with wonder at the
stately shadow people, but her heart went out to the doctor at once. Was it
not he who had said, ‘I will be your friend�
‘Wait till the sun goes into a cloud,†said the hospital doctor. A shadow
passed over the glimmering window. ‘“ Now!â€
The curtain was lifted.
There it lay —the Day Beautiful! The blue sky, with the sun curtained in
a cloud; the broad city, with its dome; the long harbor, with its white sails;
the streets full of people; the parks; the far horizons; there it lay, — the world;
and she had come among the people of all this beautiful existence to be one
of them.
“This is Christ’s day,†she said.
eovesr.
“ Are other days like this?â€
“Yes — all.â€
* And I shall see them? Oh, what a bliss it will be to live!â€
She turned to her friend the doctor with streaming eyes, and said, “It was
you that promised to be my friend. I owe this all to you.â€
44 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
“No,†he said; “it was the mouse, — the singing mouse.â€
“Tt was not acommon mouse. Do you think so?â€
“No: it was a singing mouse.â€
“JT did not mean that; it was all a finger of — something.†She held out her
hand and looked at her own finger. “I can’t tell what I want to say. Don't
you know, doctor?â€
It was a wet day in February; I recall it well. It had rained and rained,
and all the tall houses were dripping. It had been announced that a private
qa
CLOTHING WAPERIEE
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FANEUIL HALL. .
citizen would that day Jie in state in Faneuil Hall. The Shaw Guards were to
escort the remains thither, and stand guard over them. He had never held
an office; he had never led Senates or armies, or anything but the march of
human thought. Yet the great square filled with people in the rain. Faneuil
THE VILLAGE MYSTERY. | : 45
Hall market-places were full of drenched people, — poor people, shivering
people, teamsters, old farmers, Irishmen, Irishwomen, colored men, colored
women, children, folk from out of town, men of the trades, an army of laborers.
Social leaders were not there, politicians were not there; men who trade in
the hopes of the poor were not there; nor any who, under any pretext, take
from the poor their birthright. But the squares were full. There was a dirge
in the rain, a procession of black faces, and then a stay in the pouring rain; after
which the great tide of hearts was allowed to pour into the hall.
A man and a very beautiful woman came with the surging crowd, and as the
woman bent over to kiss the white form of the dead, it seemed as if her heart
was broken. The man was compelled to force her away that others might rain
tears on the cold roses. That woman was Alice Meadowcraft Holly, and the
man was her husband, the doctor. Then I thought of the singing mouse, of
the Day Beautiful, and of the good Angel of Faith, whose hand, unseen, had
been in it all.
Another of these stories which the American practical mind, unlike
the Eastern, seeks to explain, was a mid-New-England fireside tale which
has found many versions, of which the following is one.
THE VILLAGE MYSTERY.
ONE April morning in the early part of the present century, a very curious
group of farmers might have been seen in an old blacksmith’s shop near the
village of Henniker, N. H., intent on discussing a remarkable event that had
recently occurred in the neighborhood.
A common farm-horse, of no especial note, except it was white, had walked
in the night across the deep torrents of Contoocook River at a point where
the bridge had been lately washed away by a freshet, carrying a young woman
on his back. The river at the time was swollen, and from twelve to fifteen feet
deep. The night was dark and cloudy, and had followed an early spring tem-
pest, which the farmers had called the “ breaking-up of winter.†The young
woman was not aware that the bridge had been carried away until the day after
this mysterious crossing of the swollen stream.
The event was regarded as well-nigh miraculous, and had caused great excite-
ment in the usually quiet little village. The proof was positive that the horse
had crossed the torrent, and people came daily to visit the old white animal in
the stable; and the poor creature that had led an uneventful life of good and
46 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
steady service among the roads, fields, and pastures of the Contoocook received
the name of The Miraculous Horse.
How many people in Henniker many years ago were familiar with the story
of The Enchanted Horse in the “ Arabian Nights,†or with the Magic Horse of
Dan Chaucer’s delightful fiction, we do not know. But many of them were
proud that their town had produced a horse that could walk upon the water,
even if he could not fly.
There were other people, in a very small minority, as is usual in such cases,
or was at that time, who believed that some natural explanation could be found
for the feat of the water-walking horse, and that time would bring to light some
curious solution of the mystery.
Such was the state of the public mind on this blue April morning that
found a gathering of rugged farmers at the old New Hampshire smithy.
The occasion of the extraordinay gathering was as follows: Smith Smart,
the honest blacksmith, had been told the day before, by Samuel Samson, the
owner of The Miraculous Horse, that the latter would ride over to the smithy
the next morning, and have the white horse shod. The interesting animal had
not been shod since he had walked upon the water on the cloudy night. Smith
Smart therefore regarded the shoeing of the horse as a matter of no common
concern, and he had told his friends to “ come around†and see the shoes set
on the miraculous roadster, and further discuss the mystery. -
“What time did Samson say that he would be here?†asked old Judge Camp-
bell, stamping the snow from his feet, and holding his great hands over the fire
of the smithy.
“ About nine, I guess,†said the blacksmith, bearing down on the lever of the
bellows, and so sending a red flame into the air which touched the judge’s coat-
sleeve. ;
“ Cracky! don’t you burn me!†said the judge. “I am not made of iron or
steel, if I do sit upon the bench and administer justice. There he comes now,
I do declare. I don’t know how it may be with the rest of you, but I can’t see
anything peculiar about that old white horse. He is just a horse, a white horse,
to me; and I wouldn’t have given twenty dollars for him before he walked
across the Contoocook on the water.
Farmer Samson came riding up to the smithy. He had often done so
‘before, as now, on horseback, and neither he nor the horse had been objects of
any special interest to anybody. But he came now gravely and silently, as
though he were a prophet, and the heavens were about to fall; and the old
farmers gaped at the horse with open mouths and wide eyes. The farmer dis-
mounted, and left the horse standing in the April sun, that poured through the
great doors of the smithy.
THE VILLAGE MYSTERY. A7
“Well,†he said at last, “there he is. If you can shoe the air and the
water, shoe him. These are solemn times, judge, —solemn times! Signs and
wonders, wheels within wheels, like Ezekiel’s vision; and I don’t know what
the world is a-comin’ to. I sometimes think that the times of Cotton Mather
and ghosts and flying women are about to return again to New England.
It is a mystery why fate should set its sign on that old white horse, but so
it is.â€
The horse stood there, very quiet and demure. He did not look as though
he had been the medium of any special revelation. He did not so much as
wink, He was worn with hard work of many years ; had an intelligent, reliable ©
look; did not fear the forge; and seemed to be glad that spring had come, and
to enjoy the sunshine. No one would have taken him for an oracle.
“Samson, did you ever notice anything peculiar about that horse before
that awful night?†asked the judge.
“No; only he is the most sure-footed animal I ever had. Whatever I set
him to doin’, he will do, — plough without a driver; furrow without lines ; go
home from mill all alone with a bag of meal on his back, and leave the grist at
the door. He never had no antics nor capers, nor nothin’ of that kind; but he
has had the strongest horse-sense of any animal I ever knew. Seems as though
sometimes he had a soul. -I always thought that I would hate to kill him when
he became old. He might haunt me.
“He carried me to be married, and bore away two of my children to their
graves; and Martha would have been dead, too, if he hadn’t a-walked over the
water like a spirit horse in the dead o’ night, under the scudding clouds, and
brought the doctor just in the nick o’ time. Poor old Jack! there are not
many more weddings and funerals for you to go to in my family. I do think,
judge, that there ought to be some law to protect an old family horse,—a
hospital, or somethin’.â€
Samson twined his fingers in the animal’s mane.
‘I always noticed that that animal had a kind of far-away look in his eye,
as though he was sort of pryin’ into futurity,†said old Deacon Bonney. “ It’s.
a case like Balaam, you may depend. It ain’t no use talkin’ ; your Martha is a
good woman, and she was goin’ to die without a doctor, and the powers above
just let the good old white horse have his way; and he went over the river,
waterfalls and all, dry shod, like the Israelites of old. He was uplifted.â€
“He never went over the Contoocook River dry shod, without there was
somethin’ under his feet,†said the village schoolmaster, Ephraim Cole, who
had come with the rest, as the day was Saturday and a holiday. “Even the
Israelites had the winds to help them. There are no effects without causes,
48 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
and that horse went across the river in some perfectly natural way, you may
be sure, Wait and see. Time will tell the truth about all things.â€
“Samson,†said the judge, ‘I want you to tell us the true story of that
night, while Smart sets the shoes on that marvellous animal.â€
Smith Smart plied the lever again. The forge began to blaze. Some new
shoes were dropped into the fire, and the blacksmith began to pare down the
horse’s hoofs with his steel scraper. The horse was quite used to these things,
and did not move, except at the will of the smith.
“He is the patientest horse to be shod that ever I see,†said Smart.
“ Always was. I noticed that years ago. I always thought that there was
somethin’ mysterious about him.â€
The men sat down on sooty benches and boxes, and Samson began his
strange story.
“ Well, this is how it was, this way, as I remember. It was early in March,
of a Tuesday night. Wife began to feel sick in the evening: chills, and fever
flashes. Then she began to have a difficulty of breathin’, and Tsee that she was
threatened with pneumonia, and says I to Minnie, my daughter, ‘You bridle
Jack and go for the doctor as quick as you can. ’Tis a dark night, but
Jack knows the way. He’s been after the doctor in the night before. Wrap
up warm, and don’t mind the thunder. It will be cold when you cross the
bridge, so wrap up warm.’
“T had n’t heard then that the bridge had been carried away by the freshet.
Well, Minnie, she bridled up Jack and started. It was a troubled night; I
could hear the wind in the branches of the trees, and see the clouds scud across
the half-moon. The wind was keen, and Minnie drew the shawl over her head,
and gave Jack the rein, and let him go.
“Well, when they came to the bridge, or the place where the bridge was,
Minnie drew ‘the shawl more closely about her ears, and dropped the rein ;
and Jack walked right across the river, carefully like, and Minnie never so
much as thought that there was no bridge there, except once during a flash
© lightning. The water was pouring down from the hills in torrents. There
had n’t been such a freshet for years. Minnie called the doctor, and returned
in the same way.
“ The doctor came late, and found wife very sick ; and J incline to think that
his comin’ just saved her. After givin’ her medicines, he said to me, said he,
‘J should have been here before, but for the bridge being washed away. It is
a bad road round.’
“«The bridge washed away?’ said I.
“No, doctor,’ said Minnie, ‘the bridgé is not washed away. I went over it,
and came back the same way.’
THE VILLAGE MYSTERY. AQ
«No, no,’ said the doctor, said he, in surprise, ‘there is no bridge over this
part of the Contoocook. You must have been dreaming, Minnie. The horse
went round,
“*No, doctor, I crossed the bridge direct. You will find it so by the
horse's tracks. There was a minute or two that seemed to me kind o’ strange.
There came a flash of lightning and all around me looked like water.’
“Wife was better in the mornin’, and I had to go to the river. I followed
the tracks of Jack goin’ and comin’. The horse certainly went to the river, and
as Minnie was gone but half an hour, and it would have been an hour’s hard
riding to have gone and returned the other way, the horse surely crossed the
river.
“But to make the matter clear beyond a doubt, Minnie’s scarf blew off
while crossin’ the river, and we saw it on the next day at the place that she
crossed on a rock in the river. My hired ,man found the horse’s tracks on the
other side of the river.— No, sure as preachin’, and the stars above us, that
horse crossed the river with Minnie on his back. It was a supernatural event
of some kind. The horse crossed the bridge, and there was no bridge to
cross.â€
There was another confirmation to this amazing story, —a rheumatic old
woman living near the river, who stood by her window that night, looking out
on the breaking clouds. There came a flash of lightning, and she saw a white
horse with a black rider, walking on the water in the middle of the river. She
said that she had seen her “ death fetch.â€
A long silence followed the emphatic “there!†of the blacksmith. It was
broken by the mathematical schoolmaster.
“Will you let me ride the horse down to the tiver after he is shod? If
Minnie could cross where there is no bridge, I can.â€
“You can?†exclaimed a chorus of voices.
“Just follow me,†he continued. “I think I can show you all how a horse
can walk upon the water. What has been done, can be done.â€
Mounting the horse, the schoolmaster rode to the edge of the swollen river,
where the old bridge had been. But he did not stop there. Old Jack went on,
not stepping far into the water, but seemingly walking upon it. Very care-
fully went the horse, but steadily, as though feeling his way. The men gazed
in wonder.
“That stream is ten feet deep,†said one.
“Was there ever such a sight before, — a horse walking upon the water?â€
said another,
When Jack reached the other side, the old schoolmaster turned his head,
5
50 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
and waved his hat. He then turned the horse’s head, and the two came back
again, like a general and his war-steed. It was noticed that before taking a
step forward, Jack lifted high his right fore-foot and very carefully felt for a
place on which to rest it, as though there were hard and reliable places in the
gliding water.
As soon as the schoolmaster returned, he clasped the horse around the
neck, and said, —
* Jack, you are a good animal, and know more than most other people do.â€
The farmers began to investigate. They walked into the river. They
found that they, too, could walk upon the water. A line of posts covered by
wide strips of board belonging to the old bridge, had not been carried away,
but remained about half a foot under the surface, the foaming current passing
over them.
“Time tells the truth about all things,’
there are no effects without causes.â€
“ That was risky business,†said the judge.
It was a very thoughtful procession that followed the trustworthy old white
horse back to the smithy. Then the old breadcart man came along, with a
jingle of bells, and the judge bought five cakes of gingerbread and treated the
company at the blacksmith’s.
‘‘Cracky!†continued the judge, philosophically, “ fingers are fingers, and
thumbs are thumbs. If we haven't a miraculous horse, we have a miraculous
schoolmaster. Let us be thankful, deacon. What do you say?â€
And the Deacon said, ‘‘ Amen.â€
And the bluebirds sang, and the woodpeckers pecked, and flocks of robins
chorused, “ Cheer up, cheer up!†in the gnarled old apple-trees, and all the
world went on happily, as before.
?
repeated the schoolmaster, “ and
THE VALLEY OF MEXICO.
CHAPTER III.
A PLAN FOR A JOURNEY OF EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL.
THE PLACES TO BE VISITED: THE Ciry of Mexico; Caracas; A ZIGZAG JOURNEY
ACROSS THE SEA FROM PERNAMBUCO TO GIBRALTAR; THEN ALL THE
CONSULAR PorTS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN.
4] HE journey began to Mexico and La Guayra. One
i} day in the Garden Mr. Van der Palm said to Percy,
“I have business which will take me to the city
of Mexico for some months, and then to Caracas
for a few weeks. I shall then go to Pernambuco,
and thence sail on a Portuguese steamer directly
for Lisbon, stopping for a short time at the Cape Verd Islands and
the Canaries. Here is a map; let me trace the route with a pencil.â€
Mr. Van der Palm slowly traced the route to Mexico, South
America, and Europe.
“I should think such a journey,†said Percy, “would be one of the
most delightful in all the world.â€
“It is. I know the route well. The valley of the City of Mexico
is one of the most beautiful spots in North America, and there are few
places in the world more beautiful than Caracas and Valentia in the
Maritime Andes. The sea-route from Brazil to Portugal by way of
the Southern Islands is unequalled at the right seasons of the year.â€
“You will be gone a year?â€
a Yess
54 ZIGZAG YOURNEYVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
And he
“] shall take you with me. You will begin your studies in educa-
tional travel in the City of Mexico. You will find it a good place to
commence Latin-America Spanish. You can continue the study in
‘Caracas and Valentia; take Portuguese in Pernambuco, and Castilian
Spanish at the port of Gibraltar and at Barcelona. You will be able
to learn at these ports the commercial law and usages of Spain and
Portugal, and to study the literature of those countries in the
original language.â€
“Where shall we go from Lisbon and the ports of Spain?â€
“To all the consular ports of the Mediterranean. It will be a zig-
zag journey, as I shall not follow the coast on either side, but pass
from the port cities of one coast to the other, as yak commission
directs.â€
The journey thus planned was at once begun. In Monterey, Percy
spoke his first Buenos dias, Senor; Felizes trades, Senora; Como lo (pase,
usted? In the City of Mexico he began to hear, for the first time,
those characteristic Spanish words, in which may be read the decline
of the Latin empire in the New World,— Hasta manana (until
to-morrow). Here he also began to be familiar with those terms of
elegant and deferential politeness which form a part of all the dialogue
of Spanish America: Con mucho gusta; A los pres de usted, — At the
feet of you (to ladies); and Beso a usted los manos, Caballero, —1 kiss
your hands (to gentlemen).
Here he was not rudely asked to sit ‘down in cold business terms,
but, “ Be pleased to sit down;†and he received not ome thank for any
favor that he did, but a thousand, — mil gracias.
Here, too, instead of the old Washington garden, he used to go
out to study on the Paseo, which we must describe and picture.
POPOCATEPETL,
THE PASEO. 57
THE GOD OF FIRE.
THE PASEO, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STREET IN THE
NEW WORLD.
The Paseo, from the plaza of the City of Mexico to the castle and
gardens of Chapultepec, is probably the most beautiful street in the
New World. It is certainly the most historic. It was trodden by
ancient monarchs and priests of the Sun; by Montezumas, caciques,
and Spanish viceroys; and now, at last, by the people’s presidents.
Its history and traditions cover a period of one thousand years, and no
other street in the New World has such a record. —
The street, or boulevard, or paseo, is some three miles long, and
stretches from the place where the great Mexican pyramid once stood,
but where now is the cathedral and official palace, to the Castle of
Chapultepec, which was once the famous Halls of the Montezumas.
It is one long procession of statuary. It might be called the boulevard
of the Montezumas. One leaves the grand plaza, where once the great
pyramid stood, passes the old palace of Iturbide (the first Mexican
monarch after the overthrow of the Spanish power), the Alemada (a
music park of enchanting beauty), and comes to two colossal statues
of Montezumas. He is now in the Paseo proper. The vista before
58 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANAEN.
him is one of the most beautiful in the world. The highway is lined
with Spanish cypress and eucalyptus trees, and is sentinelled, as it were,
with statues of heroes. Around it stretch meadows of flowers and
alfalfa grass. Clarinas sing in the air, and at the end rise the white
porticos of Chapultepec, over gigantic trees and beautiful gardens, and
shine down on the city like things of life and joy.
But this is not all; over the white castle and the gardens of giant
cypresses, gray with mosses and crumbling with the shadows of centu-
THE PRESIDENT’S PALACE.
ries, loom Popocatapetl and Istaccihuatl like white clouds in the sky,
a pearly splendor of glistening snow. The first of these dead volca-
noes is higher than Mount Blanc, or any mountains in Europe. One
may here gather oranges and one hundred varieties of Mexican roses,
and tread the alfalfa meadows, and then glance upward to crystal
winters of the sky.
ih i Taal iH it i) :
iat t ie
if n i
THE SACRIFICIAL STONE.
THE PASEO. 61
The tourist who would see the glory and grandeur of this historic
highway would do well to devote to it a day, and to make his first visit
to the National Museum, which joins the palace in the plaza. Here
he will see Chae Mool, the Aztec god of fire, and the stone statue of
TOP OF SACRIFICIAL STONE.
Death. The Aztec sacrificial stone is here, and the Calendar Stone.
A study of the latter great stone puzzle will give to his mind the proper
historical mood and coloring for the three-mile journey to Chapultepec,
over which he is to pass.
What is the meaning of this mysterious Calendar Stone? The
view in Mexico follows a famous lecture by Philip G. G. Valentini,
62 ZIGZAG FOURNEYVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
published by F. P. Hoeck, that it was an altar for human sacrifices.
The learned archzeologist thus interprets it: —
“T will, in the first place, inform you in what year, by whose
order, and upon what particular festival occasion this stone disk was
first made.
“It was, according to our reckoning, about the year 1478, or nearly
four hundred years ago, and only two years before the death of the
then reigning king of Mexico, Axayacatl, that he was reminded by
the high priest of the State of a vow that he had once made, who
spoke as follows (I will give the long text of the Indian writer,
Tezozomoc, in the fewest words): ‘“ The building of the large sacrificial
1,
ee eee
Ona
SCULPTURE ON THE SIDE OF THE SACRIFICIAL STONE.
pyramid which you have undertaken approaches its end. You vowed
to decorate it with a beautiful work, in which the preserver of man-
kind, Huitzilopochtli, could take pleasure. Time presses; do not
delay the work any longer.†“I think,†said the king, “to replace
the sacrificial stone which my father once devoted to the god of the
sun, with a new one. Let that be laid aside, but carefully preserved.
I will give the laborers provisions and clothing that they may select
the most proper stone from the quarries, and I will send the sculptor
gold, cocoa, and colored cloth, that he may engrave a picture of the
sun as it is surrounded by our other great gods.†So the workmen
went out and quarried the stone, laying it upon rollers, and fifty thou-
sand strong men rolled it along. But as it was upon the bridge of
.
THE PASEO. 63
Xoloc, the beams gave way, the bridge broke in pieces, the stone fell
into the water, and no one dared to remove it from the bottom of the
lake. Then the king was angry and said, “Let them build a new
bridge, with double beams and planks, and bring a new stone from the
quarries of Cuyoacan. Let them bring a second stone here, out of
which a’trough may be made to receive the blood which flows as
expiation from the sacrificial stone.†When the stone had been
THE CATHEDRAL.
quarried and prepared, and had been rolled over the bridge in good
condition, there was a feast of joy. Then was the question asked,
How should the immense stone be placed on the pyramid? After
it was placed in position, we read that it was sunk in the surface of
an altar. The altar is of stone, of the height of eight men, and of
the length of twenty cubits. Before it the trough was placed. A
bloody festival was held for the dedication of this sacrificial slab, and
64. ZIGZAG JOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
upon it thousands of victims were slain. The king, as chief sacrificer,
on the first day killed a hundred of victims with his own hand, drank
of their blood, and ate of their flesh; and so arduous was his labor,
and so much did he eat, that he became sick, and soon after died. He
had only time to have his portrait sculptured upon the surface of the
rock of Chapultepec, according to the custom of Mexican kings. So
much for Tezozomoc’s report.
“ That the sacrificial stone here mentioned is the one still extant,
I will, in addition to the description, bring a still further proof. No
doubt this stone served for all their bloody sacrifices up to the year
1521. In that year the Spaniards captured the city; and Cortez
ordered the destruction of the entire pyramid, and that the canals
of the city be filled with its fragments. Neither Cortez nor Bernal
Diaz, nor any of the chroniclers of the conquerors, make mention of
the existence of any such monument as the afore-described stone.
They did not undertake its destruction; nay, they even placed it in
the market-place, on exhibition, where the pyramid once stood. This
we have from a missionary chronicler named Duran, ‘between the
years 1551 and 1569, who says he has always seen it in the same place,
and that there has been so much talk about it, among Spaniards and
natives, that finally his eminence, the Bishop of Montufar, took
umbrage, and ordered its burial in the place where it stood, in order
that the memory of the infamous actions that had been perpetrated
upon it might be blotted out. Until the year 1790 no one of the
many writers on Mexican antiquities has made the least mention of
it. In that year the repair of the pavement of the market-place was
undertaken. Ina deep excavation the laborers struck a slab of stone
which gave such a hollow sound from the stroke of the iron that they
thought a treasure-vault might be concealed under it. When they
lifted the slab they found no treasure-vault, but were astonished when
they beheld on one side, the spectacle of this incomparable treasure
of ancient Mexican art. The clergy wished it to be again buried,
THE PASEO. 7 68
but the art-loving and liberal viceroy, Revillagigedo, ordered it to be
exposed. He caused it to be built in on the southerly side of the
cathedral, in the ashlar work of one of its towers, so that all could see
it. Here it remained until the year 1885, when it was removed to
the National Museum, where it now stands.
“No one had then the least idea that such a stone had ever
existed, or for what purpose it might have served. The archzeologists
said at once that it must have some connection with the worship of
the sun. They thought the shield in the centre represented the
ancient sun-god; and as they found the always well-known twenty
pictures of the days of the Mexican month engraved about in a circle,
they gave to the disk the name by which it is still known, — the Mex-
ican Calendar Stone.
“The ancient Mexicans had a superstition that the sun-god would
destroy the world in the last night of the fifty-second year, and that
he would never come back. To prevail on him to remain, they offered
to him of their own free will. the greatest sacrifices; not a human
life only, but also on all their hearths, and in all their dwellings and
temples, they extinguished their fires. They left it to the goodness of
the god to give them back this element so necessary to mankind.
They broke all their household furniture ; they hung black masks
before their faces ; they prayed and fasted; and on the evening of the
last night they formed a great procession to a neighboring mountain.
Arriving, there is found a man lying on a circular stone, who gives
himself voluntarily as a sacrifice to the god. Exactly at the midnight
hour a priest thrust a knife into his breast, tore out the heart, and
raised it toward the starry heavens with uplifted hands, while another
‘priest laid a small round block of dry soft wood upon the open wound,
and a third priest, springing on the stone and kneeling over the body,
placed a hard stick perpendicularly on the block, which he then with
his hands caused to revolve. This violent friction produced a spark,
which was caught up, and was immediately carried to a neighboring
5
66 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN,
funeral pile, whose rising flame proclaimed to the people the promise
of the god to delay for a season the destruction of the world, and to
grant to mankind a new lease of fifty-two years of existence.â€
This is thrilling history. The tourist may now go out into the
open air, under the blue sky, pass the palace, the cathedral, the flower
and bird market, and enter San Francisco Street on his way to the
wonderful Paseo.
The great cathedral shines like the sun, holding its great bells in
air. The palace where the great pyramid once stood throngs with
bright, happy faces. The bazaars are gay with color. Women with-
THE TOMB OF JUAREZ.
out bonnets, or any head covering, mingle with the gayly dressed
sehors ; and lazy, happy peons, as the poorer classes of Mexicans are
called, sit in the sun along the crowded way.
‘Passing the old palace of Iturbide, now a grand hotel, one pauses
at the Alemada, and rests among the statues and fountains in the
deep cool shadows of cathedral-like trees. Or perhaps he crosses a
S PALACE,
’
BISHOP
MONTEREY,
TAIN PLAZA,
N
THE PASEO. 69
street or two beyond the Alemada, and visits the Mexican garden of
the dead, called the Pantheon, in the shadows of the crumbling church
of San Fernando. Here is the pyramidal tomb of Juarez, hung
with wreaths of immortelles from all the Mexican States, and bright
with living flowers. In the chamber of the pyramid is the effigy of
STATUE OF CHITAAHUAC.
the emancipator of Mexico in white marble. It represents Juarez as
lying dead on the lap of Mexico, the face of the goddess nation being
turned to the sun. It is one of the most. beautiful works of art in
America. Iturbide was the first monarch of Mexico. He threw off
the Spanish yoke; but it was Juarez who made the Indian races free
and gave them the rights of men.
Entering the Paseo between the statues of the Montezumas, the
charm of the wonderful highway begins. Before the tourist rises a
7O ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
most beautiful statue of Columbus, surrounded, as it were, by a court
of Montezumas and later heroes. One of these monuments is very
4 painful, but long holds the eye. It
= represents two Aztec kings, chained
to blocks of stone, and being tortured
by the Spaniards, who have lighted
slow fires under their feet to make
them disclose their treasures of gold.
On one side of the Paseo is
the ruin of a gigantic aqueduct man-
THE PLAZA AND LA MITRA, MONTEREY.
tled with vines. The way is lined with heavy stone seats. Cool
trees wave above them. Out of these shadowy vistas one sees the
houses of Mexican officials and foreign ministers, — prison-like look-
THE PASEO. oar
ing structures on the outside, but beautiful within, where patios or
open courts, surrounded by zwdas or halls, stand open to the sky.
Chapultepec glimmers in the distance, —a pile of simple beauty
that haunts one forever.
The castle and gardens of Chapultepec! Who can describe them?
Their charm is overwhelming, and yet money did not nor could not
create them. There is poetry and sentiment in the air. The birds
sing of the spirit of the place. One sits down under the ancient
cypresses, some of which are fifty feet in circumference, and pictures
the past. Here were the halls of the Montezumas; here a romantic
viceroy, Galvez, lifted his white palace out of the ruins of the past;
here Carlotta saw a few happy days; and here come the cantering
presidents of the last republic to spend their summers! One won-
ders how the American soldiers ever scaled the walls of rock-ribbed
elevation. |
From the airy porticos one looks down upon the white city burn-
ing in pure, clear sunlight, and up to the mountains that glimmer in
the cerulean splendor of the far sky, and feels that this is the throne
of beauty in the New World. Below are the old baths of the
Montezumas, and close at hand is the military academy. Clarinas
sing; soldiers without occupation march to and fro; glittering officers
on slick ponies and gay saddles disappear in the winding ways of the
ancient cypresses; children play about the cages of native wild animals
in the cool gardens below, and afar the air is a melody of bells.
But the present vanishes from the mind. Here the tourist, be he
a poet or not, dreams. The visions of Prescott’s history rise before
him. The vanished courts of the Montezumas glitter around him,
and in fancy he sees the ¢ocalfi smoking where the melodious city
now stands.
As he returns past the orange sellers, the flower-girls, and the
pulque dealers, he is perhaps glad that the native Indian races are
again masters of their own country. Juarez was an Indian; President
ae ZIGZAG FOURNEYVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
Diaz has native blood. The Indian races in all Spanish-American
countries are retrieving their ancient rights, and are seeking to put
education in the place of ignorance. The influence of the Latin
conquerors is failing and departing, and the halls of the viceroys are
being changed into seats of learning. In this movement, the Mexican
President leads, and the twentieth century will be likely to find the
beautiful Paseo of Mexico more glorious than in all the eventful and
picturesque centuries of the past.
After six months’ studies in Mexico, under a Spanish teacher, Percy
accompanied his father to Caracas, whose port is La Guayra. At this
port he made the acquaintance of genial Consul Hanna; and at the
window of the consulate that looked out on a narrow street, he listened
to many stories of the Spanish Main, one of which we give here, —
our first story of a consulate: —
AN ESCAPE FROM PIRATES.
IF a feeling of superstition with regard to unlucky vessels were ever pardon-
able, it must surely have been so in the case of the brig ‘‘ Crawford,†owned
first at Freetown, Mass., and afterwards for many years at Warren, R. I.
It would seem as if no nervous person, acquainted with her history, could
have trod her decks in the still midnight watches upon the ocean, without a
creeping sensation of dread.
The writer has a distinct recollection of this little full-rigged brig, as a
vessel which figured prominently among the notable craft of his boyhood.
There were dark stains on her deck which had the appearance of iron rust, but
which all knew were not iron rust. She had been the scerie of a tragedy that,
with its associations, was one of the most remarkable upon record.
Her whaling voyages from Warren, of which she made a number, were
all unfortunate in a pecuniary sense. From one of them, after an absence of
fourteen, months, she returned without having taken a drop of oil, — her cap-
tain having actually been obliged to purchase a supply for the binnacle laip
at some foreign port.
By Geo. H, Coomer, in the “Household,†by permission.
AN ESCAPE FROM PIRATES. 73
But the one dreadful event of her history had occurred while she belonged
to Freetown. In fact, it was chiefly in consequence of this that she was sold
to her purchasers in Warren, — her original owners feeling that they could no
longer bear to look upon her.
It was, I think, about 1829, that the “ Crawford†sailed for the West Indies,
under the command of a Captain Brightman, whose crew consisted of his two
mates, a cook, and three foremast hands.
Her outward cargo was disposed of at Havana, and she was nearly ready
for the homeward voyage when four Spaniards came on board, seeking for a}
passage to the United States. They were villanous-looking fellows, with
swarthy faces and flashing black eyes.
The mate advised Captain Brightman not to accept them, and urged his
objections with some force. The captain himself hesitated at first; but the
thought of the passage-money was too tempting, and he finally consented to
take the strangers on board.
One ofthe four passengers could speak English, but his companions knew
only Spanish. After the brig had been at sea a few days, the cook detected
this man, whose name was Tardy, in the act of sprinkling some white substance
on a quantity of food inthe galley. Tardy explained that the article was a
kind of seasoning well known in Cuba, and that he wished the officers and
crew to try its flavor.
The cook scraped off as much of it as he could; but, although the fact of
his doing so shows that he must have had a suspicion of foul play, he unfor-
tunately did not make known the incident until too late. He may have thought
that his knife had removed all danger.
Immediately after eating, the captain and chief mate were taken violently
il. The foremast hands also felt some bad effects from their meal, though in
a less degree; but the second mate escaped, as his duties on deck had kept
him from eating with the captain. As to the four passengers, they, of course,
had taken care not to touch the food on which the white powder had been
sprinkled.
It was now that the terrified cook told the mate what had occurred in the
galley. But in a few moments his voice was silenced forever. He was struck
down by the murderous pirates, who, seeing that their work was but half accom-
plished by the poison, at once proceeded to complete it with their knives.
The captain and chief mate they killed in the cabin; the cook and one of
the foremast hands were murdered close by the windlass, on the forward part
of the deck; while another sailor was killed as he stood at the wheel.
Meanwhile, the second mate, whose name was Durfee, and a man named
74. ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
Allen Bicknell, of Barrington, R. I., who were now the only survivors, ran aloft,
in the forlorn hope of thus saving their lives. The pirates fired at Bicknell
with pistols, wounding him as he stood in the foretop.
Tardy now hailed the second mate, promising to spare his life if he would
come down, as they required him to navigate the vessel. He accordingly
decended, and was not harmed. Seeing the officer in present safety, Bicknell,
the poor sailor, already wounded, asked if they would spare him also. Upon
receiving a reply in the affirmative, he came painfully down the rigging; but
the moment he reached the deck he was killed.
The vessel was now entirely in the possession of these monsters, and the
feelings of Durfee must have been indescribable, as he realized the extent of
the tragedy and his own dreadful situation.
He knew, of course, that the pirates would never, if they could help it,
permit him to leave the vessel alive. It might serve their purpose to spare
him for a time, but unless he should be able to hit upon some manner of
deliverance, the fate of his shipmates must at last be his.
The bodies of the victims were thrown into the sea, and the four murder-
ous scoundrels then commenced searching the cabin, being apparently aware
that she had on board aconsiderable amount of money. This they brought
on deck and divided, all the while talking rapidly in Spanish.
Tardy now informed the second mate that the brig must be taken to South
America. Durfee well knew that should he carry the wretches to that part of
the world, his own doom would be sealed the moment they reached its shores.
He sought for some excuse to land elsewhere and fortunately found one.
“T can take you to South America,†he said, “but for such a voyage we
must have more water. We have only enough to last for a short time, and we
may be sixty or seventy days on the passage.â€
Tardy uttered a Spanish oath or two, and then asked if a supply could not
be obtained by entering some inlet of the coast where there would be no
danger of capture.
“Yes,†replied Durfee, glad that the pirate had anticipated a proposition
which he himself had intended to make. “We could runin at night and get
out before morning. Then we should be all ready for a voyage to South
America or anywhere else.â€
Tardy flourished his knife fiercely before the face of his helpless prisoner,
thus indicating what would be done in case of the least attempt at deception.
Durfee’s nerves had already suffered terribly, and it was only by the greatest
effort that he could maintain anything like an appearance of calmness.
Hastily running over in his thoughts the various inlets of the coast, he
STATUE OF COLUMBUS, MEXICO.
AN ESCAPE FROM PIRATES. Say.
resolved upon making for Chesapeake Bay. He was far, however, from telling
the pirates of his decision, but led them to suppose that the destination was
some obscure nook among islands and promontories. It was fortunate for him
that they knew nothing whatever of the coast, and were ignorant even of the
existence of the wide water sheet which he had in mind.
He used to relate that while the vessel was running on the course he had
chosen, and he was filled with the most dreadful anxiety lest his plans should,
after all, miscarry, Tardy would come to him, and with oaths, boast of the
murders he had committed.
Great was Durfee’s anxiety as the brig made the land. Soon his fate would
be decided. He thought with a sickening sensation of the pirates’ threats, but
he thought, too, of the fort at Old Point Comfort; and upon this his hope
rested. It must, of course, be approached at night; and luckily the Spaniards
were as anxious for the cover of darkness as was he himself, so that he was
permitted to keep off shore until past sunset.
Then the little brig stood in under all sail. With a fine breeze she passed
Cape Henry, and continued her course up the bay. It was for Durfee an hour
of unspeakable suspense. At any moment the pirates might take alarm, and
he felt almost a surprise to find that they did not do so. Here and there
could be seen distant lights, but the shores were hidden in darkness, and the
evil-eyed wretches, wary as they were, seemed not to suspect treachery.
Being for the time in command, as navigator and pilot, the anxious officer
was at the wheel, while his unwelcome companions stood ready to shorten sail
and let go the anchor at his bidding. It may well be imagined that he
measured with every nerve alert each inch of the way.
The brig’s yawl hung at the stern davits. He had made sure that its tackles
were in running order. How near to the fort would he dare to approach before
bringing the brig to?
Presently he directed his dangerous crew to take in the light sails and the
courses. Tardy repeated the order in Spanish, and it was obeyed.
“ Let go the topsail halyards,†was the next command; and down came the
top-sail yards upon the caps.
Clearing his throat for another effort, Durfee felt that his heart-throbs were
almost suffocating. Nevertheless, he was able to command his voice.
“Stand by to let go anchor!†he cried, feeling that in another moment he
would know his fate. The four pirates ran to the windlass.
“Let go!â€
There was a splash under the bow, and a swift paying out of the cable.
Just then Durfee sprang over the taffrail and into the boat, lowering it instantly,
78 | ZIGZAG FOURNEYVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
and with a violent push sent it spinning from under the brig’s counter; then,
seizing an oar, he commenced sculling with all his might. As he did so, he
heard the Spaniards rushing aft, but they were too late to get more than a
glimpse of him in the darkness.
The grim fortress at Old Point Comfort was not a quarter of a mile distant.
Durfee’s calls drew the attention of the sentries, and in a few minutes there
were lights gleaming from a row of port-holes, with the black muzzles of cannon
looking threateningly forth into the darkness, and a dozen soldiers were at once
ordered to board the vessel. On reaching her, they found only three of the
pirates on deck. These were at once made prisoners. Hurrying into the
cabin, they found Tardy lying dead upon the floor. Struck with despair at
the impossibility of escape, he had chosen to die by his own hand rather than
to await the inevitable halter.
His three accomplices were tried and hanged at Norfolk. They died pro-
testing their innocence, and declaring that the entire guilt rested upon their
dead confederate.
As to poor Durfee, the second mate, after the dreadful scenes he had passed
through, he was never really himself. His nervous system had been thoroughly
shattered.
Who can wonder that painful thoughts were always associated with the
“ Crawford,†or that a gloom should seem to invest even the old Warren wharf
where she used to lie? ;
CHAPTER TV.
CARACAS ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE REVOLUTION, 1892. —
AMUSEMENTS AT SEA.
EH] ERCY was in Caracas on the first day of the last
B| revolution, when President Palacio issued his proc-
lamation that made the revolution inevitable.
Percy will never forget that scene as he stood in
the plaza of Bolivar.
It was a bright March day, and the circle of
hills —a part of the “thousand hills†of the Caraci — shone serenely
in the clear purple sky. It is eternal springtime here. The port of
Caracas, La Guayra, three thousand feet below, is one of the hottest
cities in the three Americas, but the capital is cooled by its altitude.
Caracas stands on a plateau or valley in the maritime range of
the Andes, which here rise to a height of nearly ten thousand feet ;
and the city itself is three thousand feet above its port and the sea.
It has a most romantic history, being associated with the names of
the early discoverers, — with Drake, Raleigh, and the poetic cavalier,
Ponce de Leon. ;
Percy and his father had been wandering about the beautiful city,
among the crowds that stood telling each other with terribly serious
faces that great political events were at hand. They had seen the
solitary church that survived the great earthquake nearly a hundred
years ago, and had wondered how the worshippers in that church
must have felt on that eventful Saint’s day, when they rushed to
the doors, to find that all the other churches and houses had gone
down, and twelve thousand people had perished! Every tourist who
80 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
is familiar with history sees in fancy that scene. They had been to
Calvario, or Calvary Hill, where Guzman Blanco, Venezuela’s ambi-
tious ex-president, had made a park, as it were, in the sky, and placed
his own statue upon it, — which was erected too soon, for the people
forced him into exile and tore it down.
ey
ee
saat
aN
ae
BOLIVAR.
On returning from the long walk they found the plaza and all the
public squares filled with excited people. They sat down in the plaza
near the statue of Bolivar.
The statue is a wonder, and commemorates the deeds of a most
LA GUAYRA,
Se
sateen
A kes
Mu
CARACAS ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE REVOLUTION, 1892. 83
wonderful man. It was made in Germany, is equestrian, and to the
imagination, the horse of brass seems to have leaped proudly into the
air, leaving the hero in a most gracious attitude in his saddle to face
the people he had liberated. It is the pride of Caracas, as well it
may be, and one of the marvellous creations of art in the world.
l / Gu fo
aos" Y = AE &
7 24 wept ‘ MUL Hi Z-.
Ser ap E ; He we /; i See
ap A *, x ‘iN ‘ cS ‘ G
remota a a eatin,
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STATUE OF BOLIVAR, CARACAS.
The guards came out of the military palace in front of the plaza.
The press began to issue copies of the President’s manifesto, and the
newsboys to sell them on the street. Every one knew what it was, but
desired to read it with his own eyes. His own life and destiny might
be involved in it.
Every copy was eagerly seized as it came out from the press, and
was read with staring eyes, and passed on to others. .
84 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
“ Tt means war,’ was the one short sentence that passed from lip to
lip. In many cases those three words covered the thought, “ It means
me!†The Venezuelan well knows the meaning of a revolution.
The political situation may be briefly stated. President Palacio
desired a re-election by the House of Deputies. He saw that he
would fail to secure it, and imprisoned certain of the deputies for
political reasons; but it was popularly believed it was a
subterfuge that there might be left no quorum, and that he
might thus have an excuse for con-
tinuing in office, in default of an
election. He thus assumed dictato-
rial powers, in the name and in the
interest of the liberal party which
had done so much for Venezuela.
The Supreme Court declared his
course illegal, and he imprisoned
the judges. The country
rose against
him; and Ca-
racas,the cap-
ital, found it-
self in a state
of siege.
The shad-
OWS of the A YOUTHFUL BEGGAR OF CARACAS.
high Andes |
began to fall upon the valleys and the green palms and coffee plan-
tations of La Guayra. The top of Calvary Hill flashed in the paling
sun. The plaza and streets were black with men, each holding in
his hand- the white sheet of the manifesto.
The bells rang, —it was Lent,—and _half-veiled women pushed
their way through the excited crowds to the golden churches.
CARACAS ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE REVOLUTION, 1892. 85
It was not a noisy, but a silent crowd. There was an expression
of inquiry in every dark face. It was like those days of our own war,
when President Lincoln’s proclamation made the pulses of great cities
to stand still. There was an awful silence in those crowds, and the
same was here. ;
A Venezuelan was with our travellers. He owned an estate in
the interior, twenty-four miles square, as large as a province. His
ANCIENT HOUSE IN CARACAS.
brother had been killed in a former revolution, and he had lived much
in Europe and could speak English well.
He turned his face toward the grand statue of Bolivar, that looked
like a thing of life in the sunset of the Andes. He did not talk
politics. No one did. He simply said,“ They offered Simon Bolivar
the crown, and he answered them: ‘I have achieved the liberation of
36 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
five countries. That is all the honor I desire!’ His heart is in the
cathedral of Santa Martha, and his dust is in yonder Parthenon. I
would that his s427¢¢ were here !â€
From Caracas, Percy sailed for Pernambuco. He was now in the
seas of the great American discoverers.
“ The years roll back — we see again
Thy fleet, Columbus, dare the main,
Upborne by Faith, till rises fair
The new world in prophetic air !
The mighty waves yield to thy prow;
The stormy heavens before thee bow,
The sun stands still, and earth appears
A wheeling star ’mid circling spheres!
“Then Science rose ; then Learning woke ;
And Freedom’s voice to heroes spoke ;
And Progress broke the chains of time,
And upward marched to heights sublime.
No day like this ’neath purple skies
E’er met expectant prophets’ eyes ;
The drums of peace the roll-call beat,
And nations pass on children’s feet!
“© Star of Faith, that led afar
Columbus, ’neath the Hesperian. Star,
Shine on the world’s new march, and light
Hope’s aspirations for the right !
Achievement waits yet bolder keels
Than broke the waves of old Antilles,
The unattained to find and prove
In virtue, brotherhood, and love !â€
THE CONSULAR FLAG.
“T keep the flag of my country always waving,†said Consul Hanna
of La Guayra. Percy looked upon that flag as one of the most beau-
tiful objects in the narrow streets. It is one of the most beautiful
objects in. the world.
“Do all consuls fly the American flag daily?†asked Percy of his
father at the beginning of his voyage towards the islands of the Canary
birds.
CARACAS ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE REVOLUTION, 1892. 87
“Consuls,†said his father, “have no claim to any foreign ceremo-
nial, but they may glory in the flag. The consular regulations as
issued from the State Department are something like this : —
“*The consuls have a right to the private use of the flag, and the right to
place the national arms and the name of the consulate on the offices is given by
treaties with Austria-Hungary, Italy, and the Netherlands (and colonies); on
fe LILLE
We
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S
SI
RS
ws
eS
=
SSS
SSS
SSS ee
ISS
LTT
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is
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Ll
|
GRAND OPERA HOUSE, CARACAS.
‘their offices or dwellings by treaty with Belgium and Germany; the right to
place the national flag on their dwellings, except where there is a legation, by
treaties with Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Germany, Roumania,; and Serbia; the
right to place the arms, name, and flag on their offices or dwellings by treaties
with France and Salvador; and the right to place the name and flag on their
dwellings by treaty with Colombia.’
“And,†added Mr. Van der Palm, “the consular office in some coun-
tries, like the old Hebrew cities of refuge, is practically inviolable.
838 LIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
“To quote the instructions : —
“<«This inviolability of office and dwelling is secured by treaties with Bel-
gium, Bolivia, Corea, France, Germany (of consuls not citizens), Italy, Morocco,
Muscat, Roumania, Salvador, and Serbia; but the dwelling cannot be used as
WA
h
ees]
(
\
ca
a
a
==
A DONKEY CAR, CARACAS.
an asylum. It is agreed with Colombia that the persons and dwellings of con-
suls are to be subject to the laws of the country, except as specially exempted
by treaty. The consulates in Germany are not to be made asylums for the
subjects of other powers.’â€
He added, still! quoting the consular instructions of the State
Department : —
“«By convention with Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Roumania, Serbia
and Italy, the consul is exempted from arrest, except for crimes. By treaty with
Turkey he is entitled to suitable distinction and necessary aid and protection.
In Muscat he enjoys the inviolability of a diplomatic officer. In Austria-
AMUSEMENTS AT SEA, — 89
Hungary and France he is to enjay personal immunities; but in France, if a
citizen of France, or owning property there, or engaged in commerce, he can
claim only the immunities granted to other citizens of the country who own
property, or to merchants. In Austria-Hungary and Roumania, if engaged in
business, he can be detained only for commercial debts. In Colombia, the
fourteen consuls of the United States have no diplomatic character. In Great
Britain, Liberia, Netherlands (as to colonies), Nicaragua, and Paraguay they are
regarded as appointed for the protection of trade.’
“So you see that a consul in his little office somewhat resembles
the old Roman officer of that name. He has a little republic of his
â€
own.
Percy began to study Portuguese stories and poems ‘on the ship,
which belonged to Lisbon. One of these stories, which we quote, we
found very curious. We give the version that we find in English
Folk-Lore : —
THE SEVEN IRON SLIPPERS.
(From PORTUGUESE FOLK-TALES, BY CONSIGLIERI PEDROSO.)
THERE lived once together a king and a queen, and a princess who was their
daughter. The princess had worn out every evening seven pair of slippers
made of iron; and the king could not make out how that could be, though
he was always trying to find out. The king at last issued a decree that who-
soever should be able to find out how the princess managed to wear out seven
pairs of slippers made of iron in the short space of time between morning and
evening, he would give the princess in marriage if he were a man, and if a
woman he would marry her to a prince.
It happened that a soldier was walking along an open country road, carry-
ing on his back a sack of oranges, and he saw two men fighting and giving
each other great blows. .
The soldier went up to them and asked them, “O men, why are you
giving each other such blows?â€
““Why,.indeed should it be!†they replied. “ Because our father is dead ;
and he has left us this cap, and we both wish to possess it.â€
“Ts it possible that for the sake of a cap you should be fighting?†inquired
the soldier.
90 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
The men then said, “The reason is that this cap has a charm, and if any
one puts it on and says, ‘Cap, cover me so that no one shall see me!’ no one
can see us.â€
The soldier upon hearing this said to them, “I'll tell you what I can do
for you; you let me remain here with the cap whilst I throw this orange to a
great distance, and you run ater it, and the one that shall is it up first
shall be the possessor of the cap.â€
The men agreed to this, and the soldier threw the orange to a great dis-
tance, as far as he possibly could, whilst the men both ran to pick it up-
Here the soldier, without loss of time, put on the cap, saying, “ Cap, make me
invisible !â€
When the men returned with the orange they could see nothing and nobody.
The soldier went away with the cap, and further on he met on his road two
other men fighting, and he said to them, “O foolish men, why do you give
each other such blows?â€
The men replied, “ Indeed, you may well ask why, if it were not that
father died and left us this pair of boots, and we each of us wish to be the
sole possessor of them.â€
The soldier replied, ‘Is it possible that for the matter of a pair of boots
you should be fighting thus? â€
And they replying said, “It is because these boots are charmed, and
when one wishes to go any distance he has only to say, ‘ Boots, take me here
or there, wherever one should wish to go, and instantly they convey one to
any place.â€
The soldier said to them, ‘I will tell you what to do; I will throw an
orange to a great distance, and you give me the boots to keep. You run for
the orange, and the first that shall pick it up shall have the pair of boots.â€
He threw the orange to a great distance, and both men ran to catch it.
Upon this the soldier said, ‘Cap, make me invisible, boots take me to the
city; ’’? and when the men returned they missed the boots and the soldier, for
he had gone away.
He arrived at the capital and heard the decree read which the king had
promulgated, and he began to consider what he had better do in this case.
“With this cap, and with these boots, I can surely find out what the princess
does to wear out seven pairs of slippers made of iron in one night.â€
He went and presented himself at the palace. When the king saw him he
said, ‘“ Do you really know a way of finding out how the princess, my daughter,
can wear out seven pairs of slippers in one night?â€
The soldier replied, “I only ask you to let me try —â€
AMUSEMENTS AT SEA. : OI
“ But you must remember,†said the king, “that if at the end of three days
you have not found out the mystery, I shall order you to be put to death.â€
The soldier to this replied that he was prepared to take the consequences.
The king ordered him to remain in the palace. Every attention was paid to
all his wants and wishes; he had his meals with the king at the same table, and
slept in the princess’s room.
But what did the princess do? She took him a beverage to his bedside
and gave it to him to drink. This beverage was a sleeping-draught, which
she gave him to make him sleep all night.
Next morning the soldier had not seen the princess do anything, for he
had slept very soundly the whole night. When he appeared at breakfast the
king asked him, ‘‘ Well, did you see anything? â€
“Your Majesty must know that I have seen nothing whatever.â€
“The king said, “ Look well what you are at, for now there only remains
two days more for you, or else you die!â€
The soldier replied, “I have not the least misgivings.â€
Night came on and the princess acted as before. Next morning the king
asked him again at breakfast, “‘ Well, did you see anything last night?â€
The soldier replied, ‘“ Your Majesty must know that I have seen nothing
whatever.â€
“Be careful, then, what you do. Only one day more, and you die!â€
The soldier replied, ‘I have no misgivings.â€
He then began to think itover. “It is very curious that I should sleep all
night. It cannot be from anything else but from drinking the beverage which
the princess gives me. Leave me alone! I know what I will do. When the
princess brings me the cup I shall pretend to drink, but shall throw away the
beverage.â€
The night came, and the princess did not fail to bring him the beverage
to drink to his bedside. The soldier made a pretence to drink it, but instead
threw it away, and feigned sleep though he was awake.
In the middle of the night he saw the princess rise up, prepare to go out,
and advance towards the door to leave. What did he dothen? He put on
the cap, drew on the pages and said, ‘‘ Cap, make me invisible ; boots, take me
wherever the princess goes.â€
The princess entered a carriage, and the soldier followed her into the
carriage and accompanied her. He saw the carriage stop at the seashore.
The princess then embarked on board a vessel decked with flags. The
soldier on seeing this, said, “Cap, cover me, that I may be invisible,†and
embarked with the princess. She reached the lands of giants; and when on
g2 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
passing the first sentinel, he challenged her with, “Who’s there?†“The
Princess of Harmony,†she replied. The sentinel rejoined, “Pass with your
suite.†‘
The princess looked behind her, and not seeing any one following her, she
said to herself, ‘The sentinel cannot be in his sound mind; he said ‘Pass with
your suite;’ Ido not see any one.†;
She reached the second sentinel, who cried out at the top of his voice,
“Who's there?†“The Princess of Harmony,†replied the princess. “Pass
with your suite,†said the sentinel. The princess was each time more and
“more astonished. |
She came to the third sentinel, who challenged her as the others had done,
“Who’s there?†“The Princess of Harmony.†‘Pass on with your suite,â€
rejoined the sentinel. The princess, as before, wondered what the man could
mean.
After journeying for a long time the soldier, who followed her closely, saw
the princess arrive at a beautiful palace, enter in, and go into a hall for dancing,
where he saw many giants.
The princess sat upon a seat by the side of her lover who was a giant.
The soldier hid himself under their seat. The band struck up, and she rose
to dance with the giant, and when she finished the dance she had her iron
slippers allin pieces. She took them off and pushed them under her seat.
The soldier immediately took possession of them and put them inside his
sack. The princess again sat down to converse with her lover. The band
again struck up some dance music, and the princess rose to dance. When she
finished this dance another pair of her slippers had worn out. She took them
off and left them under her seat. The soldier put these also into his sack.
Finally, she danced seven times, and each time she danced she tore a pair
of slippers made of iron. The soldier kept them all in his sack.
After the ball the princess sat down to converse with her lover; and what
did the soldier do? He turned their chairs over and threw them both on the
middle of the floor. They were very much surprised, and they searched every-
where and through all the houses and could find no one. The giants then
looked out for a book of facts they had, wherein could be seen the course of
the winds and other agencies peculiar to their race. They called in a black
servant to read in the book and find out what was the matter.
The soldier rose up from where he was and said, “ Cap, make me invisible.â€
He then gave the negro a slap on the face; the negro fell to the ground, while
he took possession of the book and kept it. The time was approaching when
the princess must depart and return home; and not being able to stay lon-
ger, she went away.
AMUSEMENTS AT SEA. | 93
The soldier followed her, and she returned by the same way she came.
She went on board; and when she reached the city, the carriage was already
waiting for her. The soldier then said, “ Boots, take me to the palace;â€â€™ and
he arrived there, took off his clothes, and went to bed.
When the princess arrived she found everything in her chamber just as she
left it, and even found the soldier fast asleep. In the morning the king said,
“ Well, soldier, did you see anything remarkable last night?â€
‘Be it known to your Majesty that I saw nothing whatever last night,â€
replied the soldier.
The king then said, “ According to what you say, I do not know if you are
aware that you must die to-day.â€
The soldier replied, “Tf it is so I must have patience, what else can I
_ do?â€
When the princess heard this she rejoiced much. The king then ordered
that everything for the execution should be prepared before the palace
windows.
When the soldier was proceeding to execution he asked the king to grant
him a favor for the last time, and to send for the princess so that she should
be present.
The king gave the desired permission, and the princess was present when ~
he said to her, “Is it not true to say that the princess went out at mid-
night?â€
“Tt is not true,†coed the princess.
“Is it true to say,†again asked the soldier, “that the princess entered a
carriage, and afterwards went on board a vessel and proceeded to a ball given
in the kingdom of the giants?â€
“Tt is not true.â€
The soldier yet asked her another question, “Is it true that the princess
wore out seven pairs of iron slippers during the seven times she danced? Then
he shewed her the slippers.
“ There is no truth in all this,†replied the princess.
The soldier at last said to her, “Is it true to say that the princess at the end
of the ball fell on the floor from her seat, and the giants had a book brought to
them to see what bewitchery and magic pervaded and had taken possession of
the house, and which book is here?â€
The princess now said, “ It is so.â€
The king was delighted at the discovery and happy ending of this affair, and
the soldier came to live in the palace and married the princess.
94 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
The voyage to the volcanic Cape Verd Islands was a delightful
one, over the smooth waters of tropical seas. The stars of the South-
ern Cross gleamed over the waters; the nights were clear, cool, and
refreshing; the days, long splendors.
There were on board English, Spanish, and Portuguese, some
forty in number. Time at last hung heavily, and Percy was sought
for diversions. He found himself able to speak Spanish well, and he
introduced to the passengers the simple educational amusements of
his old Washington life. Among these were “ Daft Day,†in which
each one was expected to act the most simple character, like Simple
Simon. People were easily imposed upon and cheated. The origin
of this play is very odd, and Mr. Van der Palm, one evening on board,
gave the following history of it: —_
HOGMANAY.
Perhaps no poet has ever presented such a pleasing picture of the
old Yule Days, in the halls of the barons, as Sir Walter Scott. Who
‘does not love to recall it during mid-winter holidays, even now?
“On Christmas eve the bells were rung,
On Christmas eve the mass was sung,
Then opened wide the Baron’s hall,
To vassal, tenant, serf and all.â€
When the white towers of Abbotsford rose over the Tweed, and
became Sir Walter Scott’s home, its master delighted to reproduce the
old Christmas games and customs of the time of the barons. The
songs of the old minstrels of the camp and court were sung; the bag-
pipes were played, and the old legends of England and Scotland were
told.
The stories have entered into Scott’s prose works, and the songs
of the old harpers and minstrels, which he loved to revive on such
occasions, have been made familiar to the world through his poems,
AMUSEMENTS AT SEA, 95
especially through the “ Lay of the Last Minstrel†and the “ Lady of
the Lake.†The Christmas days at Abbotsford were a picture of the
past. Scott wrote the “Bonnets of Bonny Dundee†on Christmas
days.
Christmas days, we say, for the old-time Christmas was not a single
day, but a season. It often lasted from Christmas Eve until Tweifth
Night, the sixth of January, and at Abbotsford, from Christmas Eve
until Hogmanay.
“ Hogmanay?†What is that? It is a lost holiday of old provin-
cial France and England and Scotland. It meant “on to the mistle-
toe!†a cry of the minstrels and the children in the old provinces of
France on that merry day. It really means “the last day of the year,â€
or the end of the Christmas season.
“Daft Day†it was called in Scotland, because on that day the
people were at liberty to act as foolishly as they pleased. It became,
in Sir Walter Scott’s time, a children’s day, and Hogmanay was the
crowning event of the Abbotsford’s Christmas holidays.
Scott was, at this time, at the prime of life, and was writing “The
Tales of the Crusaders.†He was concealing the authorship of his
works, and was spoken of as “The Great Unknown.†Every one
believed him to be the real author of the Waverley Novels, but none of
his guests could ever discover how or when he did his literary work.
Captain Hall thus speaks of an evening at Abbotsford during the
holidays: “In the evening we had a great feast indeed. Sir Walter
asked us if we had ever read ‘Christabel,’ and upon some of us admit-
ting with shame that we never had seen it, he offered to read-it, and
took a chair in the midst of all the party in the library... . He also
read to us the famous poem on ‘Thomas the Rhymer’s Adventure
with the Queen of the Fairies.’ There was also much pleasing sing-
ing; many old ballads, and many ballads pretending to be old, were
sung to the harp and piano-forte.â€
We note this programme, for it is suggestive. The reading and
96 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
singing of old historic ballads is a worthy entertainment for the even-
ings of the Christmas holidays.
The mood of Scott, at this time, is thus pictured by Hall, in the
description of a breakfast after the holidays: “At breakfast, to-day, we
had, as usual, many stories.
“T quite forget all these stories but one. ‘My cousin, Walter
Scott,’ said he, ‘was a midshipman some forty years ago, in a ship at
Portsmouth. He and two companions had gone ashore, and had over-
stayed their leave, and spent their money, and run up an immense bill
at the tavern on the Point.
“«The ship made a signal for sailing, but the landlady said, —
“<« No, gentlemen, you shall not go without paying your reckoning.â€
“«But they had nothing wherewith to pay.
“<« Tl] give you one chance,†said she. “I am so circumstanced
here that I cannot carry on my business as a single woman, and |
must contrive, somehow, to have a husband. You may go, if one of
you will marry me. I do not care which it is, but one of you shall
have me, or you shall all go to jail, and the ship sail without you.â€
“« They agreed to comply. The marriage ceremony was performed,
and the three sailed away, including the husband. Some months after,
at Jamaica, a file of papers reached the husband, and looking them
over carelessly, he suddenly jumped up, and exclaimed in ecstasy,
“Thank heaven, my wife has been hanged!â€â€™â€
We give this story with slight abridgment.
“Yesterday being Hogmanay,†says Hall, in his Journal, January 1,
1825, “there was a constant succession of Guisards,— that is, boys
dressed up in fantastic caps, with their shirts over their jackets, and with
-wooden swords in their hands.†About one hundred boys, in fools’
costumes, used to visit Sir Walter on this Daft Day. They sometimes
acted a masque or pantomime.
Sir Walter used to Bie each boy and girl who visited him on Mee
manay a “penny apiece†and an oaken cake.
AMUSEMENTS AT SEA. Oey
The memories of the Christmases at Abbotsford were a delight to
the people of Melrose for many years. There are some yet living who
remember them, with their celebration of the old lost holiday of Hog-
manay.
“A Christmas gambol oft would cheer
A poor man’s heart for half the year.â€
The picture of the gracious face of Sir Walter Scott at the doors
of Abbotsford, with his dogs, the hills showing above the clustered
towers of the great mansion, and the Tweed rolling below; the pipers
with their bagpipes; the gathering children on the grounds, with their
harlequin caps, and shirts over their jackets, and wooden swords; the
funny play, the distribution of the pennies and oaken cakes is one
worthy of a poet or artist, and one in which any reader will love to
remember the Wizard of the North.
The spirit of it, too, has a Christmas lesson for all, — the happiness
that makes happiness, and the equality of love that the herald angels
eae “ Centuries ago.â€
Among the diversions that Percy used to entertain his English
friends were : —
BOOK PARTIES.
The book party consists of a reading family, or several families,
who hold a meeting once a week, or at stated periods, to rehearse to
each other the contents of books that each member has lately read.
Each member of the circle presents a title of a book, new or old,
gives an analysis of its contents, perhaps reads a few selections from it
as an illustration, and criticises it and gives his view of its literary
value and moral worth.
A general discussion may follow the presentation of this subject-
matter.
It will be better that the books shall not be presented in a topical
way, — as, for instance, scientific books on one evening, fiction on
7
98 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
another, or travel, art, or poetry, at stated times. It is more interesting
if the analysis is made miscellaneous ; there should be variety and
contrasts.
Parties of this kind stimulate good reading and educate the mind
to an acquaintance with the best thought. The social feature is healthy,
and the discussions are sure to be animating and entertaining.
A very pleasant amusement of this order is the play which we may
call “ Animated Book Titles.†A party is given in which each guest is
to appear as the representative of a title of a book, or as a character of
a popular and well-known book. A young man who comes with a
hoe may represent “Ivanhoe†(I’ve an hoe). The “dude†who appears
in contortions may be “ Oliver Twist†(all-of-a-twist). We have seen
“Lucille†puzzle a company by being acted as a scene in a shoe-
maker’s shop, — Loose heel.
Such titles as “ The Ring and the Book,†“ We are Seven,
too Late to Mend†(a seamstress), are sufficiently suggestive.
The word Eurydice will admit of carefully prepared classical tableau:
The word may be used as a sentence, as “ You-ride-I-see,†in a mock
dialogue between two persons of fortunate and unfortunate social
standing. The conductor of the entertainment may say, “ My whole
is one word, and represents a character of classical fiction. The whole
word will first be acted as a sentence, in the form of a dialogue between
a poor debtor, who has to go on foot, and an equestrian, who has just
alighted from a fine horse. The second scene will represent the
DB
“ Never
character in tableau.â€
The second scene will be Orpheus and his lyre (the music may
be played on a piano) at the door of a darkened room, and an appear-
ance of the shade of Eurydice. She follows Orpheus as he beckons
over his shoulder until she comes to a place near the door, when he,
contrary to the commands of the gods, looks around, and she vanishes
after the manner of the old mythological story, which should be care-
fully studied by the leader of such an entertainment. The tableau can
be made very beautiful.
: AMUSEMENTS AT SEA. 99
In the Orange Party everything is supposed to assume the colors
of Lord Baltimore. The dresses of the ladies must be orange, or
orange and white, or orange and black. The orange color in them is
to be made conspicuous or to predominate. The gentlemen will wear
orange neckties, perhaps orange sashes or vests. The rooms or halls
are to be trimmed with orange colors, as festoons of orange cloth, or
green boughs to which oranges are attached.
If possible, decorate the dining-room with the Spanish moss of
Florida. Your fruit dealer, or any friends that you may have in
Florida, will secure the moss for you. The rooms, in which we
attended the party, were so trimmed.
Provide orange shades for the lights, which is easily done by cover-
ing the globes with orange silk or tissue paper.
The refreshments are to be oranges of all kinds. It is not so
expensive to provide these as it might seem. Tangerine, Musketine,
Navel, Blood, and Indian River oranges, together with Florida grape-
fruit, are to be found in the cool seasons in nearly every large market,
as are also Havana oranges and the Sicilian varieties.
These all should be picturesquely piled upon a long table, and
the pyramids decorated with leaves, evergreens, Spanish moss, or
flowers. 5
In serving the oranges there should be a lecturer, whose office it
is to describe each variety, as it is quartered and laid upon the plates.
Let many varieties be laid cut upon each plate, so that the eating
and the testing of the flavors will furnish a very pleasant theme for
conversation. .
Sugar will be served with the oranges for the sour varieties and
grape-fruit. Orange cake may also be served.
The music will be plantation songs to the accompaniment of the
guitar or banjo. American negro melodies and Spanish dolevos were
sung at Percy’s arrangement of such a party, to which his father added
a lecture on oranges.
100 Z4I1GZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
The Question Class is a very entertaining and educational home
amusement. The game consists of presenting the names of obscure
places for guessing, and “throwing light†on them by description
and history.
For example: “Where is Zag-azig?†A long pause. “Shall I
throw light?†The one who has given out the word may begin to
give the history of the Suez Canal.
The geography of obscure names in poems may be used in this
way; also obscure names of battle-fields, Belgrade ; and Indian names
and their meanings.
An odd question has sometimes been asked at such parties, which
is usually difficult to answer, but very stimulating to thought: “Who
would you choose to be if you could not be yourself?’ To which
last one of the passengers made answer, “ The next best man in all
the world.â€
The ship was so steady in the afternoons that these refined amuse-
ments answered well. When the ship was unsteady, new games of
pitching quoits were favorites. The men played and the women
laughed at their miscalculations.
In the evenings songs were sung, — songs of many lands, — among
them, “ Songs of the Pyrenees,†“ Songs of Caracas,†and the “ Mexi-
can National Hymn,†that in Mexico announces the President, and is
only played when the President is present.
Percy composed a student’s song to the air of the “ Red, White,
and Blue.†He sung it daily at the meetings for diversions.
The ship touched at the Cape Verd Islands, and again at the
“blue Canaries.†Percy saw the native canary birds, which here
were gray. These islands were among the earliest discoveries of navi-
gators who ventured beyond the Pillars of Hercules, as Gibraltar
was once -called.
Percy could imagine how the Peak of Teneriffe, twelve thousand
AMUSEMENTS AT SEA. Io1r
feet high, must have looked to the crews of Columbus as it blazed
over the sea. From these sea volcanoes, chimneys of the sea, the
ship sailed directly to Lisbon. Thence Mr. Van der Palm and Percy
took passage for Gibraltar.
During the voyage the passengers and officers amused themselves
at times by repeating proverbs. A prize was offered to the person
who could collect and repeat the largest number of Proverbs of the
Sea. Percy was something of a student of this kind of literature, and
having the assistance of a popular book of sea literature, presented
at the end of the voyage the longest list, and was voted a Solomon
and the purse.
PROVERBS OF THE SEA.
t. The sea is like sorrow, — one never sees the end.
2. My good-will toward you is as great as the sea, and my love as
its depth.
3. A bad reputation spreads even to the sea. A good reputation
remains at the threshold of the door.
4. Patience is grander than the ocean.
5. One can look into the bosom of the sea, but one cannot see
what is in the heart of man.
6. We shall pass away; the land and the sea will remain.
7. As rich as the sea.
8. Rich as the sea, or rich as Saint Peter, are expressions used of
a man who possesses a large fortune. To the Breton sailor, all which
falls to the sea belongs by right to Saint Peter.
9. Give yourself a pond when you wish the sea; it is insatiable.
10. Nothing is richer than the sea.
11, There are many things in the field, but there are more in the
sea.
12. Avarice is like the sea; it takes all and gives nothing.
102 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
13. Not for all the treasures of the ocean, would I place its limits
to my existence.
14. Avarice is a sea without bottom, and rarely does a man fall
therein and save himself.
15. Hell, the sea, and avarice never have enough.
16, Three things are insatiable ; priests, monks, and the sea.
17. The sea complains it wants water.
18. He measures the waters of the sea in his fist (he attempts an
impossibility). :
19. He is building a bridge over the sea.
20. To carry water to the sea (to carry something to a place
where there is a great abundance).
21. To turn water into the sea; to give to the rich.
22. He gives of the water of the ocean (to obtain from the aid
of another or to draw from an abundant source, but to give nothing
from his own heart).
23. To throw water into the sea; to do good to the rabble.
24. No sea without water, no God without wisdom.
25. A drop of water does not make the sea.
26. Can the sea be filled with the falling dew?
27. The sea is in want of water (when a woman has no reply to
make on the spot.)
28. To demand of avarice is to dig into the sea.
29. Drop by drop the sea is drained.
30. Water always runs into the sea.
31. All water goes to the sea, and all money passes through the
hand of the rich.
32. All the waters go to the sea, and yet it is not more full.
33. The sea receives into its bosom sweet waters, and that which
it gives is salt.
34. Rivers run to the sea.
35. All rivers do what they can for the sea.
AMUSEMENTS AT SEA. 103
36. The sea refuses no river.
37. Follow the river, and you ll get to the sea.
38. He drinks the sea and the fishes.
39- To drink the sea is a difficult task.
40. When one has drunk the sea, he can well eat the fishes (when
one has suffered a great outrage, one can well endure others).
41. Iam so very thirsty, I could drink the sea.
42. It is as though he attempted to count the sands of the desert
or to drink the ocean. ;
43. One cannot dry the sea with sponges.
44. Can a dog lapping water diminish the ocean?
45. He went to the sea and he found it dry. (He who proceeds
without courage would do well to turn back, for he will fail in his
enterprise.)
46. He could not find water in the sea.
47. To be in the ocean and to return to one’s home thirsty.
48. Salt as the sea.
49. To salt the sea and the fishes (to salt too much).
50. A merchandise is salt when it has been paid for dear.
51. There is more water to drink in wells than in the sea.
52. There is more to drink in a bottle than in the sea.
53. In the water of the sea, one can see his (visage) face
(changeableness).
54. To till the shore of the sea (to take useless trouble).
55. I have only learned to till upon the sea and to reap upon the
rocks.
56. Could he who cannot leap over a canal, jump over the sea?
57. He desires to cross the ocean, but cannot cross a little stream.
58. A tenacious man is like the sea upon the rock.
59. The trident of Neptune is the sceptre of the world.
60. He who is master of the sea is master of the earth.
61. The seas make the soul of man. The waves give him
intelligence.
104 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
62. A fool throws a stone into the sea. One hundred wise men
could not draw it out.
63. If you are not happy, you can throw yourself into the sea,
64. Treacherous as the ocean.
65. He that would sail without danger, must never go on the sea.
66. He that would learn to pray, let him go to sea.
67. When starting for war, make one prayer; when going upon
the sea, make two prayers; do you wish to marry, make three prayers.
68. He who would learn to pray should go to sea; and he who
would know how to sleep should go to church.
69. Sailors have no need of books to learn to think of God; the
sea and the heavens speak clearly enough to them.
70. The sea is a beautiful sight from the shore.
71. Praise the sea, (but) a in foreign country.
72. Praise the sea, but hold yourself on the shore.
73. It is much better to trust one’s self to men on land than to
sails on the sea,
74. It is safer to live poor on land than rich on sea.
75. Nothing is more subject to changes than the sea.
76. Every man who wishes to be reduced to misery and to beggary
has only to trust his life and fortune to the sea.
77- One sou earned upon land is worth more than ten earned on
the sea; one can possess a sou earned on the land, but he can see the
ten earned on the sea drown themselves.
78. There are two things of which we demand something without
ceasing ; they give without reserve and without spite, — the sea and
the land.
79. I encompass the land with all the coasts. I am agitated with
frequent tempests; it is I who go where the water has the most space
in which to move (the sea).
80. What is the most impossible thing? To dip the sea with a
sieve.
AMUSEMENTS AT SEA. 105
81. What is that which carries easily a cartload of hay but which
cannot carry asou? The sea.
82. In the salt sea fresh fish are born.
83. Do not sell the fish which are yet in the sea.
84. To fish well, it is necessary to go to the sea.
85. The sea does not complain of the fishes.
86. Do good, and throw it to the sea; whether the fishes swallow
it or men forget it, God will remember it.
87. A straw can remain in the sea, but a secret cannot remain in
the soul.
88. If the sea boiled, plenty of fish would be cooked.
89. If the ocean became clouds, the universe would be submerged.
go. The sea does not buy fish.
gt. The sea is a good paymaster.
92. The sea belongs to the whole world.
93. The sea does not burn; there is nothing which crowds.
94. Man is like the sea; if he does not move to-day he will
to-morrow.
95. Man is like the sea, what he does to-day he will do to-morrow.
96. Not the sea, but the wind, makes vessels perish.
97. To mix heaven and earth (deep trouble).
98. The sea even, which is so great (grand), becomes calm.
99. The virtues which have not been tried by danger are not in
honor either in empty ships or among men.
100. To search by land or sea.
1o1. Fortune is like the sea, sometimes high and sometimes low.
102. The world resembles the sea: we see those drown who do
not know how to swim. _
103. He sails on a full sea.
104. To sail in great waters.
105. Being on the sea, sail; being on the land, settle:
106. “The sea tires,†said the man who had already eaten his pro-
visions after sailing the first quarter of a league.
106 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
107. Some one said that his great-grandfather, grandfather, and
his father died on the sea. “If I were you,†said one to him, “I would
never go upon the sea.†“ Why,†he replied; “ where did your great-
grandfather, grandfather, and father die?†‘Where, if not in their
beds?†“If I were in your place, I would never go to bed.â€
108. I have seen a man who has seen another man who has seen
the sea.
tog. A mariner ought never to laugh till he has reached port.
110. A Sicilian who carried figs in his ship was wrecked and —
saved. One day, when he was on the shore and the sea was calm, he
said, “I see what you would have; you wanted my figs!â€
The steamer passed over a part of the sea through which Columbus
made his outward voyage, and the red peak of Teneriffe recalled to
Percy the terror of the crews of the caravels of the discovery. He
also remembered the old tale of the kraken, or the sea-monster which
was supposed to inhabit the western seas, and to uplift its gigantic
head and seize the adventurous ships. There was on board the ship a
number of books entitled, “ The Fisheries Exhibition Literature,†and
from one of these volumes he obtained a very interesting account of
the early Northern legends of this fabulous monster, which we quote.
THE KRAKEN.
IN the legends and traditions of northern nations, stories of the existence of
a marine animal of such enormous size that it more resembled an island than
an organized being frequently found a place. It is thus described in an ancient
manuscript (about A. D. 1180), attributed to the Norwegian King Sverre, and
the belief in it has been alluded to by other Scandinavian writers from an early
period to the present day. It was an obscure and mysterious sea-monster,
known as the kraken, whose form and nature were imperfectly understood, and
it was peculiarly the object of popular wonder and superstitious dread.
Eric Pontoppidan, the younger, Bishop of Bergen, and member of the Royal
Academy of Sciences at Copenhagen, is generally, but unjustly, regarded as the
OLD MISSION NEAR CARACAS.
AMUSEMENTS AT SEA, - 109
inventor of the semi-fabulous kraken, and is constantly misquoted by authors
who have never read his work (“ Natural History of Norwayâ€), and who, one
after another, have copied from their predecessors erroneous statements con-
cerning him. More than half a century before him, Christian Francis Paullinus,
a physician and naturalist of Eisenach, who evinced in his writings an admira-
tion of the marvellous rather than of the useful, had described as resembling
Gesner’s “ Heracleoticon,†a monstrous animal which occasionally rose from the
sea on the coasts of Lapland and -Finmark, and which was of such enormous
dimensions that a regiment of soldiers could conveniently manceuvre on its
back. About the same date, but a little earlier, Bartholinus, a learned Dane,
told how, on a certain occasion, the Bishop of Midaros found the kraken quietly
reposing on the shore, and mistaking the enormous creature for a huge rock,
erected an altar upon it and performed Mass. The kraken respectfully waited
till the ceremony was concluded, and the reverend prelate safe on shore, and
then sank beneath the waves.
And a hundred and fifty years before Bartholinus and Paullinus wrote, Olaus
Magnus, Archbishop of Upsala, in Sweden, had related many wondrous narra-
tives of sea-monsters, — tales which had gathered and accumulated marvels as
they had been passed on from generation to generation in oral history, and
which he took care to bequeath to his successors undeprived of any of their
fascination. According to him, the kraken was not so polite to the laity as to
the bishop, for when some fishermen lighted a fire on its back, it sank beneath
their feet, and overwhelmed them in the waters.
Pontoppidan was not a fabricator of falsehoods; but, in collecting evidence
relating to the “ great beastsâ€â€™ living in “ the great and wide sea,†was influenced,
as he tells us, by “a desire to extend the popular knowledge of the glorious
works of a beneficent Creator.†He gave too much credence to contemporary
narratives and old traditions of floating islands and sea-monsters, and to the
superstitious beliefs and exaggerated statements of ignorant fishermen. But if
those who ridicule him had lived in his day and amongst his people, they would
probably have done the same; for even Linnzeus was led to believe in the
kraken, and catalogued it in the first edition of his “Systema Nature,†as
“Sepia Microcosmos.†He seems to have afterwards had cause to discredit
his information respecting it, for he omitted it in the next edition. The Nor-
wegian bishop was a conscientious and painstaking investigator, and the tone of
his writings is neither that of an intentional deceiver nor of an incautious dupe.
He diligently endeavored to separate the truth from the cloud of error and fic-
tion by which it was obscured; and in this he was to a great extent successful,
for he correctly identifies, from the vague and perplexing descriptions submitted
110 ZIGZAG FOURNEYVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
to him, the animai whose habits and structure had given rise to so many terror-
laden narratives and extravagant traditions.
The following are some of his remarks on the subject of this gigantic and
ill-defined animal. Although I have greatly abbreviated them, I have thought
it right to quote them at considerable length, that the modest and candid spirit
in which they were written may be understood : —
“ Amongst the many things,†he says, ‘“‘which are in the ocean, and con-
cealed from our eyes, or only presented to our view for a few minutes, is the
kraken. This creature is the largest and most surprising of all the animal crea-
tion, and consequently well deserves such an account as the nature of the thing,
according to the Creator’s wise ordinances, will admit of. Such I shall give at
present, and perhaps much greater light on this subject may be reserved for
posterity.
“ Our fishermen unanimously affirm, and without the least variation in their
accounts, that when they row out several miles to sea, particularly in the hot
summer days, and by their situation (which they know by taking a view of dif
ferent points of land) expect to find eighty or a hundred fathoms of water, it
often happens that they do not find above twenty or thirty, and sometimes less.
At these places they generally find the greatest plenty of fish, especially cod
and ling. Their lines, they say, are no sooner out than they may draw them:
up with the hooks all full of fish. By this they know that the kraken is at the
bottom. They say this creature causes. these unnatural shallows mentioned
above, and prevents their sounding. These the fishermen are always glad to
find, looking upon them as a means of their taking abundance of fish.
“There are sometimes twenty boats or more got together and throwing out
their lines at a moderate distance from each other; and the only thing they
then have to observe is whether the depth continues the same which they know
by their lines, or whether it grows shallower, by their seeming to have less water.
If this last be the case they know that the kraken is raising himself nearer the
surface, and then it is not time for them to stay any longer; they immediately
leave off fishing, take to their oars, and get away as fast as they can.
“When they have reached the usual depth of the place, and find themselves
out of danger, they lie upon their oars, and in a few minutes after they see this
enormous monster come up to the surface of the water. He there shows himself
sufficiently, though his whole body does not appear, which in all likelihood no
human eye ever beheld.
“Tts back or upper part, which seems to be in appearance about an English
mile anda half in circumference (some say more, but I choose the least for
greater certainty), looks at first like a number of small islands surrounded with
AMUSEMENTS AT SEA. Til
something that floats and fluctuates like sea-weeds. Here and there a larger
rising is observed like sand-banks, on which various kinds of small fishes are
seen continually leaping about till they roll off into the water from the sides of
it; at last several bright points or horns appear, which grow thicker and thicker
the higher they rise above the surface of the water, and sometimes they stand
up as high and as large as the masts of middle-sized vessels. It seems these
are the creature’s arms; and it is said if they were to lay hold of the largest
man-of-war they would pull it down to the bottom. After this monster has
been on the surface of the water a short time it begins to slowly sink again,
and then the danger is as great as before; because the motion of his sinking
causes such a swell in the sea, and such an eddy or whirlpool, that it draws
everything down with it, like the current of the river Male.
“As this enormous sea animal in all probability may be reckoned of the
polype, or of the starfish kind, as shall hereafter be more fully proved, it seems
that the parts which are seen rising at its pleasure, and are called arms, are
properly the tentacula, or feeling instruments, called horns as well as arms.
With these they move themselves, and likewise gather in their food.
“Besides these, for this last purpose the great Creator has also given this
creature a strong and peculiar scent, which it can emit at certain times, and by
means of which it beguiles and draws other fish to come in heaps about it.
This animal has another strange property, known by the experience of many
old fishermen. They observe that for some months the kraken or krabben is
continually eating, and in other months he always voids his excrements. During
this evacuation the surface of the water is colored with the excrement, and
appears quite thick and turbid. This muddiness is said to be so very agree-
able to the smell or taste of other fishes, or to both, that they gather together
from all parts to it, and keep for that purpose directly over the kraken; he
then opens his arms or horns, seizes and swallows his welcome guests and con-
verts them after due time, by digestion, into a bait.for other fish of the same
kind. I relate what is affirmed by many; but I cannot give so certain assur-
ances of this particular as I can of the existence of this surprising creature,
though I do not find anything in it absolutely contrary to Nature. As we
can hardly expect to examine this enormous sea animal alive, I am the
more concerned that nobody embraced that opportunity which, according to
an account once did, and perhaps never more may, offer, of seeing it entire
when dead.†.
CHAPTER.’ \:
GIBRALTAR.
JHE Port of Gibraltar to a lover of stories is one of
the most interesting in the world.
Gibraltar is a rocky promontory, some three
miles in length, and is connected with the main-
land of Spain, although it does not seem so to be
as seen from the sea. The town of Gibraltar has
some seventeen thousand inhabitants, and a changing population, and
is connected with a garrison of some five thousand men. This town
of twenty thousand or more people is a picture of the types of the
world. English, Spaniards, Jews and Moors, sailors from all lands,
commercial agents, travellers, and adventurers, are to be found here,
and the consular rooms are nowhere more interesting.
The rock of Gibraltar is the world’s greatest fortress, — the pride of
England, and the humiliation of Spain, from which it was wrested. It
is composed of gray marble and covered with moss and dwarf vegeta-
tion. Birds and little animals find a secure home on the sides of the
defiant sea mountain, as they are protected by local law. The peak
has an elevation of about 1440 feet. He who goes up to the top to
see the Bay of Gibraltar, the coasts of Spain and Africa, “the Pillars
of Hercules,†and the sea, passes grassy glens where grow capers,
palmitas, aloes and cacti, where live pigeons, woodcocks, and Bar-
bary apes.
The wars of Gibraltar would fill volumes, that of 1872 being the
most remarkable, when red hot shot, or rains of liquid fire brought
THE ROCK OF GIBRALTAR,
GIBRALTAR. 115
the fortress securely and for all time, it is probable, under the English
dominion. The fortress is one mountain of protected batteries. Noth-
ing but some new art of scientific discovery could ever wrest it from
the English flag.
Gibraltar may be said to be the port of all ports, the capital port
of the world. The Mediterranean is the sea of the world. From it
_the ships of discovery sailed. Its shores are the ruins of empires, and
the seats.of eastern powers.
All nations have their representatives at times in the old commer-
cial houses here that line the narrow streets, where children of many
colors play together, pet apes gibber, and parrots scream. Here
many flags, a congress of flags, daily float in the sea winds.
Curiosities abound in the streets, — ships, commercial houses, and
consulates. Gibraltar is the curiosity shop of the world.
TALES OF THE CONSULATES OF GIBRALTAR.
“THE GRINDING OVER YOUNG.â€
In one of the old consular rooms of Gibraltar, Percy discovered a
very old and curious picture. Among all the curiosities of the
place, nothing more haunted his imagination than this odd print.
He used to return to it as often as he went to that consulate, and
stand before it with a stimulated imagination.
The picture represented a number of old men in various stages of
decrepitude going up an inclined plane to a funnel to be ground over
young. There was one man gleefully sinking down into the funnel-
shaped hopper to be ground over. A young woman had charge of this
wonderful mill, and a priest was praying on his knees during the
miraculous grinding. The old man who was to be ground over used
some kind of magic medicine to assist the progress, and an expectant
group of fair young ladies were waiting to receive the young men as
fast as they were ground out. These young ladies were seen going
116 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
happily away with the ground-over men, who came out young and
handsome, and full of good spirits.
The picture was droll, rude, and incongruous, and yet it held the
fancy like Ponce de Leon’s dream of the Fountain of Youth. _
“What history has that picture?†asked Percy of the French
consul,
“None; none at all, my American boy. It is tavern print, and
may be found in many old taverns on the Continent. It is very droll
and popular. This one always excites the curiosity of you Americans.â€
“It would be better if the funnel were larger, and there was a box
for mill-stones. How could a man be ground over in that way? The
passage is too small.â€
“Quien sabe, said the consul, in the Spanish term of the place,
do not wonder that you look at it. The world all wants to be ground
over, and most of us need to be. But no day ever returns again; the
days go, and go, and leave us the products of the past. There is some.
thing in that picture that makes me serious, as curious as it is. No
one over fifty years of age could look upon it without a regret in his
laugh. I sometimes find myself dreaming over it. It isa thing that
sets one’s fancy flyingâ€
The consulates of Gibraltar were indeed story-telling places. The
stories of many lands were to be heard here, most of them cither tragic
or humorous. Here Percy made a study of the tales of the Spanish
Chaucer, and gathered into the note-book of his memory some of the
most curious happenings and fancies of the world.
Y BL en
LL ils Gis
THE GRINDING OVER YOUNG.
GIBRALTAR. 119
WHAT HAPPENED TO A MOORISH KING, WHO HAD THREE
SONS, AND WHO DESIRED TO KNOW WHICH WOULD
BECOME THE BEST MAN,
FROM COUNT LUCANOR ;
OR, THE Firty PLEASANT STORIES OF PATRONIO, WRITTEN BY THE PRINCE DON Juan
MANUEL, A. D. 1335-1347. FIRST DONE INTO ENGLISH FROM THE SPANISH BY JAMES
Pork, M. D., 1868.
CounT Lucanor, being one day in conversation with Patronio, said as
follows: -—
“ Patronio, there are many young men who are being brought up at my
court. Some are of high birth, some are not. Now, I find their manners and
dispositions so various that I am perplexed; and, knowing the strength of your
judgment, I pray you to tell me how I may be able to form an opinion as to
which of them will become the best man.â€
_ “My lord,†said Patronio, “ the question which you place before me is very
difficult to answer, for we cannot speak with certainty of that which is to come;
and as what you demand is hidden in the future, so must some uncertainty rest
upon my opinion.
“But we may be able to form some idea by particularly observing their
development internally as well as externally. As regards this latter, there is
the form of the features, the grace of movement, the complexion, as also the
growth of the body and development of its members; by the principal mem-
bers I mean those essential to good health, — the heart, the brain, and the liver.
Yet though all the signs may appear satisfactory, we can speak with no cer-
tainty as to the ultimate result, for seldom do they all accord long, one deraign-
ment influencing all the functions, or the contrary. But for the most part,
according to the indications above named, may we judge of the future. Notice
the form of the features, and particularly the eyes, with the grace of movement ;
these signs seldom deceive. Do not, however, suppose that gracefulness is
dependent upon beauty or ugliness, for there are many men who are handsome
and well-formed, but without grace; while again, others, decidedly ill-made,
have that gracefulness which entitles them to be called fine men. Nevertheless,
the development of the body and limbs should be taken as indications of valor
and activity, although it may not be always so. It is, therefore, as I said before,
very difficult to speak with certainty; for what appears favorable now may, by
the force of circumstances, be entirely changed. Again, the condition of the
120 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
mind is still more difficult to understand, when you seek through it for indica-
tions of what the young man is to become. You required that I should give
you some certain signs whereby you can form an opinion of which of your
young men will become the most manly. It will much please me to be per-
mitted to recount to you how, upon a similar occasion, a Moorish king proved
his three sons, to ascertain which of them would become the bravest man.â€
“ Relate to me,†said the count, “ what that was.â€
‘My lord,†said Patronio, “there was a Moorish king who had three sons.
Now, he having the power to appoint which of them he pleased to reign after
him, when he had arrived at a good old age, the leading men of his kingdom
waited upon him, praying to be informed which of his sons he would please to
name as his successor. The king replied that in one month he would give
them an answer.
“ After eight or ten days “he king said to his eldest son, ‘I shall ride out
to-morrow, and I wish you to accompany me.’
“The son waited upon the king as desired, but not so early as the time
appointed. When he arrived, the king said he wished to dress, and requested
him to bring him his garments. His son went to the Lord of the Bedchamber,
and requested him to take the king his garments. The attendant inquired what
suit it was he wished for; and the son returned to ask his father, who replied,
his state robe. The young man went and told the attendant to bring the state
robe. : :
“Now, for every article of the king’s attire it was necessary to go backwards
and forwards, carrying questions and answers, till at length the attendant came
to dress and boot the king. The same repetition goes on when the king called
for his horse, spurs, bridle, saddle, sword, and so forth. Now, all being pre-
pared, with some trouble and difficulty, the king changed his mind, and said he
would not ride out; but desired the prince, his son, to go through the city,
carefully observing everything worth notice, and that on his return he should
come to give his father his opinion of what he had seen.
“The prince set out, accompanied by the royal suite and the chief nobility.
Trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments preceded this brilliant cavalcade.
After traversing a part of the city only, he returned to the palace, when the
king desired him to relate what most arrested his attention. |
“*T observed nothing, sire, said he, ‘ but ae great noise eaiised by the
cymbals and trumpets, which confounded me.’
“A few days later the king sent for his second son, and commanded him -
to attend very early the next day, when he subjected him to the same ordeal
as his brother, but with a somewhat more favorable result.
GIBRALTAR. ' [21
“ Again, after some days, he called for his youngest son’s attendance. Now,’
this young man came to the palace very early, long before his father was
awake, and waited patiently till the king arose, when he entered his chamber
with that respectful humiliation which became him. The king then desired
him to bring his clothes that he might dress. The young prince begged the
king to specify which clothes, boots, and so forth; the same with all the other
things he desired, so that he could bring all at the same time, neither would he
permit the attendant to assist him, saying, if the king permitted him he would
feel highly honored, and was willing to do all that was required.
“When the king was dressed, he requested his son to bring him his horse.
Again the son asked what horse, saddle, spurs, sword, and other requisites he
desired to have; and as he commanded, so it was done without trouble or
further annoyance.
“Now, when all was ready, the king, as before, declined going. He, how-
ever, requested his son to go, and to take notice of what he saw, so that on his
return he might relate to him what he thought worthy of notice.
‘In obedience to his father’s commands, the. young prince rode through
the city, attended by the same escort as his brothers; but they knew nothing,
neither did the younger son, nor indeed any one else, of the object the king had
in view. As he rode along, he desired that they would show him the interior
of the city, the streets, and where the king kept his treasures, and what was
supposed to be the amount thereof; he inquired where the nobility and the
people of importance in the city lived; after this, he desired that they should
present to him all the cavalry and infantry, and these he made go through their
evolutions; he afterwards visited the walls, towers, and fortresses of the city, so
that when he returned to the king it was very late.
“The king desired him to tell him what he had seen. The young prince
replied that he feared giving offence if he stated all he felt at what he had
seen and observed. Now the king commanded him relate everything, as he
hoped for his blessing. The young man replied that although he was sure his
father was a very good king, yet it seemed to him he had not done as much
good as he might, having such good troops, so much power, and such great
resources; for, had he wished. it, he might have made himself master of the
world,
“Now, the king felt much pleased at this judicious remark of his son. So
when the time arrived that he had to give his decision to the people, he told
them that he should appoint his youngest son for their king, from the indica-
tions he had given him of his ability, by certain proofs of fitness to govern, to
which he had subjected all his sons; although he would have desired to appoint
I22 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
his eldest son as his successor, yet he felt it a duty to select the one who
appeared best qualified for the station.
“And you, Count Lucanor, if you desire to know which of the young men
is the most promising, you must reflect on what I have related to you, and, by
the adoption of similar means, you will be enabled to form your opinion.â€
The count was much pleased with what Patronio had said ; and as Don Juan
found this to be a good example, he ordered it to be written in this book, and
with the following lines which say; —
By ways and works thou mayest know
Which youths to worthiest men will grow.
Nore. — This interesting narrative, evidently of Arabic origin, recalls to us the heroic tale
related in the history of Rodrigo Diaz de Vivan, commonly called the Cid Campeador.
This interesting tale is immortalized by Corneille in one of his best plays. The story is as
follows: The old Count Diego de Vivan, after the gross insult he received from Count
D’Orgaz, called his three sons to him, and forcibly pressed their hands within his own.
Now, the two elder ones, Fernando and Bermuda, shrieked out as if they had been seized
by the gripe of a lion, whilst Rodrigo, the younger, gave no indication of pain, but uttered
an exclamation, and said, “ If you were not my father, I would strike you!†To which the
count replied, “It would not be the first blow I have received. You now know the
offence ; see, here is the sword; I have nothing further to add. With my white hairs I
go to weep over my insulted honor, leaving you, my son, the duty to avenge it.â€
The sentence uttered by the old count, addressing his son, as written by Corneille, is
truly beautiful, when with impassioned dignity he exclaims, “‘ Rodrique, as-tu du cceur?â€
[“* Rodrigo, have you a heart? â€] ,
With more discernment, Don Manuel, who has probably taken this historical fact as
the foundation of his own story, with this difference, however, that in his recital he relies,
not as the Cid upon physical indications, but after due investigation, as is shown in. his
narrative, places his reliance more upon the reasoning powers and mental development of,
as in the case of Diego, the younger son.
WHAT HAPPENED TO A KING WITH A MAN WHO CALLED
| HIMSELF AN ALCHEMIST.
FROM COUNT LUCANOR.
ONE day Count Lucanor conversed with. Patronio in the following
manner : —
“Patronio, a man came and told me he possessed a secret which would
enable me to acquire great riches and honor, but that to begin the work cer-
tain sums of money would be required; and this being furnished, he promised
THE CITY OF MOROCCO,
a
GIBRALTAR. hor
to return me tenfold on my outlay. Now, since God has blessed you with a
good understanding, tell me what you think most desirable to be done under
such circumstances.â€
“My lord,†said Patronio, ‘‘in order that you may know how to act, having
regard for your own interest, under such circumstances, I should like to inform
you what happened to a king with a man who called himself an alchemist.â€
The count desired him to relate it.
‘There was once,†said he, “a man who, being a great adventurer, desired
by some means or other to enrich himself, and rise out of the miserable situa-
tion in which he then was. Knowing of a certain king who taxed his people
heavily, and was very anxious to acquire a knowledge of alchemy, he procured
a hundred doublas and filed them down, mixing the gold dust so procured with
other metals, and from this alloy he made a hundred false coins, each weighing
as much as a doubla. He then took a supply of these spurious coins, dressed
himself as a quiet and respectable man, and went to the city where the king
dwelt, and, entering the shop of a grocer, sold to him the whole of his counter-
feits for about two or three doublas. The purchaser inquired the name and
use of these coins, to which he replied, ‘They are essential to the practice of
alchemy, and are called sabardit.'
‘““Now, our adventurer continued to reside in this city for some time asa
respectable and well-dressed man, and it became circulated as a secret that he
knew the science of alchemy. When this news reached the king, he sent for
him, and asked if he were an alchemist.
“He, however, appeared as if anxious to conceal his knowledge, and replied
that he was not, but ultimately admitted that he was, at the same time telling
the king that no great outlay was required; but that if his Majesty desired it,
he could furnish him with a little of the ingredients, and then show him all he
knew of the science. This pleased the king very much, as it appeared, accord-
ing to the alchemist’s representation, that he would incur no risk. Our adven-
turer now sends, in the king’s name, for the things required, among them being
the tabardit, which were easily procured at a cost of not more than three
dineros, and when they were bought and melted down before the king, there
was produced the weight of a doubla of fine gold. The king seeing that these
materials which cost so little produced a doubla, was delighted, and told the
alchemist that he considered him to be a most worthy man, giving him an
- order to make more.
‘“ Qur adventurer replied, as if he had no more information to give, ‘Sire, all
that I know I have shown to you, and henceforth you will be able to do it as well
as myself. Nevertheless, should any of the ingredients be wanting, it will be
126 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
quite impossible to produce gold.’ Saying this, he departed for his own
house.
‘The king now procured some of the material himself, and made gold. He
then doubled the quantity, and produced the weight of two doublas; again
doubling this quantity, he produced four doublas of gold; and so, in proportion,
as he measured the weight of the ingredients, he produced an increase of gold.
When the king saw that he could make any quantity of gold he desired, he
ordered as much of the material to be brought him as would produce a hundred
doublas. So the quantity was brought him as he desired, with the exception
of the tarbardit, which could not be got. The king, seeing that the tabardit was
wanting, and that without it he could not make gold, sent for the alchemist and.
told him he was unable to make gold as he had been accustomed to do.
“On this the alchemist begged to know if he had all the ingredients the
same as hitherto.
“The king replied, ‘ Yes, all except the tabardit.’
“*Then,’ said the alchemist, ‘although you have all the other things, yet,
failing this one, you cannot, as I told you at first, expect to make gold,’
“The king then asked if he knew where to procure the tabardit, and he was
answered in the affirmative; the king then requested that he should procure
for him a sufficient quantity to make as much gold as he might desire.
“The alchemist now replied that any other person.could obtain it as well as
himself, and perhaps, better; but, if the king particularly wished it, he. would
return for some to his own country, where he could procure any amount. The
king then counted, and found that, including all expenses, it would cost a large
sum to procure this one ingredient; but he furnished our adventurer with the
sum required, and sent him on this service.
“As soon as the alchemist had received the money, he went away in great
haste, never to return.
“When the king found that his alchemist remained away longer than he
ought, he sent his servants to his house to know if there had been any tidings
of him, but they found none whatever; but at his house was left a small chest
which was locked ; this they opened, and in it they found a paper on which
was written, ‘I know well there is no such thing in the world as tabardit, but
be assured that your Majesty has been deceived. When I came to you and
said that I could enrich you, you ought to have said to me, “ First enrich thy-
self, and then I will believe thee.â€
“Some days after this, some men were laughing and amusing themselves
by writing the names and characters of their friends and acquaintances, saying,
such and such were foolish, and of others in like manner, good and bad.
ein
LTS
NEMOURS,
GIBRALTAR. - 129
Amongst those classed as imprudent was found the name of the king. When
the king heard of it, he sent for the authors of this writing, and having assured
them that no harm should come to them, demanded why they had placed his
name among those of imprudent men. They then answered him, ‘ Because
you have entrusted so much. treasure to a stranger of whom you had not the
least knowledge.’
“The king replied that they were mistaken, for should the man return he
would bring with him much gold.
“«Then,’ said they, ‘ our opinion would lose nothing; for should he return,
we will erase your name and insert his.’
“And you, Count Lucanor, if you do not wish to be considered a man of
weak understanding, must not risk so much of your property for a thing that is
uncertain; otherwise you may have to repent sacrificing the certain for the
uncertain.â€
This advice pleased the count much, so he acted upon it, and found the
result good.
And Don Juan, seeing this to be a good example, ordered it to be written
in this book with these following lines : —
“ To venture much of thy wealth refuse
On the faith of a man who has nought to lose.â€
This tale, so full of point and humor, is, as we see in the paper
found in the alchemist’s trunk, not without its bearing on the caution
required in daily life to avoid impositions, as also the dangers to
which cupidity exposes men who grasp at every delusive project to
gratify their passion for gain.
It may be, also, that Don Manuel desired in his narrative to ridicule
the follies of alchemy, to which his learned uncle, Alfonso XI., was
much addicted, and the belief in which was so universal in the Middle
Ages.
wo
CHAPTER VI.
ALGERIA. —TUNIS.— THE HOLIEST PLACE IN AFRICA.
CARAVAN TALES.
| LGIERS, crowned by the ancient fortress of the deys,
five hundred feet high, has a romantic history of a
thousand years, and is now the Paris of Africa, —a
charming French city. The old town of Algiers is
on high ground; the new town is a coast habitation
of government houses, squares, and gay streets, in
which the Place Royale, with its shadows of orange
and lime trees, invite a gay population, and where life flows at full tide
under the hill of the mosques and old Moorish houses.
In the lower town, Arabs, Moors, Jews, French, Spaniards, Ger-
mans, and Englishmen gather on the charming promenades which
are flanked by airy colonnades. The city has a hundred or more
mosques, and is Orientally famous for its marabouts, or tombs of the
saints.
The street that leads up to the old fortress of the deys is called
the casbah. The houses of the upper town are flat-roofed, and without
windows, except iron gratings. The people of these ancient houses
spend their evenings on the flat roofs, the bright stars above, the sea
before, and the cool sea-breeze constantly blowing.
In 1830, the long despotism of the deys came to an end in the
Mahometan town, by the occupation of the French. The Turks
withdrew in large numbers to Tunis.
ALGIERS. 131
The French had an ambition to make Algiers beautiful, and the
city began to change into gay bazaars, and to wear a Parisian appear-
ance. It is a resort of wealth and fashion, the civilization of the East
having arisen amid the vanishing crescents. The city has a population
of some fifty thousand people.
The country of Algeria is now a French colony, and the possession
of it is said to have cost France the lives of 150,000 men. It has about
TRAVELLING IN ALGERIA.
2,505,000 inhabitants, including some 250,000 Europeans. Behind
Algeria lies the desert of Sahara.
Algeria at the close of the last century and the beginning of the
present, became a terror to all Christian nations by its corsairs or sea-
robbers. The American flag having been insulted, the best ships of
the navy were sent to the Mediterranean. The fleet attacked the
Algerian pirates on the 20th of June, 1815, and compelled the Dey to
respect American shipping. The contest is called the Algerian War.
132 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
CONSULAR COURTS AND THEIR POWER.
While in Algeria Mr. Van der Palm and Percy visited Tunis.
While there a very curious case came to Percy’s notice. An Ameri-
can sailor was brought before the consul, accused of the crime of
murder on the sea.
“ He will be tried before the consul,†said his father.
“ Do consuls try cases?†asked Percy.
“Yes, on the coasts of the Mediterranean in several port cities.â€
“ Like the old Roman consuls?â€
“Yes, their power resembles that of old Roman officers.â€
“ How much power do the consuls of such places really have?â€
Mr. Van der Palm again quoted the consular instructions, with
which he was familiar, after his long service.
“Consuls have exclusive jurisdiction over crimes and offences committed
by citizens of the United States in Borneo, China, Corea, Japan, Madagascar,
and Siam. In Morocco, Tripoli, and Tunis, the consuls are empowered to
assist in the trials of citizens-of the United States accused of murdér or assault,
In Persia, citizens of the United States committing offences are to be tried and
judged in the same manner as are the subjects or citizens of the most favored
nation. Americans committing offences in Turkey should be tried by their
minister or consul, and are to be punished according to their offence, following
in this respect the usage observed toward other Franks; but, in consequence
of a disagreement as to the true text of the treaty, consuls in the Ottorman
Dominions are instructed to take the directions of the minister of the United
States at Constantinople in all cases before.assuming to exercise jurisdiction
over criminal offences.
“Tn China and Japan the judicial authority of the consuls of the United
States will be considered as extending over all persons, duly shipped and
enrolled upon the articles of any merchant vessel of the United States, whatever
be the nationality of such person. And all offences which wotild be justiciable
by the consular courts of the United States, where the persons so offending
are native-born or naturalized citizens of the United States employed in the
merchant service thereof are equally justiciable by the same consular courts in
the case of seamen of foreign nationality.
THE HOLIEST PLACE IN AFRICA. ne3
« Seamen serving on board public vessels of the United States, who have
committed offences on shore in Japan and China, are held to be subject to the
jurisdiction of the consuls of the United States in those countries.
What became of this particular case, Percy never learned, as he
left Algeria in a few days for Tunis. The incident gave him a clear
view of the workings of these little vice-republics, called consular
offices.
KAIRWAN.
At Algeria, Percy began the study of French. But here the reader
may ask “ How came this ancient country in Northern Africa under
the French rule?†The answer may be brief: —
Through a slight offered to a consul. In the reign of that power-
ful monarch, Louis Philippe, the Dey, a pasha of the Turkish school,
owed the French government a considerable sum of money. The
creditors asked the French consul to demand payment. The proud
old Dey in indignation poked his fan spitefully at the consul, or some
like movement, and the French government collected the whole coun-
try in payment of the debts. The Turks fled on the arrival of the |
French army, and since that date, deys and like rulers have been
very polite to consuls.
There is a railway that runs from Algiers to Tunis; and an ancient
road from Tunis leads the traveller to Kairwan, the so-called “ Holiest
spot in Africa.†Mr. Van der Palm wished to visit Kairwan, and the
two started for Tunis, and thence made their way to the holy Moslem
city in a caravan. |
The city is fabled to contain five hundred mosques. The real
number is less than a hundred, unless the shrines or marabouts are
to be so regarded. Kairwan is one of the strangest sights of the world,
and the legend of its founding is very queer. .
The great mosque of Kairwan is the history of the city. Accord-
ing to the legend, when the founder of Kairwan was at a loss to know
134 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
wheré to lay the corner-stone of the mosque he heard a voice from
heaven which gave him directions. The country was full of wild
beasts at the time, and these all gathered themselves together, and in
honor of the Prophet (Mahomet) marched away in a miraculous
army, to the wonder of the faithful.
With a consul from Tunis, Mr. Van der Palm and Percy entered
this wonderful mosque. Over .the walls of the prayer-chamber, the
consul translated the following inscription from Arabic.
“Cursed is he who shall count these pillars, for verily he shall lose
his sight.â€
The pillars are the products of the spoils of Africa. There were
two most splendid ones very near together, and it is claimed that if
one squeeze through these, he may enter Paradise. Percy passed
through, but his father and the fat consul were unable to secure the
Mahometan promise.
“Fat people do not go to paradise,†said the consul.
Percy’s eyes roamed about the forest of pillars. His mind seemed
engaged in some mathematical calculation.
“Well, my son, how many pillars are there?†asked his father, as
the three travellers put on their shoes at the door.
“Just one hundred and ninety-four,†was the prompt reply.
“But your eyes?â€
“ They smart!â€
“So do mine,†answered his father.
But nothing worse than this happened to Percy. Perhaps he did
not count the pillars correctly. It is claimed that there are two hun-
dred and ninety-six.
ALGERIAN ANTELOPE-HUNTER,
AN
_ CARAVAN STORIES. aay
THE WIND-RIDER.
(FROM FOLK:LORE AND LEGENDS, RUSSIAN AND POLISH.)
A MAGICIAN was once upon a time much put out with a young countryman;
and being in a great rage, he went to the man’s hut and stuck a new sharp knife
under the threshold. While he did so he cursed the man, saying, —
“ May this fellow ride for seven years on the fleet storm-wind, until he has
gone all around the world.â€
Now, when the peasant went into the meadows in order to carry the hay,
there came suddenly a gust of wind. It quickly scattered the hay, and then
seized the peasant. He endeavored in vain to resist; in vain he sought to
cling to the hedges.and trees with his hands. Do what he would, the invisible
power hurried him forwards.
He flew on the wings of the wind like a wild pigeon, and his feet no more
touched the ground. At length the sun set, and the poor fellow looked with
hungry eyes upon the smoke which curled up from the chimney in his village.
He could almost touch them with his feet, but he called and screamed in vain,
and all his wailing and complaints were useless. No one heard his lamentation,
no one saw his tears. |
So he went on for three months, and what with thirst and hunger he was
dried up and almost a skeleton. He had gone over a good deal of ground by
that time, but the wind most often carried him over his native village.
He wept when he saw the hut in which dwelt his sweetheart. He could see
her busied about the house. Sometimes she would bring out some dinner in
a basket. Then he would stretch out his dried-up hands to her, and vainly call
her name. His voice would die away; and the girl, not hearing him, would not
‘look up.
He fled on. The magician came to the door of his hut, and seeing the man,
cried to him, mockingly, —
“You have to ride for seven years yet, flying over this village. You shall
go on suffering, and shall not die.â€
‘“O my father,†said the man, “if I ever offended you, forgive me! Look!
my lips are quite hard; my face, my hands, look at them! I am nothing but
bone. Have pity upon me.â€
The magician muttered a few words, and the man stopped in his course.
He stayed in one place, but did not yet stand on the ground.
_“ Well, you ask me to pity you,†said the magician. ‘“ And what do you
mean to give me if I put a stop to your torment?â€
138 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
“ All you wish,†said the peasant, and he clasped his hands, and knelt down
in the air.
“Will you give me your sweetheart,’ asked the magician, “so that I may
have her for my wife? If you will give her up, you shall come to earth
again.â€
The man thought for a moment, and said to himself, “Tf I once get on the
earth again, 1 may see if I cannot do something.†So he said to the magi-
cian, “Indeed, you ask me to make a great sacrifice, but if it must be so, it
must,â€
The magician then blew at him, and the man came to the ground. He was
very pleased to find the earth once more under his feet, and to have escaped
from the power of the wind. Off he hurried to his hut, and at the threshold he
met his sweetheart. She cried aloud with amazement when she saw the long-
lost peasant whom she had so long lamented and wept for, With his skinny
' hands the man put her gently aside, and went into the house, where he found
the farmer who had employed him, sitting down, and said to him as he
commenced to weep, —
“T can no longer stay in your service, and I cannot marry your daughter.
I love her very much, — as much as the apple of my eye, — but I cannot marry
her.â€
The old farmer wondered to see him; and when he saw his white pinched
face and the traces of his suffering, he asked him why he did not wish for the
hand of his daughter.
The man told him all about his ride in the air, and the bargain he had made
with the magician. When the farmer had listened to it all, he told the poor
fellow to keep a good heart, and putting some money in his pocket, went out
to consult a sorceress. ‘
Toward evening he returned very merry, and taking the peasant aside, said
to him, —
“To-morrow morning before day, go to the witch, and you will find all will
be well.â€
The wearied peasant, who had not slept for three months, went to bed, but
he woke before it was day, and went off to the witch. He found her sitting
beside the hearth boiling herbs over a fire. She told him to stand by her, and,
suddenly, although it was a calm day, such a storm of wind arose that the hut
shook again.
The sorceress then took the peasant outside into the yard and told him to
look up. He lifted up his eyes, and — oh, wonder! — saw the evil magician
whirling round and round in the air.
CARAVAN STORIES. 139
“There is your enemy,†said the woman; “he will trouble you no more. If
you would like to see him at your wedding, I will tell you what to do; but he
must suffer the torment that he meant to put you to.â€
The peasant was delighted, and ran back to the house; and a month later
he was married. While the wedding-folk were dancing, the peasant went out
into the yard, looked up, and saw right over the hut the Magician, turning
round and round. Then the peasant took a new knife, and throwing it with
all his force, stuck it in the magician’s foot.
He fell at once to the ground, and the knife held him to the earth so that
he could only stand at the window and see how merry the peasant and his
friends were.
The next day he had disappeared, but he was afterwards seen flying in the
air over a lake. Before him and behind him were flocks of ravens and crows;
and these, with their hoarse cries heralded the wicked magician’s endless ride
on the wind.
THE LEGEND OF THE TERRESTRIAL PARADISE OF SHEDDAD.
THE SON OF ’A’D.
A TALE OF THE MoorisH QUARTERS OF EASTERN Coast CITIES.
It is related that ’Abd Allah, the son of Aboo Kilabeh, went forth to seek
a camel that had run away, and while he was proceeding over the deserts of
El-Yeman and the district of Seba, he chanced to arrive at a vast city encom-
passed by enormous fortifications, around the circuit of which were pavilions
tising high into the sky. So when he approached it-he imagined that there
must be inhabitants within it, of whom he might inquire for his camel; and
accordingly he advanced, but on coming to it he found that it was desolate,
without any one to cheer its solitude.
“T alighted,†says he, “from my she-camel, and tied up her foot; and
then, composing my mind, entered the city. On approaching the fortifications
I found that they had two enormous gates, the like of which, for size and
height, have never been seen elsewhere in the world, set with a variety of jewels
and jacinths, white and red, and yellow and green ; and when I beheld this, I was
struck with the utmost wonder at it, and the sight astonished me. I entered
the fortifications in a state of terror and with a wandering mind, and saw them
to be of the same large extent as the city, and to comprise elevated pavilions,
every one of these containing lofty chambers, and all of them constructed of
gold and silver, and adorned with rubies and chrysolites and pearls and various-
I40 ZIGZAG FJOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
colored jewels. The folding-doors of these pavilions were like those of the
fortifications in beauty, and the floors were overlaid with large pearls, and with
balls like hazel-nuts, composed of musk and ambergris and saffron. And when
I came into the midst of the city, I saw not in it a created being of the sons
of Adam ; and I almost died of terror. I then looked down from the summits
of the lofty chambers and pavilions, and saw rivers running beneath them; and
in the great thoroughfare-streets of the city were fruit-bearing trees and tall
palm-trees. And the construction of the city was of alternate bricks of gold
and silver; so I said within myself, no doubt this is the paradise promised in
the world to come.
“I carried away of the jewels, which were as its gravel, and the musk that
was as its dust, as much as I could bear, and returned to my district, where
I acquainted the people with the occurrence. And the news reached
Mo’awiyeh, the son of Aboo Sufyan (who was then caliph), in the Hejaz; so
he wrote to his lieutenant in San’a of El-Yemen, saying, ‘Summon that man,
and inquire of him the truth of the matter!’ His lieutenant therefore caused
me to be brought, and demanded of me an account of my adventure, and of .
what had befallen me; and I informed him of what I had seen. He then
sent me to Mo’awiyeh, and I acquainted him also with that which I had seen,
but he disbelieved it; so I produced to him some of those pearls and the little
balls of ambergris and musk and saffron. The latter retained somewhat of
their sweet scent ; but the pearls had become yellow and discoloured.
“ At the sight of these Mo’dwiyeh wondered, and he sent and caused Kaab
el-Ahbar to be brought before him, and said to him, ‘O Kaab el-Ahbar, I
have called thee on account of a matter of which I desire to know the truth,
and I hope that thou mayest be able to certify me of it.’
““And what is it, O Prince of the Faithful?’ asked Kaab el-Ahbar.
“ Mo’awiyeh said, ‘ Hast thou any knowledge of the existence of a city con-
structed of gold and silver, the pillars whereof are of chrysolite and ruby, and
the gravel of which is of pearls, and of balls like hazel-nuts, composed of
musk and ambergris and saffron?’
‘He answered, ‘ Yes, O Prince of the Faithful! It is Irem Zat-el-’ Emad, the
like of which hath never been constructed in the regions of the earth; and
Sheddad, the son of ’A’d the Greater, built it’
“Relate to us,’ said Mo’awiyeh, ‘somewhat of its history.’
“And Kaab el-Ahbar replied thus: —
“CAd the “Greater had two sons, Shedeed and Sheddad; and when their
father perished they reigned conjointly over the countries after him, and there
was no one of the kings of the earth who was not subject to them. And She-
ERIAN BEAUTY.
AN ALG
CARAVAN STORIES. 143
deed the son of ’A’d died, so his brother Shedd4d ruled alone over the earth
after him. He was fond of reading the ancient books; and when he met with
the description of the world to come, and of paradise, with its pavilions and
lofty chambers, and its trees and fruits, and of the other things in paradise, his
heart enticed him to construct its like on the earth, after this manner which
hath been above mentioned. He had under his authority a hundred thousand
kings, under each of whom were a hundred thousand valiant chieftains; and
under each of these were a hundred thousand soldiers. And he summoned
them all before him, and said to them, “I find in the ancient books and _ his-
tories the description of the paradise that is in the other world, and I desire to
make its like upon the earth. Depart ye therefore to the most pleasant and
most spacious vacant tract in the earth, and build for me in it a city of gold and
silver, and spread, as its gravel, chrysolites and rubies and pearls, and as the
supports of the vaulted roofs of that city make columns of chrysolite and fill it
with pavilions, and over the pavilions construct lofty chambers, and beneath
them plant, in the by-streets and great thoroughfare streets, varieties of trees
bearing different kinds of tipe fruits, and make rivers to run beneath them in
channels of gold and silver,’
“To this they all replied, ‘How can we accomplish that which thou hast
described to us, and how can we procure the chrysolites and rubies and pearls
that thou hast mentioned?’
“ But he said, ‘ Know ye not that the kings of the world are obedient to me
and under my authority, and that no one who is in it disobeyeth my
command?’
‘They answered, ‘ Yes, we know that.’
“Depart then,’ said he, ‘to the mines of chrysolite and ruby, and to the
places where pearls are found, and gold and silver, and take forth and collect
their contents from the earth, and spare no exertions. Take also for me, from
the hands of mine, such of those things as ye find, and spare none, nor let
any escape you; and beware of disobedience! ’
“He then wrote a letter to each of the kings in the regions of the earth,
commanding them to collect all the articles of the kinds above mentioned that
their subjects possessed, and to repair to the mines in which these things were
found, and extract the precious stones that they contained, even from the beds
of the seas. And they collected the things that he required in the space of
twenty years; after which he sent forth the geometricians and sages, and
laborers and artificers, from all the countries and regions, and they dispersed
themselves through the deserts and wastes, and tracts and districts, until they
came to a desert wherein was a vast open plain, clear from hills and mountains,
144. ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
and in it were springs gushing forth, and rivers running. So they said, ‘ This
is the kind of place which the king commanded us to seek, and called us to
find.’
“ They then busied themselves in building the city according to the directions
of the King Sheddad, king of the whole earth, in its length and breath; and
they made through it the channels for the rivers, and laid the foundations
conformably with the prescribed extent. The kings of the various districts of
the earth sent thither the jewels and stones, and large and small pearls, and
carnelian and pure gold, upon camels over the deserts and wastes, and sent
great ships with them over the seas; and a quantity of those things, such as
cannot be described, nor calculated, nor defined, was brought to the work-
men, who laboured in the construction of this city three hundred years. And
when they had finished it, they came to the king and acquainted him with the
completion; and he said to them, ‘ Depart, and make around it impregnable
fortifications of great height, and construct around the circuit of the fortifica-
tions a thousand pavilions, each with a thousand pillars beneath it, in order
that there may be in each pavilion a vizier.’
“ So they went immediately, and did this in twenty years ; after which they
presented themselves before Sheddad, and informed him of the accomplish-
ment. of his desire.
“He therefore ordered his viziers, who were a thousand in number, and
his chief officers, and such of his troops and others as he confided in, to make
themselves ready for departure, and to prepare themselves for removal to
Irem Zat-el-Emdad, in attendance upon the king of the world, Sheddad, the
son of ’A’d. And they passed twenty years in equipping themselves. Then
Sheddad proceeded with his troops, rejoiced at the accomplishment of his
desire, until there remained between him and Irem Zat-el-’Emad one day’s
journey, when God sent down upon him and upon the obstinate infidels who
accompained him a loud cry from the heaven of His power, and it destroyed
them all by the vehemence of its sound. Neither Sheddad nor any of those
who were with him arrived at the city, or came in sight of it, and God obliter-
ated the traces of the road that led to it; but the city remaineth as it was in its
place until the hour of the judgment!’
“ At this narrative, related by Kaab el-Ahbdr, Mo’awiyeh wondered, and
he said to him, ‘Can any one of mankind arrive at that city?’
““« Ves,’ answered Kaab el-Ahbdr; ‘a man of the companions of Mahomet
{upon whom be blessing and peace!), in appearance like this man who is
sitting here, without any doubt.’ Esh-Shaabee also saith, ‘It is related, on the
authority of the learned men of Hemyer, in El-Yemen, that when Sheddad
CARAVAN STORIES. : 145
and those who were with him were destroyed by the loud cry, his son Sheddad
the Less reigned after him; for his father, Sheddad the Greater, had left him
as successor to his kingdom, in the land of Hadramot and Seba, on his depar-
ture with the troops who accompanied him to Irem Zat-el--Emad. And as
soon as the news reached him of the death of his father, on the way before his
arrival at the city of Irem, he gave orders to carry his father’s body from those
desert tracts to Hadramot, and to excavate the sepulchre for him in a cavern.
« And when they had done this, he placed his body in it, upon a couch of
gold, and covered the corpse with seventy robes, interwoven with gold and
adorned with precious jewels; and he placed at his head a tablet of gold,
whereon were inscribed these verses : —
“Be admonished, O thou who art deceived by a prolonged life !
I am Sheddad, the son of ’A’d, the lord of a strong fortress,
The lord of power and might, and of excessive valor.
The inhabitants of the earth obeyed me, fearing my severity and threats ;
And I held the East and West under a strong dominion.
And a preacher of the true religion invited us to the right way ;
But we opposed him, and said, Is there no refuge from it?
And a loud cry assaulted us from a tract of the distant horizon ;
Whereupon we fell down like corn in the midst of a plain at harvest;
And now, beneath the earth, we await the threatened day.’
“ Eth-Tha’dlibee also saith, ‘ It happened that two men entered this cavern,
and found at its upper end some steps, and having descended these, they found
an excavation, the length whereof was a hundred cubits and its breadth forty
cubits, and its height a hundred cubits. And in the midst of this excavation
was a couch of gold, upon which was a man of enormous bulk, occupying its
whole length and breadth, covered with ornaments and with robes interwoven
with gold and silver; and at his head was a tablet of gold, whereon was an
inscription, And they took that tablet, and carried away from the place as
much as they could of bars of gold and silver and other things,’ â€
Io
CHAP TPR: WEE
MARSEILLES.
ARSEILLES is the French port of the world. The
winding ways of its harbor are something of a zigzag
journey. It is said that there are but three safe
ports on the Mediterranean: “ Carthagena, Fune,
and Fuly. To these safe ports may perhaps be
added Marseilles. The city is very ancient, and its
modern history is associated with patriotism. It was the soldiers
from Marseilles who first voiced that great trumpet tone of liberty,
“The Marseilles Hymn.â€
Percy learned many things in the consular offices at Marseilles
which gave him clear views of marine law in case of injustice at sea.
He became a pupil here of a French consular clerk, and was now in
full training as a consular pupil. He saw here for the first time
marriages performed in the presence of consuls, and the dead bodies
and the effects of those dying while travelling cared for by the consuls
of the parts of the world to which the deceased belonged.
There came a case before the American consulate in which a
sailor claimed that he had been defrauded by his captain at sea.
What would the consul ?
While the case was pending, Percy went to his father to have him
explain consular jurisdictions in cases of the ill-usage of sailors.
“The ship is the consul’s territory,†said his father. “So you may
see how wide his power is, and how closely his office resembles that of
the consuls of old Roman republican days. In cases of abusive
PUBLIC GARDEN, MARSEILLES,
MARSEILLES, 149
treatment it is the sailor's right and privilege to see the consul as
soon as he comes to port. No captain has a right to forbid him from
laying his case before the consul. The law runs like this :—
“«The right of the seaman to lay his complaint before the consular officer
in a foreign port is one of great importance to him, and is carefully protected
by the courts. When a seaman files a libel in a court of admiralty and mari-
time jurisdiction, alleging that the master had maltreated him while in the
service of the ship, and his allegations are proved, the court decrees damages
in accordance with the facts. And if it appears that the master denied the
seaman liberty to lay his complaints before the consular officer in a foreign
port, such denial is an aggravation of his offence and enhances the amount of
the decree. And in particular instances, by act of Congress, a penalty is
imposed upon a master who refuses his crew the right to lay their complaints
before the consul.
“«The consular officer is regarded as the adviser and counsel of the seamen,
and it is enjoined upon him to see that the latter is unrestricted in the privilege
to submit his complaint. If there is reason to. believe that a seaman is restrained
in any way from appearing at the consulate, in order to prevent his application
to the consular officer, the latter will not wait for the complaint, but will at once
proceed on board or take the proper steps to secure his appearance before him.
The investigation of these cases is often tedious, the evidence is apt to be con-
flicting, and the consular officer will require the use of all his good judgment,
forbearance, discretion, and good temper.’ â€
A volume of stories might be written on the consular mails.
Letters to sailors are directed in the care of the consuls; these letters,
when uncalled for, are kept one year, then sent to Washington.
It is with an anxious face that the sailor usually asks the consul
for letters. The memories of mothers, fathers, wives, children, sweet-
hearts, of old roof-trees, or some holy and tender memories rush in
upon the mind of the inquirer.
“ Are there anywhere for me?†asked a sailor of the English consul
at Marseilles.
“Your name?â€
“ Henry Moore.â€
150 4IGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
“ No — nothing — none.â€
“The world is nothing to me, or I am nothing to the world. I am
one of the zone. I sail.â€
While at Marseilles, there came to the American consul some
poor travellers for letters, but there were none. Their means were
exhausted and the consul is not allowed to furnish money to travellers
at the government charge, whatever may be their condition. It was
found on inquiry that the people were from the Canadian maritime
provinces, and so their case was referred to the English consul. He
could do nothing for them officially, but it was resolved to give a
concert for them in the English quarters, and to sing the songs and
read the poems of the sea. A call was made for amateur singers, and
Percy responded.
“What will you give us?†asked the English consul.
“Two poems that relate to the hardships of the sea,†was the
answer.
The concert was successful. It brought the travellers money
enough to take them third class to London. One of Percy’s selections
for reading was as follows : —
THE CASTAWAY.
[Edwin, the half brother of Athelstan, King of the Saxons, was the rightful heir to the throne. On
the accession of Athelstan he was a mere boy, and his claim caused much dissension among the nobles.
Athelstan wished to get rid of him without committing palpable murder, and at last, in a moment of
passion, ordered that he should be pushed out to sea in a leaky boat without oars. The rest of the story
is told in the poem.]
THE Saxon monarch from his throne
Looked through the light pavilion
Upon the level sea, that shone
Beneath the sky vermilion.
“Go, bring the captive boy!†he said.
They brought him, bound and bleeding,
With moistened cheek and bended head,
: And lips for mercy pleading.
Then said a chief of high renown,
The monarch on him frowning,
MARSEILLES. I51
“To whom in right belongs the crown
The sun himself is crowning.â€
And Edwin, there on bending knee,
The sun shone brightly over,
While Athelstan gazed on the sea, —
The foaming sea of Dover.
The twilight sunshine dimmed; and far
The moon, her disk uplifting,
Came goddess-like, her silver car
Along the waters drifting.
And as on high she moved and shone
The great pavilion over,
Athelstan, from his shadowed throne,
Looked on the sea of Dover.
“Go, take the boy!†at last he cried,
Half from the order shrinking;
“ And when outgoes the evening tide,
And low the moon is sinking,
Put him in yonder boat hard by
Upon the ocean border,
And loose it! He shall live or die,
As God himself shall order!â€
Next morn a hundred anxious eyes
Were strained the waters over,
As rose the sun in stormless skies
Upon the sea of Dover.
There lightly, near the troubled land,
The boat was seaward drifting,
And beckoned there a little hand,
In vain for help uplifting.
Far, far to sea it drifts, it drifts,
All, all that summer morning ;
And, lo! a sudden cloud uplifts
Its shadow like a warning.
Far, far to sea, the wind-swept waves
Grow dark and deep and dreary;
And Hard the rocks the ocean laves
Where stand the watchers weary.
To him no more the nobles fair
The tribute due will render,
Nor sunset leave upon his hair
Her coronet of splendor.
152
ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
Night o’er the sobbing billows crept,
And stilled their wild commotion ;
But ere the morn young Edwin slept
Beneath the foaming ocean.
And once, when summers four had rolled
The solemn convent over,
Old Whitesand’s shaded peaks of gold,
And silvered peaks of Dover,
The minstrels playing sweet and low,
A tender strain awaking,
Athelstan’s tears were seen to flow
As though his heart was breaking,
“Four times to yonder convent lone
The birds have crossed the seas,
And wandering airs of gentle tone
Have breathed ’mid blooming trees.
Four times on yonder convent towers
The snows have fallen deep
Since maidens strewed the place with flowers
Where Edwin’s ashes sleep.
“T sit and muse beside the sea
When hangs the moon above ;
The silvered tide comes back to me,
But not a brother’s love.
A vanished life still haunts my dreams
When minstrel harps attune,
And on the shadowy convent gleams
The solitary moon.
“Gone! Gone!’ it murmurs in the wood,
It sobs amid the seas;
And lonely hours and solitude
Are terrible to me.
I call my minstrels, and they sing,
But when the strains depart,
I feel I am a crownless king,
Discrowned of joy at heart.
“The years will come, the years will go,
But never at my door
The fair-haired boy I used to meet
Will smile upon me more;
MARSEILLES. - 153
But memory long will hear the fall
Of steps at eventide,
And in each saddened hour recall
The year when Edwin died.
“T cleave the serried walls of shields,
The nobles’ standards true;
I strew with dead the Northern fields,
The Scottish chiefs subdue;
Yet when the moon —a silver sun —
Rolls o’er the Tweed and Dee,
The evening song for victory won
Returns no joy to me.
“Oh, I would give a crown to view
The face of heaven again,
And walk the fruited earth anew,
Unstained ’mid stainless men.
The years will come, the years will go,
The birds will cross the sea,
But calm delights that others know
Will ne’er return to me.â€
THE CONSULAR PRISONER. |
At the English consulate at Marseilles Percy heard many curious
stories told. Among them there was one that was so remarkable as
to long haunt his memory.
“ What is the strangest incident that ever happened in your con-
sular experience?†asked an English consular clerk of an old English
consul, who was smoking leisurely in the office.
“Tt was the escape of a consular prisoner named Wombut or
Wombetta. They called him Wombat.
“JT shall never forget that night. I can see the scene now.
Wombetta was accused of robbery, and I had detained him under
guard in the consular office. The ship’s crew to which he belonged
were still at the dock, waiting to sail. The ship, the “ Victoria,†had
received her papers.
“T was sitting alone in my private room, reading, when there
suddenly came a loud knocking at the door.
154 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
“* Come in,’ I said.
“A stout man entered wearing a great cloak.
“* Please, your honor, may I see Wombat before we sail?’
“«Flave you any particular business with him ?’
“Yes, your honor.’
“* Cannot you leave the matter with me?’
“* No, your honor; it is confidential. It is only a word with him,’
“The guard stood outside of the door. I was in an easy, good-
humored mood, and somewhat preoccupied, and I said to the guard:
“* Let him pass.’
“The man in the cloak passed in and closed the door. I heard
some strange movements, when I was suddenly brought to my feet by
the report of a pistol.
“The guard threw open the door, and a stranger sight never met
my eyes. The man in the great cloak apparently stood before me
with Wombat on his shoulders. I saw Wombat’s boots projecting
forward, so ; his hat tilted back, so; and the stranger’s cloak was thrown,
or seemed to be thrown, over his body.
“ There came a muffled voice from this strange figure.
“*T ve shot him; let me carry him into the air.’
“I thought it was the voice of the stranger.
“ The guard opened his mouth, and stood like one petrified.
“The figure moved out of the room. I saw Wombat’s boots dis-
tinctly, and I did not dream that they were not on his legs. I saw
Wombat’s old felt hat, and I thought it was on the head of the dying
man.
** Hold! said-1,
““ Let go into the air!’ said the figure in an awful voice.
“T lost my senses, and opened the door.
“What followed was marvellous indeed. I would never trust my
Own eyes again. ;
“The cloak fell, and beside it a pair of boots. The figure all
MARSEILLES. 155
dropped to pieces and out of it emerged a man, hatless and bootless,
who ran down the street crying ‘ Murder!’
“T started to follow him, and the guard to follow me, when a
second man came flying out of the guard room into the court, leaped
over a fence and was lost in the darkness.
“T looked before me and behind me. So did the guard.
“«What !’ said I.
“*Wha-a-at!’ said he.
“* Were there éhree of them?’ said I.
“* THeaven defend us!’ said he.
“* What has happened?’ asked I.
“« Heaven only knows,’ said he.
“* Where is the prisoner?’ asked I.
“« You let him escape,’ said he.
“* Which?’ asked I.
“* You may ask your own eyes,’ said he.
“* Te has escaped!’ said I.
“* Where ?’ said he.
“* Who?’ said I.
“* You will never see any of them again, said he. ‘Ah, but and
he was a slick one!’
“* Which ?’ asked I.
“« All three of them!’ said he.
“* How many were there?’ asked I.
“* Three — two — one,’ said he.
“TI accepted the report. The ship sailed that night, and I never
saw Wombat or any of them again!â€
CHAPTER VIII.
CONSULAR PETS AND PARROTS.
| V ERY consul’s office has a pet, and that.pet is com-
monly a parrot,†said Percy to his father one day
at Marseilles.
“ No, not every consul’s office. I seldom kept
pets when I was a consul. But what you say is,
in a sense, true.â€
“Are consuls, as a class, lovers of natural history?â€
“I do not know that they are when they are first appointed. But
as a rule they come to be so. The pets and parrots that one finds
in many consular offices are usually gifts from the people of the coun-
tries in which the consuls reside. A generous consul makes many
friends among the people of his foster country, and these are likely to
make him presents of any curious animals or birds in which he may
show an interest. Many consuls lead a kind of bachelor life, and
pets are company; so consuls come to be not only story-tellers but
amateur naturalists. They may be presented with guinea pigs, mar-
mosets, curious dogs, brilliant macaws, cockatoos, and parrots that can
say odd things, or sing snatches of patriotic songs. In the East he
may even be offered a camel or an elephant; in South America, a
boa.
“The consuls’ offices at Gibraltar were full of little animals and
strange birds. Here they are museums of natural history; one finds
in them all sorts of things. I think consular offices are among the
most interesting places in the world.
CONSULAR PETS AND PARROTS. AG
“Let me tell you of some of the strange pets that I have known to
be given to consuls; I doubt that you ever so much as heard of many
of them: =
“A chimpanzee, a chinchilla, a chrysochloris capenses, a didelphys,
a dormouse, an edensate, an echidna, ferrets, foxes, flying squirrels,
guinea pigs, martens, lemmings, lynex, a gacchus, a lemur, a maki,
otters, pebas, porcupines, sables, a silky tamarine, wombats, turtles,
shells, queer fishes, and birds of many kinds and voices.â€
“ They would fill a story book,†said Percy. ‘I can form no idea of
many of them. I have noticed that consuls like to tell stories of their
pets.â€
“Especially of their parrots,†said Mr. Van der Palm. “Almost
every consul has had some wonderful parrot.â€
“That said strange things?†said Percy.
“Ves, like the parrots of the old sailors from the Spanish main.â€
“ Did you have your parrot story when,you were a consul?â€
“Yes, although it was not about one of my own parrots, but one that
lived in an old New-England town in the days of the whalers. I once
related it to a story-writer, and he published it in verse, with some good
pictures. You shall see it.â€
THE PARROT FROM THE SPANISH MAIN; OR, THE OLD
RED SETTLE BY THE FIRE.
Own Dorchester Bay the hills were blue,
And the Milton meadows were green and red;
There the bobolinks toppled at morn in the dew,
And high in the air the ospreys flew,
And the killdees screamed, and the lone sea-mew,
In the dusky eves o’er-head.
There were violets blue in the frosts of spring,
And gentians blue in the frosts of fall.
There the church bells rung with a mellow tone;
And the Quaker meeting-house, shy and lone,
Hid in the by-ways walled with stone,
Where rang no bell at all.
There the farmer's corn fields turned to gold,
15 8 Z4IGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
Wi (ps tae
i es
And the blue-jays laughed his cribs to see;
And his heart and hearth were never cold,
When the north winds came, and they stories told
On the old red settle by the fire,
In the old Thanksgiving Days.
That old red settle each night was brought
Before the winter hearth. Ah me!
°T was there my youthful mind was taught
My A B ABS and the Rule of Three.
What wondrous things that settle knew!
Were ever elsewhere such stories told
Since the caliphs’ halls of airy gold?
Of the Northmen’s bark of the silver wing
That, dragon-headed, came into the bay
A thousand years ago, one day,
From the moonless fiords of Norroway,
And brought the bride of a king;
Of Francis Drake and his golden ship,
Of Captain Kidd and his bloody whip,
And Mrs. Dunstan’s awful fate,
And Peter Rugg, and Nix’s mate;
Of the Judge’s Cave; of the witches that flew
Through the hole in the sky where the rain came through.
!
CONSULAR PETS AND PARROTS. 159
I would not be so scared again
For all the apples they roasted there,
Or all the logs that used to flare
On the drying pumpkins and peppers red,
And the Almanac of Fate that said
*T would surely snow in March and dlow.
How could “ Poor Richard†such wise things know!
The waves were blue on Dorchester Bay ;
The birds, the flowers, the shells, were blue ;
Blue lay the grapes upon the walls;
Blue smoked the chimneys on the Charles;
And when the still nights longer grew,
The fire upon the hearth burnéd blue.
Then on the settle we all would sit,
With Grandma in her gown of gray,
And gaze on Grandpa’s silhouette,
The mourning piece, and sampler gay, —
Rare works of art, they said, were they.
And there, while Grandma’s eyes grew wet,
We’d plan for the great Thanksgiving Day.
“T wish they °d a/7 come back,†said she,
“ And pass one hour again with me,
And be just as they used to be.
Ruth sleeps beneath the sod; and Ben —â€
We never spoke ‘of Ben, for he
Was the one black sheep of the family.
He owed a note that he could not pay,
And they sued him, and he ran away
And went to sea; and wicked arts
He learned, no doubt, in foreign parts.
So Grandpa willed his lands to the others;
And they met each year, — four prosperous brothers, —
And the family legends proudly told
On the old red settle by the fire
In the old Thanksgiving Days.
Ben’s parrot was there, — an awful bird!
“ Hey, Betty Martin!†in meeting he sung,
To the shame and scandal of all who heard;
And the children laughed, because they were young;
And Grandma, speaking not a word,
Poor Polly hid in the gay valance
That Ben had brought from the port of Nantes.
She knew that the bird was true to Ben,
And that only one other heart was true ;
160 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN,
And her love for the bird with her sad years grew,
And they both wished the boy would come home again,
A wonder came, — town-meeting day,
In the great March storm, and the Federals won!
Men went to the foltkmote in the sleigh,
And Grandpa went in his dashaway ;
And lientenant-governor they made of John.
(He was Grandpa Jarvis’s likeliest son.)
Oh, then the old man powdered his wig
And shod his cane, — there were grand times then, —
And he rode to town in his Sunday gig
On a Monday morning, and said with delight,
To all that he met, to the left and right,
That John had atoned for the shame of Ben.
A grand Thanksgiving they planned that year,
And John, in the turnpike coach, came down
From the General Court in Boston town.
- What times were those! You should have seen
The roasted pig and the basted geese,
The succotash and pumpkin bread,
The great clam chowder with pepper red,
CONSULAR PETS AND PARROTS. 161
The apple-dumplings, bounteous ones,
With potato crusts! the pies, the buns,
The cranberry-tarts and gingerbread,
The quartered quince, the pickles green !
They herring-boned the chamber floors,
And open set the parlor doors.
I never knew a year like that !
The harvest air was full of jays,
The red woodpecker went rat-a-tat,
And the Quaker smiled ‘neath his Sunday hat,
And they set the settle by the fire.
Oh, those good Thanksgiving Days !
What know the birds? I cannot tell.
They once were augurs thought to be, —
The prophets of the air and sea.
Now, when that fall the neep-tides fell,
And scallops came, and airs were mild,
Polly would scream the name of Ben,
Then listen strangely like a child.
Was Ben’s ship coming home again ?
Thanksgiving came, —a perfect day
On Milton Hillis and Dorchester Bay.
The chimneys smoked that morning brown,
The tables smoked that afternoon,
And after church the sun went down,
And rose above the sea the moon.
The mighty meal was brought, and there
Grandpa arose with silver hair,
And spread his hands to offer prayer.
Four brothers knelt there in a row,
Grandchildren eight, and uncles three,
The back-log set the room aglow,
And all was still; the clock ticked slow.
** God of all mercies, thee we praise!â€
So, in a deep voice, Grandpa spoke.
The sea upon the shingle broke,
And made us think of other days.
“ Thou makest thy sun to rise on all ;
On all thou makest the rain to fall.
Our mercies fail; thine faileth not;
None of thy children are forgot.â€
J heard a step: the gate latch fell,
The bucket rattled at the well ;
Then some one passed the latticed pane,
Then to the lattice came again,
Il
162 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
And listened to the rolling prayer.
I saw the parrot shake and stare.
It seemed a spirit-haunted place.
The face close to the window drew.
The bird’s neck long and longer grew,
And burned her eyes; and then — oh, then —
Who could of such a wonder dreamed?
She three times flapped her wings, and screamed,
“Hey, Betty Martin, tiptoe fine !
Ho, Dandy Jim, o’ Caroline!
Ho! ho! high-oh! ‘Tis Ben! ’tis Ben!
Grandma, Grandma, ‘tis Ben! ‘tis Ben!â€
Who ever saw a scene like that?
Right in the prayer a scene like that?
Grandpa forgot, and shouted, “ Scat !â€
And Deacon Brown, who'd come from town,
Rolled up his eyes in pious wonder ;
And John said, ‘ Hippographs and thunder !â€
And the children hid the table under.
But Grandma softly rose, and took
The cage into the porch. And there —
There came another mystery.
A dark man met her from the sea.
“Do you know Ben?†he whispered low.
“He was my boy; and who are you?â€
“ Where’er the winds for me may blow,
My heart is to my mother true,
And I will always pray for you.
Take that, and pay Ben’s debts,†said he.
“ My boat is waiting on the shore.
God bless you all for evermore !
I’ve longed that sight once more to see.
I’ll go away, and thankful be
You’ve such a happy family.
Ask father to give thanks for me.â€
Then he was gone, and Grandma old
Came in, and brought a purse of gold.
Lord! how we stared! The cat was scared,
And ran and hid. And Grandpa said,
“Where is that bird?†They searched the shed,
They searched the wood-house, searched the green,
The well, the barn, the orchard ways,
But Polly nevermore was seen.
Then Grandma rose — her face was calm;
Her look uplifted was a psalm — _
CONSULAR PETS AND PARROTS. 16 3
And said, with quivering lip and chin,
And one hand lifted, white and thin:
“So near the grave we all are living,
So near God's doors, let ’s be forgiving.
The best of all our days of praise,
God knows, are our forgiving days.â€
’T was strange, but Grandpa said, “ Amen!â€
And Silas the bass-viol strung,
And gave a twang, and then we sung
As if the gabled roof to raise :
“ Sweet is the work, my God, my King,
To praise thy name, give thanks, and sing.
Oh, may my heart in tune be found,
Like David’s harp of solemn sound!â€
And these last lines a dozen times
We turned around and turned around.
Sweet are all homes where love has been,
And only good lips utter praise ;
But such a psalm I never knew
164 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
In all the homes of Milton blue,
When ’mid the frosts the gentians grew,
And set the settle by the fire,
In the old Thanksgiving Days.
On Dorchester Bay the hills are biue,
But the purple swallows come no more
To haunt the house that once I knew ;
The mossy grave-stones on the shore,
That sink into the violets’ floor,
Are all that’s left of that old home
Whose virtues found so much to praise.
There Grandma sleeps beneath the yews;
Ben sleeps afar in Barbadoes.
Yet Milton’s hills are fair to see ;,
And Grandma’s plea for charity
Brings back life’s sweetest thoughts to me,
That come as came the gentians blue
To frosty meadows by the bays
When stood the settle by the fire.
So near God's open doors we ’re living,
So near the heartache for forgiving,
We offer up our best thanksgiving,
And gain from Heaven our best desire,
On our Forgiving Days.
CHAPTER Ix.
VENICE.
BAN RAR ENICE, the Bride of the Sea! The traveller may
AWRY hardly know when he arrives at Venice from the
Adriatic. The city seems to float upon the sea. In
the old days of the doges, she used to be wedded
to it by yearly ceremonies. The city of the la-
goons seems at a little distance to be rising from
“ From out the wave her structures rise
As from the stroke of the enchanted wand.â€
The Grand Canal is her principal water-street, over which hangs
the great bridge of the Rialto. Ona “hundred isles,†if poetry were
history, stands Venice, or rather, “ sits in state.†The streets are
narrow alleys, paved with flag-stones and overhung with glowing
balconies. Her bridges are airy structures of life and hight.
Her carriages are “ water ponies,†or gondolas; and in other days
these were painted black by law, and many of them to-day still follow
the color of the days of romance and story. They are usually pro-
pelled by a single gondolier. Four persons, as a rule, may ride in
each. These sit in a little apartment of windows, blinds, and divans.
The fare is about a shilling an hour for a passenger.
The state entrance to Venice from the sea is the piazza of the
church of St. Mark, with its piazette. Here rise the granite
columns, each of a single block, one of which is crowned with the
166 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
winged lion of Saint Mark in bronze. Between these two columns
criminals were executed in the dark days of the doges.
The square of St. Mark is almost the only open ground in
Venice. It is usually thronged with people. Napoleon is said to have
called it the most beautiful spot on earth.
THE GREAT BRIDGE OF RIALTO.
The famous church of St. Mark, which is the reputed tomb of
the bones of Saint Mark, the writer of the second Gospel, gathered
to itself every known form of beauty in the architecture of all lands.
It is Byzantine, Roman, Greek, and Gothic, —a pantheon of art. It
rose more than a thousand years ago, under the architects of
Constantine. Over its doors stand the famous bronze horses of St.
VENICE. 167
Mark, once carried to Constantinople by Theodosius, once the spoil of
France, but always a marvel of human art.
The church is a forest of pillars, and marbles of all the East, of
jasper, agate, and gems. Over all rises the campanile, a square tower
three hundred feet high. Here Galileo made sure of his wonderful
discoveries.
The old ducal palace is the
wonder tale of the East. Here
was the Hall of the Council of
Ten. Here are the portraits of
the doges of forgotten glory.
The palaces of Venice are
built on piles. They are usually
constructed of marble, and are
four stories high.
Venice has been called the
paradise of the sea. It has for
centuries been regarded as a
most delightful place of resi-
dence. The salt water and the
movement of the tides keep it
healthy.
The port, or consular part of
Venice, consists of islands of the
shallows. Merchant vessels move
in sight of the old palace, and
sometimes come into the Grand PIGEONS OF ST. MARK’S.
Canal. The harbor is protected
by a mole, constructed of a peculiar stone resembling marble. The
harbor of Venice is one of the most picturesque in the world.
St. Mark’s Place, Venice, has been a story-telling pleasure
ground for a thousand years. Here people of all eastern nations
168 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
congregate, and relate the marvels of their own lands, in the cool
breezes of the sea. English and French people love to loiter here,
and the Turk and Mahometan as well. It is a park common to all
the ports of the Adriatic.
WY,
ARADO]
ITT ETT
Toot
Py os 3 ee EE GAN
AGN YEE Foal
Vy PAD
VENETIAN GLASS.
In Venice, Percy, for the first time, saw money paid for the relief
of some American seamen who had been brought to the port on. an
Italian vessel. ;
“ How are consuls provided with money to meet such wants?†he
asked his father one evening on St. Mark’s Place.
« By special appropriations by Congress. For example, among the
latest provisions to meet the expenses of consulates, I may quote : —-
TQ
QR
AN
ENICE,
Vi:
?
NT MARKS
T OF SAI
FRON
FLAGSTAFF IN
OOT OF
F
VENICE. 171
Relief and Protection of American Seamen.
Relief and protection of American seamen in foreign countries, or so much
thereof as may be necessary, fifty thousand dollars.
Foreign Hospitals at Panama.
Annual contributions toward the support of foreign hospitals at Panama,
to be paid by the Secretary of State upon the assurance that suffering sea-
men and citizens of the United States will be admitted to the privileges of said
hospitals, five hundred dollars.
| Publication of Consular and Commercial Reports.
Preparation, printing, publication, and distribution, by the Department of
State, of the consular and other commercial reports, including circular letters
to chambers of commerce, twenty thousand dollars.
Contingent Expenses of United States Consulates.
Expenses of providing all such stationery, blanks, record and other books,
seals, presses, flags, signs, rent, postage, furniture, statistics, newspapers, freight
(foreign and domestic), telegrams, advertising, messenger service, travelling
expenses of consular clerks, Chinese writers, and such other miscellaneous
expenses as the President may think necessary for the several consulates and
commercial agencies in the transaction of their business, one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars.
Percy saw the manner of providing funds, which he might have
learned from the consular book. He now, as a consular pupil, began
to study the forms of consular book-keeping.
TALES OF ORIENTALS AT VENICE.
THE MAN WHO NEVER LAUGHED.
THERE was a man, of those possessed of houses and riches, who had wealth
and servants and slaves and other possessions ; and he departed from the world
to receive the mercy of God (whose name be exalted!), leaving a young son.
And when the son grew up, he took to eating and drinking, and the hearing of
instruments of music and songs, and was liberal and gave gifts, and expended
172 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
the riches that his father had left to him until all the wealth had gone. He then
took himself to the sale of the male black slaves, and the female slaves, and
other possessions, and expended all that he had of his father’s wealth and other
things, and became so poor that he worked with the laborers. In this state he
remained for a period of years. While he was sitting one day beneath a wall,
waiting to see who would hire him, lo! a man of comely countenance and
apparel drew near to him and saluted him.
So the youth said to him, ‘‘O uncle, hast thou known me before now?â€
The man answered him, “TI have not known thee, O my son, at all; but I
see the traces of affluence upon thee, though thou art in this condition.â€
The young man replied, “O uncle, what fate and destiny have ordained have
come to pass. But hast thou, O uncle, O comely-faced, any business in which
to employ me?â€
The man said to him, “O my son, I desire to employ thee in an easy
business.â€
The youth asked, “ And what is it, O uncle?â€
And the man answered him, “I have with me ten sheykhs in one abode, and
we have no one to perform our wants. Thou shalt receive from us, of food and
clothing, what will suffice thee, and shalt serve us, and thou shalt receive of us
thy portion of benefits and money. Perhaps, also, God will restore to thee thine
affluence by our means.â€
The youth therefore replied, “I hear and obey.â€
The sheykh then said to him, “I have a condition to impose upon thee.â€
“ And what is thy condition, O uncle?†asked the youth.
He answered him, “O my son, it is that thou keep our secret with respect
to the things that thou shalt see us do; and when thou seest us weep, that thou
ask us not respecting the cause of our weeping.â€
And the young man replied, “ Well, O uncle.â€
_So the sheykh said to him, “O my son, come with us, relying on the bless-
ing of God (whose name be exalted!).â€
And the young man followed the sheykh until the latter conducted him to
the bath; after which he sent a man, who brought him a comely garment of
linen, and he clad him with it, and went with him to his abode and his associ-
ates. And when the young man entered, he found it to be a high mansion,
with lofty angles, ample, with chambers facing one another, and saloons;- and
in each saloon was a fountain of water, and birds were warbling over it, and
there were windows overlooking, on every side, a beautiful garden within the
mansion. The sheykh conducted him into one of the chambers, and he found
it decorated with colored marbles, and its ceiling ornamented With blue and
VENICE. 173
brilliant gold, and it was spread with carpets of silk; and he found in it ten
sheykhs sitting facing one another, wearing the garments of mourning, weeping
and wailing. So the young man wondered at their case, and was about to ques-
MASQUERADING IN VENICE.
tion the sheykh who had brought him, but he remembered the condition, and
therefore withheld his tongue. Then the sheykh committed to the young man
‘a chest containing thirty thousand pieces of gold, saying to him, ‘O my son,
174 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
expend upon us out of this chest, and upon thyself, according to what is just,
and be thou faithful, and take care of that wherewith I have intrusted thee.’’
And the young man replied, “I hear and obey.â€
He continued to expend upon them for a period of days and nights, after
which one of them died; whereupon his companions took him, and washed
him and shrouded him, and buried him in a garden behind the mansion. And
death ceased not to take them one after another, until there remained only the
sheykh who had hired the young man. So he remained with the young man in
that mansion, and there was not with them a third, and they remained thus for
a period of years.
Then the sheykh fell sick; and when the young man despaired of his life,
he addressed him with courtesy, and was grieved for him, and said to him, “O
uncle, I have served you, and not failed in your service one hour for a period of
twelve years, but have acted faithfully to you, and served you according to my
power and ability.â€
The sheykh replied, “Yes, O my son, thou hast served us until these
sheykhs have been taken unto God, (to whom be ascribed might and glory!)
and we must inevitably die.â€
And the young man said, ‘“‘O my master, thou art in a state of peril, and I
desire of thee that thou inform me what hath been the cause of your weeping
and the continuance of your wailing and your mourning and your sorrow.â€
He replied, ““O my son, thou hast no concern with that, and require me not
to do what I am unable; for I have begged God (whose name be exalted!) not
to afflict any one with my affliction. Now, if thou desire to be safe from that
into which we have fallen, open not that door,†and he pointed to it with his
hand, and cautioned him against it; ‘and if thou desire that what hath befallen
us should befall thee, open it, and thou wilt know the cause of that which thou
hast beheld in our conduct; but thou wilt repent, when repentance will not
avail thee.â€
Then the illness increased upon the sheykh, and he died; and the young
man washed him with his own hands, and shrouded him, and buried him by
his companions.
He remained in that place, possessing it and all the treasure; but notwith-
standing this, he was uneasy, reflecting upon the conduct of the sheykhs. And
while he was meditating one day upon the words of the sheykh and his charge
to him not to open the door, it occurred to his mind that he might look at it.
So he went in that direction, and searched until he saw an elegant door, over
which the spider had woven its web, and upon it were four locks of steel.
When he beheld it, he remembered how the sheykh had cautioned him, and
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CA D'ORO, VENICE,
VENICE. 194
he departed from it. His soul desired him to open the door, and he restrained
it during a period of seven days; but on the eighth day his soul overcame him,
and he said, ‘I must open that door, and see what will happen to me in conse-
quence; for nothing will repel what God (whose name be exalted!) decreeth
and predestineth, and no event will happen but by His will.â€
Accordingly he arose and opened the door, after he had broken the locks.
And when he had opened the door he saw a narrow passage, along which he
walked for the space of three hours; and lo! he came forth upon the bank of
a great river. At this the young man wondered. And he walked along the
bank, looking to the right and left; and behold! a great eagle descended from
the sky, and taking up the young man with its talons, it flew with him, between
heaven and earth, until it conveyed him to an island in the midst of the sea.
There it threw him down, and departed from him.
So the young man was perplexed at his case, not knowing whither to go;
but while he was sitting one day, lo! the sail of a vessel appeared to him upon
the sea, like the star in the sky ; wherefore the heart of the young man became
intent upon the vessel, in the hope that his escape might be effected in it.
He continued looking at it until it came near unto him; and when it arrived,
he beheld a bark of ivory and ebony, the oars of which were of sandal-wood
and aloes-wood, and the whole of it was encased with plates of brilliant gold.
There were also in it ten damsels, virgins, like moons.
When the damsels saw him, they landed to him from the bark, and kissed
his hands, saying to him, ‘Thou art the king, the bridegroom.†Then there
advanced to him a damsel who was like the shining sun in the clear sky, having
in her hand a kerchief of silk, in which were a royal robe, and a crown of gold
set with varieties of jacinths. Having advanced to him, she clad him and
crowned him; after which the damsels carried him in their arms to the bark,
and he found in it varieties of carpets of silk of divers colors) They then
spread the sails, and proceeded over the depths of the sea.
“ Now when I proceeded with them,†says the young man, ‘I felt sure that
this was a dream, and knew not whither they were going with me. And when
they came in sight of land, I beheld it filled with troops, the number of which
none knew but God, (whose perfection be extolled, and whose name be exalted !)
clad in coats of mail. They brought forward to me five marked horses, with
saddles of gold, set with. varieties of pearls and precious stones; and I tooka
horse from among these and mounted it. The four others proceeded with me;
and when I mounted, the ensigns and banners were set up over my head, the
drums and the cymbals were beaten, and the troops disposed themselves in two
divisions, right and left.
12
178 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
“T wavered in opinion as to whether I were asleep or awake, and ceased not
to advance, not believing in the reality of my stately procession, but imagining
that it was the result of confused dreams, until we came in sight of a verdant
meadow, in which were palaces and gardens and trees and rivers and flowers,
and birds proclaiming the perfection of God, the One, the Omnipotent.
“ And now there came forth an army from among those palaces and gardens,
like the torrent when it poureth down, until it filled the meadow. When the
troops drew near to me, they hailed, and lo! aking advanced from among them,
riding alone, preceded by some of his chief officers walking.â€
The king, on approaching the young man, alighted from his courser ; and the
young man, seeing him do so, alighted also; and they saluted each other with
the most courteous salutation. Then they mounted their horses again, and the
king said to the young man, “ Accompany us ; for thou art my guest.†So the
young man proceeded with him, and they conversed together, while the stately
trains in orderly disposition went on before them to the palace of the king, when
they alighted, and all of them entered, together with the king and the young
man, the young man’s hand being in the hand of the king, who thereupon seated
him on the throne of gold, and seated himself beside him. When the king
removed the litham from his face, lo! this supposed king was a damsel, like the
shining sun in the clear sky, a lady of beauty and loveliness, and elegance and
perfection, and conceit, and amorous dissimulation. The young man beheld
vast affluence and great prosperity, and wondered at the beauty and loveliness
of the damsel.
Then the damsel said to him, ‘ Know, O king, that I am the queen of this
land, and all these troops that thou hast seen, including every one, whether of
cavalry or infantry, are women. There are not among them any men. The
men among us, in this land, till and sow and reap, employing themselves in the
cultivation of the land, and the building and the repairing of the towns, and in
attending to the affairs of the people, by the pursuit of every kind of art and
trade; but as to the women, they are the governors and magistrates and
soldiers.â€
And the young man wondered at this extremely. And while they were
thus conversing, the vizier entered; and lo! she was a gray-haired old woman,
having a numerous retinue, of venerable and dignified appearance; and the
queen said to her, “ Bring to us the kadee and the witnesses.†So the old woman
went for that purpose. ;
And the queen turned towards the young man, conversing with him and
cheering him, and dispelling his fear by kind words ; and, addressing him cour-
teously, she said to him, “ Art thou content for me to be thy wife?â€
MN
LIBRARY OF ST. MARK’S, VENICE.
VENICE. 181
And thereupon he arose and kissed the ground before her; but she forbade
him, and he replied, “O my mistress, 1am less than the servants who serve
thee.â€
She then said to him, “ Seest thou not these servants and soldiers, and
wealth and treasures and hoards?â€
He answered her, “ Yes.â€
And she said to him, “ All these are at thy disposal; thou shalt make use
of them, and give and bestow as seemeth fit to thee.’ Then she pointed toa
closed door, and said to him, “ All these things thou shalt dispose of: but this
door thou shalt not open; for if thou open it, thou wilt repent, when repentance
will not avail thee.â€
Her words were not ended when the vizier, with the kadee and the wit-
nesses, entered; and all of them were old women, with their hair spreading over
their shoulders, and of venerable and dignified appearance. When they came
before the queen, she ordered them to perform the ceremony of the marriage-
contract. So they married her to the young man. And she prepared the
banquets and collected the troops; and when they had eaten and drunk, the
young man took her as his wife. And he resided with her seven years, passing
the most delightful, comfortable, and agreeable life.
But he meditated one day upon opening the door, and said, “ Were it not
that there are within it great treasures, better than what I have seen, she had
not prohibited me from opening it.â€
He then arose and opened the door, and lo! within it was the bird that had
carried him from the shore of the great river, and deposited him upon the
island,
When the bird beheld him, it said to him, “No welcome to a face that will
never be happy!â€
So when he saw it and heard its words, he fled from it; but it followed him
and carried him off, and flew with him between heaven and earth for the space
of an hour, and at length deposited him in the place from which it had carried
him away, after which it disappeared.
He thereupon sat in the place, and, returning to his reason, he reflected
upon what he had seen of affluence and glory and honor, and the riding of
the troops before him, and commanding and forbidding; and he wept and
wailed.
He remained. upon the shore of the great river, where that bird had put
him, for the space of two months, wishing that he might return to his wife ; but
while he was one night awake, mourning and meditating, some one spoke (and
he heard his voice, but saw not his person), calling out, “‘ How great were the
182 ZIGZAG FOURNEYVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
delights! Far, far from thee is the return of what is passed! And how many
therefore will be the sighs!â€
So when the young man heard it, he despaired of meeting again that queen,
and of the return to him of the affluence in which he had been living. He then
entered the mansions where the sheykhs resided, and knew that they had
experienced the like of that which had happened unto him, and that this was
the cause of their weeping and mourning ; wherefore he excused them.
Grief and anxiety came upon the young man, and he entered his chamber,
and ceased not to weep and moan, relinquishing food and drink and pleasant
scents and laughter, until he died; and he was buried by the side of the
sheylchs.
THE DUCK THAT LAID GOLDEN EGGS.
THERE lived once an old man and his wife. The man was called Abrosim,
and his wife Fetinia. They were very poor and miserable, and had a son
named Little Ivan, who was-fifteen years old. One day old Abrosim brought
a crust of bread home for his wife and son. He had scarcely begun to eat,
however, when Krutschina (Sorrow) sprang up from behind the stove, seized
the crust out of his hand, and ran away behind the stove again. The old man
made a bow to Krutschina, and begged her to give him the crust back again,
as he ana ius wife had nuthine else to eat.
“Twill not give you th: crust again,’ said Krutschina, “but instead of it
I will give you a duck whi«:: iays a gold egg every day.â€
“Very well,†said Abzosim, ‘I shall be supperless to-night. Do not deceive
me, but tell me where I shall find the duck.â€
“ Early to-morrow morning,†said Krutschina, “when you are up, go into
town; there you will see a duck in a pond, catch it, and carry it home.â€
When Abrosim heard this, he lay downiand went to sleep.
The next morning he rose early, and went to the town, and was very much
pleased to see the duck swimming about on a pond. He called it to him,
carried it to his home, and gave it to his wife Fetinia. They were both
delighted, and put the duck in a big basin, placing a sieve over it. In an
‘hour’s time they went to look at it, and discovered that the duck had laid a
golden egg. Then they took the duck out, and let it walk a little on the
floor, and the old man, taking the egg, set off to town. There he sold the egg
for a hundred roubles, took the money, and, going to the market, bought
different kinds of vegetables and set off home.
The next day the duck laid another egg like the first, which Abrosim sold
N GARDEN.
A VENETIA
VENICE. 185
in the same manner. So the duck went on laying a golden egg every day, and
the old man became in a short time very rich. He bought a large house, a
great many shops, all kinds of wares, and set up in business.
His wife Fetinia made a favorite of a young clerk in her husband's employ,
and used to supply him with money. One day when Abrosim was away from
home buying some goods, the clerk called to have a talk with Fetinia, and it
chanced that he then saw the duck that laid the golden eggs. He was pleased
with the bird, and, examining it, found written under its wing in gold letters,
“ Whoever eats this duck will be a czar.â€
He did not say anything to Fetinia about what he had seen, but asked her
to roast the duck for him. Fetinia said she could not kill the duck, for all their
fortune depended on it; but the clerk begged her so earnestly that she at last
consented, and killed it, and put it in the oven. The clerk then went off, saying
he would return soon, and Fetinia also went out in the town. While they were
gone, in came little Ivan. He felt very hungry, and looking about him for
something to eat, he chanced to see the roast duck in the oven; so he took it
out, and ate all of it but the bones. Then he went off again to the shop. ,
In a little while the clerk came back, and, having called Fetinia, asked her
to bring out the duck. The woman went to the oven; but when she saw that
the duck was not there, she was terribly put out, and told the clerk that the
duck had disappeared. At that the clerk flew into a great rage, and said, —
“You have eaten the duck yourself, of course,†and he got up and walked
out of the house.
In the evening Abrosim and his son, little Ivan, came home. When
Abrosim did not see the duck, he asked his wife where it was; and she told
him that she did not know. Then little Ivan said to his father, —-
“My dear father, when I came home, in the middle of the day, for dinner,
my mother was not in; so I looked in the oven, and there found a roast duck.
I took it out, and ate it all but the bones; but I do not know whether it was our
duck or a strange one.â€
Then old Abrosim was in such a rage that he thrashed his wife till she was
half dead, and he turned little Ivan out of doors.
Little Ivan began his journey. Where should he go? He determined to
follow his nose. For ten days and nights he went on. Then he came to a
town, and as he stepped to the gate, he saw a great many people assembled.
Now these folk had been taking counsel, their czar being dead, as to who
should succeed him. In the end they agreed that the first person who should
come in at the city gate, should be made czar. Just then in came little Ivan
through the gate ; so all the people cried out together, —
186 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
“ Here is our czar!â€
The’ chief folk took little Ivan by the arms, conducted him to the royal
apartments, put on him the czars robes, seated him on the throne, made obei-
sance to him as to their czar, and waited for his commands. Then little Ivan
thought he must surely be asleep and dreaming all this, but at last he knew
that he must be really czar. He was heartily pleased, began to rule over the
people, and to appoint his officers. A short time after he called one of them,
named Luga, to him, and said, —
“My true friend and good knight Luga, I want you to do me a service.
Go to my own country, go to the czar, salute him for me, and ask him to
deliver to you the shopkeeper Abrosim and his wife, so that you may bring
them to me. If he will not deliver them up to you, tell him that I will lay
waste his country with fire, and will make himself my prisoner.â€
When the servant Luga was come into little Ivan’s country, he went to the
czar and asked him to let Abrosim and Fetinia go away with him. The czar
was unwilling to let Abrosim go, for he wanted to keep the rich merchant in
his own country. He knew, however, that Ivan’s kingdom was very large and
populous, and being therefore afraid, he let Abrosim and Fetinia depart.
Luga received them from the czar, and conducted them to his own. native
country.
When he brought them to little Ivan, the czar said to his father, —
“ Ves, Father, you turned me away from your house, and I therefore bring
you to mine. Come, live with me, you and my mother, till the end of your
days.â€
Abrosim and Fetinia rejoiced exceedingly to find that their son had become
czar, and they lived with him many years, until they died.
Little Ivan ruled for thirty years in good health, and was very happy, and
all his people loved him sincerely to the last hour of his life.
THE STOLEN HEART.
ONCE upon a time there stood on an island in the Vistula a great castle,
surrounded by a strong rampart. At each corner was a tower, and from these
there waved in the wind many a flag, while the soldiers stood on guard upon
them. A bridge connected the island with the banks of the river.
In. this castle lived a knight, a brave and famous warrior. When the trum-
pets sounded from the battlements of the castle, their notes announced that he
had returned from victory loaded with booty.
SCIOLLO AND COLLEONI, VENICE.
VENICE. 189
In the deep dungeons of the castle many a prisoner was confined, and they
were led out daily to work. They had to keep the ramparts in repair, and
see to the garden. Now among these prisoners was an old woman, who was a
sorceress. She swore that she would be revenged upon the knight for his ill-
treatment of her, and patiently awaited an opportunity to effect her purpose.
One day the knight came back wearied out with his exertions on one of his
warlike excursions. He lay down upon the grass, closed his eyes, and was soon
fast asleep.
The witch seized the opportunity. Coming gently to him, she scattered
poppy seed on his eyes so that he should sleep the sounder. Then, with an
aspen branch, she struck him on the breast over his heart.
The knight's breast at once opened, so that one could look in and see the
heart as it lay there and beat. The sorceress laughed, stretched out her bony
arm, and with her long fingers she stole away the heart so quietly that the knight
never woke.
Then the woman took a hare’s heart which she had ready, put it in the
sleeping man’s breast, and closed up the opening. Going away softly, she hid
herself in a thicket, to see the effect of her wicked work.
Before the knight was even awake he began to feel the change that the hare’s
heart was making in him. He, who had till now never known fear, quaked and
tossed himself uneasily from side to side. When he awoke he felt as if he
should be crushed by his armor. The cry of his hounds, as it fell on his ear,
filled him with terror.
Once he had loved to hear their deep baying as he followed them in pursuit
of the prey in the wild forest, but now he was filled with fear, and fled like a
timid hare. As he ran to his room the clang of his armor, the ringing of his
silver spurs, the clatter of his spear, filled him with such terror that he threw all
aside, and sank exhausted on his bed.
Even in his sleep fear pursued him. Once he dreamed only of battles
and of the prizes of victory, now he trembled as he dreamed. The barking of
his dogs, the voices of his soldiers as they paced the ramparts while they
watched, made him quake as he lay on his bed; and he buried his head, like a
frightened child, in his pillow.
At length there came a body of the knight’s enemies to besiege him in his
castle. The knight’s soldiers looked upon their leader, who had so often
delighted in the excitement of the-camp and in the victory. In vain they
waited for him to lead them forth. The once brave knight, when he heard the .
clash of arms, the cries of the men, and the clang of the horses’ hoofs, fled to
190 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
the topmost chamber of his castle, and from there looked down upon the
force which had come against him.
When he recollected his expeditions in the time past, his combats, his vic-
tories, he wept bitterly, and cried out aloud, —
“OQ Heaven! give me now courage, give me the old strength of heart and
vigor. My men have already gone to the field, and I, who used to lead them,
now, like a girl, look through the highest loophole upon my enemies, Give
me my old boldness, that I may take my arms again; make me what I was
once, and bless me with victory.â€
These thoughts, as it were, awakened him from a dream. He went again to
his chamber, put on his armor, leaped upon his horse, and rode outside the
castle gate. The soldiers saw him come with joy, and sounded the trumpets.
The knight went on, but in his secret soul he was ‘afraid; and when his men
gallantly threw themselves upon the enemy, deadly fear came over him, and he
turned and fled. +
Even when he was once more in his stronghold, when the mighty walls held
him safe within them, fear did not leave him. He sprang from his horse, fled
to an innermost chamber, and there quite unmanned awaited inglorious death.
His men had triumphed over the foe, and the salutations of the guards -
announced their victorious return. All wondered at the flight of their leader
at such atime. They looked for him, and discovered him half dead in a deep
cellar. :
The unfortunate knight did not live long. During the winter he tried to
warm his quaking limbs by the fireside of his castle. When spring came he
would open his window that he might breathe the fresh air; and one day it
chanced a swallow, that had built its nest in a hole of the roof, struck him on
the head with its wing. The blow was fatal. As if he had been struck by
lightning, the knight fell down upon the ground, and in a short while died.
All his men mourned for their good master. They knew not what had
changed him, but about a year later, when some sorceresses were being put to
the ordeal for having kept off the rain, one of them confessed that she had
taken the knight’s heart, and put in his breast a hare’s.
CHAPTER X.
‘STORIES AND STUDIES WHILE DETAINED IN QUARANTINE.
SeQaUR travellers sailed for Alexandria, Egypt, with the
“2] purpose of resting at Cairo, and making an excur-
7 sion up the Nile. The steamer made a swift and.
Se g) f) delightful voyage across the Mediterranean, stopped.
2 67_ off the quarantine, and was delayed. The health.
officers came on board.
A day passed. The health officers came on board again. Some
mysterious information was passing among the officers of the steamer.
The captain looked grave; the stewards troubled and alarmed.
The cause of the detention came out on the third day. There had
been a case of supposed cholera on board.
The patient was a passenger in the intermediate part of the
steamer. He had recovered, and no other case had followed.
With the shores of Egypt in view, and impatient to land, our trav-
ellers were told that they would be detained in quarantine for some
time, — certainly a week, possibly a fortnight.
Percy immediately began to study the regulations of quarantine,
and the consular duties in regard to them. His father at first explained
them, and then he carefully read the book of “Consular Regulations.â€
From this he learned that an Act of Congress of 1878 provided —
That whenever any infectious or contagious disease shall appear in. any
foreign port or country, and whenever any vessel shall leave any passengers
coming from any infected foreign port, or having on board goods or passengers
coming from any place or district infected with cholera or yellow fever, shall
192 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
leave any foreign port, bound for any port in the United States, the consular
officer, or other representative of the United States at or nearest such foreign
port, shall immediately give information thereof to the supervising surgeon-
general of the marine-hospital service, and shall report to him the name, the
date of departure, and the port of destination in the United States; and the
consular officers of the United States shall make weekly reports to him of the
sanitary condition of the ports at which they are respectively stationed.
The book of “ Regulations †explained that —
The object of the foregoing section of the law is to secure timely advice of
the outbreaks of cholera and yellow fever, and of the probable transportation of
the poisons of these preventable diseases in vessels bound for the United States ;
and consular officers for the United States are directed to put themselves into
communication with the health authorities of their respective stations, and from
the information obtained from such authorities, or from other reliable sources
where no regularly constituted health authorities exist, to prepare and transmit
by the mails to the Department of State, for the information of the surgeon-
general of the marine-hospital service, on forms prescribed by the department,
weekly reports of the appearance, progress, of termination of cholera, yellow
fever, small-pox plague, or typhus occurring in their respective localities, and
are further instructed to include in said reports information in relation to the
prevalence of other preventable diseases, as diphtheria, enteric and scarlet
fevers, etc., the prevailing disease or diseases in port, if any, and, when practi-
cable, the annual death rate per one thousand of the population as shown by
the official record of deaths for the week reported. Special interest should be
taken in the healthfulness of vessels, reporting those arriving from or departing
to the United States in a bad sanitary condition; also reporting the facts of any
serious sickness or unhealthiness of seamen in port, or of crews arriving from or
departing to the United States. .
In the event of the outbreak of Asiatic cholera, yellow fever or Asiatic plague,
or other contagious disease in epidemic form, the department must immediately
be advised by cable or telegraph of such outbreak, using such abbreviation as
the department may from time to time direct.
The consul will give to every master of a vessel bound to a port in the
United States, a bill of health on the form prescribed by the department, giving
full information of the number of persons on board such vessel at the time of
sailing and the sanitary condition of the vessel so far as known, and also the
sanitary condition of the port of departure at the time. At such ports as may
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A VISION OF EGYPT.
STORIES AND STUDIES IN QUARANTINE. 195
from time to time be designated by the department, a physician will be
employed or detailed to make the necessary inspection of the vessel, her pas-
sengers, crew, cargo, and ballast. In case the master of any vessel shall refuse
to receive a bill of health, the fact shall be immediately reported to the depart-
ment by cable, if necessary.
When a vessel having received a bill of health, touches at any other port
while ez route to the United States, the consul at such port shall visa the bill of
health and note thereon such changes as may have taken place since its original
issue.
Monthly reports of the bills of health issued must be made to the depart-
ment on the regular forms.
There was, at first, much terror and apprehension among the pas-
sengers when the announcement of the infectious disease was made.
But, as the case was doubtful, and the patient recovered, the anxiety
gave place to hope.
Time grew weary in the long quarantine under the burning sky.
Tales of travel and adventures on the sea were told by the English
passengers to pass away the slow hours. Some of these “tales in
quarantine†were vivid and interesting, and we will give two of them
here."
THE GOURD HELMETS.
A YOUNG shipmate of mine, named Montrose Merton, once related to me
a queer adventure which he had met with upon his first voyage.
“It happened two years ago, when I was seventeen,†said Mont. ‘“‘Per-
haps you may have heard of the brig ‘Rainbow,’ and how and where she was
lost. I was in her at the time.
‘““We had been freighting about the West Indies for nearly a year, going
from port to port with whatever invoice could be picked up, till finally, at
Havana, we were ordered over to the little Mexican town of Laguna, where
we were to take in a cargo of logwood.
‘So we ran over toward the place, and got into the Bay of Campeachy; but
the brig never arrived at her port. I suppose it was a piece of carelessness
1 These stories were written by Mr. Coomes for “Golden Days,†and are used by permission.
196 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
on the captain’s part; but, at all events, she struck on a reef, and that was the
end of her.
“ After a few thumps, away went both masts over the side, and she was
very soon full of water. We got off with the yawl and long-boat, saving only
our money and clothing, and the next day reached Laguna, where we came
under the care of the Wimecean consul.
‘‘ However, we were in no real distress, as all of us had some specie, and a
very little of this would go a long way. in such a sleepy port as that old Mex-
ican town.
“We, before the mast, had been permitted to buy and sell some little
‘ventures’ at the ports the brig had visited, and I, for one, had nearly a hun-
dred dollars.
‘The consul was a Mr. Clark, from Connecticut, where he had once been
a school teacher. He was a fine man, and he had ason named Richard, who,
as it happened, was of my own age to a single day. That, I suppose, was
what people would call a ‘ singular coincidence.’
“Dick Clark seemed as glad to see meas if I had been his own brother,
though I was an entire stranger to him. He said I was the first American doy
he had set eyes on for a whole year, though he had now and then been
refreshed with the sight of a few live Yankee mez, who had come there after
logwood in vessels flying the dear old stripes and stars.
“We quickly struck up a warm friendship, and Dick said if I would
remain at the place for a time, we would have some fine sport hunting wild
animals and exploring the neighboring shores.
‘“He showed me a dugout that he owned, —a sort of double- ender, about
twenty feet long and four feet wide, made froma single tree. Of course it
was rather clumsy, as boats go; but then it had been burned down, and hewn
down, and chiselled down a great deal thinner and better than you would sup-
pose it could have been. Dick had some tools, and he had given it the
finishing touches himself.
“It had a sail and oars and a set of paddles, and there was a canvas cover
that could be drawn over about half the length of the hull; so that two or
three fellows could sleep under it, if they should happen to be out all night.
“ The town was certainly the dullest spot of earth it was ever my fortune to
light upon. It smelt of logwood everywhere, just like a dye-house. Nobody
thought of dealing in anything else.
“The inhabitants had more time than they knew what to do with, and I
don’t believe a single one of them was ever in a hurry in his life. No wonder
that Dick felt lonesome, I thought.
‘eG
Bi)
Ge
N SIGHT OF BISKRA.
PLACE I
A CAMPING
STORIES AND STUDIES 1N QUARANTINE. 199
“ Asto myself, the case was different. Being at liberty to go or stay, as I
pleased, I could feel quite easy and contented; and so I fell in with his propo-
sition at once. Ina few days the rest of the ‘Rainbow’s’ crew went over to
Havana in a Spanish brig, but I remained behind.
“ Dick owned a very good gun; but, as it was the only fire-arm of a modern
pattern that he knew of in the place, it seemed at first as if I should have to
take up with some old Mexican flintlock. But, finally, I was lucky enough to
get a double-barrelled fowling-piece from the skipper of a Dutch bark which
was loading with logwood for Rotterdam, and on the next day we started out.
Laguna stands on one of achain of islands at the mouth of Lake Terminos,
and we took an oblique course for the main shore, where we hoped to find
some large game. Dick thought we should be likely to meet with tapirs, ant-
eaters, sloths, gluttons, and perhaps a bear, besides standing a fair chance of
stirring up a jaguar or a herd of peccaries.
“Thad seen a good many jaguars behind the bars of cages, but peccaries
I knew nothing about, except that they were a sort of small swine. I found,
though, that Dick had a real dread of them. They were worse than the
jumping toothache, he said, and always looking for a fight. Out of a full hun-
dred, you might kill all but one, yet the hundredth fellow would come right on
just as if nothing had happened, clashing his ugly tusks and bristling all over
like a little fury. :
“ After reaching the mainland, we coasted along the shore for two days,
sometimes ranging the woods or pampas, at other times off on board our
dugout.
“Now and then we would come upon a camp of logwood cutters, and next
there would be an unbroken forest or a wide plain, with no human being in
sight.
‘Our object was to get as many specimens as possible of the skins of
curious birds and animals to be carried home as trophies. We wanted, above
all things, a jaguar skin, not only for its beauty, but because it could n’t be had
without the danger of risking our own skins in getting it.
“We killed asloth, an armadillo, two ant-eaters, and a tapir, all very strange-
looking creatures, besides bagging two large monkeys and a number of splen-
did parrots and cockatoos.
“On the third day, while going very quietly through a strip of forest, we
got a prodigious start from two ocelots that sprang out of a hollow tree not
twenty feet from us. We shot both of them dead on the spot, and they were
the most beautiful animals I ever saw. Even the African leopard isn’t so
handsome.
200 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
“They measured: about three feet in length, and I have the skin of one
of them now.
“ However, that day ended our hunt and made us willing to go home, for
it was then that the adventure happened that I started to tell you about.
“Within the tropics, you know, everything of the vegetable kind has a.
rank growth, and Dick and I had several times come upon a species of gourd
nearly as large as a peck measure. We had seen, too, a number of dry ones
floating upon the water close to the flocks of fowl.
“Dick. said he had heard that the natives, by putting the shells on their
heads and wading up to the chin, often got right in among the birds, so as to
catch them by the legs.
“Here was an idea, and what fine fun it would be to act upon it!
‘“We discovered a shallow little cove by the lake-side, with hundreds of
fowls swimming about ‘in it, and it seemed to us that here was just the place
for our experiment. There were a few gourds drifting near the flock, and this
encouraged us, for it showed that the birds wouldn’t take alarm at our
helmets.
“A line of reeds by the water kept us from being seen; and so, leaving our
dugout just without the cove, we went looking for gourds to fit our heads.
“Finding two enormous ones, we made eye-holes and mouth-holes in them,
and then jammed them over our crowns till they covered our faces completely ;
then stripped of ee but our duck trowsers, we stood ready for the
trial.
“But dear me, what a spectacle we should have made if there had been
anybody to see us! As we stood there in the blazing sun, barefooted and
bare-shouldered, with our heads feeling as big as bushel paskerss we laughed
till I thought we should scare all the ducks out of the cove.
““We were about twenty rods from the water, and just as we began to move
toward it, there came some queer little squeaks and grunts from among the
trees behind us. We stopped and listened.
“*Qogh, oogh, oogh! quee, quee, quee!’ There was a rustling of grass
and brushwood, and then, good gracious, if we saw one ugly little snout bear-
ing down upon us, we saw two or three hundred! It was a living wave of
tusks and bristles. :
“¢ Peccaries, peccaries!’ Dick yelled. ‘We must run for it!’
“Werstill had our guns with us, intending to leave them on the bank while
we waded after the ducks; but to have fired just then at that legion of black
little demoris would simply have been to waste time, and just then we needed
all the time there was.
STORIES AND STUDIES IN QUARANTINE. 203
“With our helmets on and our chests and shoulders bare, we sprang away
like a couple of wild colts. What the peccaries thought we were with the .
heads we had on, I don’t know. It was no doubt the first time they had ever
‘seen the new kind of animal they were in chase of.
“ The open ground behind us was fairly alive with the savage little wretches ;
and how we did run, while they came streaming after us, pulling up with all
the power of their stout legs!
“We plunged through the line of reeds and into the water, wading off
until it was up to our waists before turning to fire. We had the advantage
of them now, for, although they were every one swimming for us, we could
touch bottom, while they could not.
“We gave them the contents of our four barrels, and saw that number of
them turn keel up; but all the others came straight on, and we were obliged to
spring away in lively style, wading along as fast as possible, or they would
have had us sure enough. .
“They chased us out of the little cove and away around to our boat, though
we reloaded and fired a number of times before getting there.
‘“Once we crossed a deep place where we had to swim, and here they
came within an ace of catching us, because it was difficult to carry our guns
and make headway at the same time.
“We forgot all about our gourdshell helmets, but floundered and splashed
along, looking through the eye-holes like a couple of Coeur de Lion’s crusaders
tight from Palestine. In fact, it was no time to think of our headgear with a
whole army of peccaries at our heels.
“ A dozen or two of them had got into shoal water, where they could touch
bottom, and when we reached the dugout they were almost up with us.
“We grabbed it by the gunwale; but, before the clumsy craft was fairly
afloat, we had to spring in and defend ourselves with the oars.
“The little scamps crowded alongside, squealing and snapping their jaws,
till it seemed as if they would come right in upon us,‘in spite of all we could do.
‘But we managed to push the boat afloat; and just then something hap-
pened that must have surprised them as much as it did us.
‘There was a roar and a swaying of the reeds, and, before we could even
think, a big jaguar leaped right upon the dugout’s bow. He was a powerful
fellow, with a great spotted head, and with claws that seemed to sink into the
very gunwale.
“ But it was n’t Dick or me that was wanted. In an instant he whipped up
the nearest peccary from the water and was off with a bound. We could see
the tall reeds waving, where he sprang through them up the bank.
204 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
‘“The entire herd gave chase to him, and in three minutes there wasn’t a
pig in sight.
“We got off into deep water as soon as possible, and then examined our
guns and ammunition. Our powder, being in tight flasks, was not much dam-
aged, but the guns were dripping wet, and we had to let them dry in the hot
sun before reloading. But, first, we took off our false heads, and it made us
think of Ichabod Crane and the headless horseman.
“ After the guns had become dry we. loaded them and pulled into the cove,
in order to pick up a dead pig or two. We had got out of the boat and were
dragging one of the slain peccaries from among the reeds, when we heard
close to us a growl that fairly lifted our hair.
“ Our guns were up in an instant, and the ‘bang!’ they made was but a
single sound. Through the smoke we saw a large creature tip over backwards
and lie with its paws in the air, while two smaller ones scurried away.
“We had killed a female jaguar, and it was her cubs that had run off.
They stopped just beyond the line of reeds, and we shot them both very
easily.
“Tt must, we thought, be arather good day for jaguars, for it was plain
that this one couldn’t be the same that had boarded our dugout, though she
answered our purpose just as well.
“ The skins of the mother and cubs were perfect beauties, and we lost no
time in taking them off.
“The next day we got back to Laguna. An American vessel had arrived
there in the mean time, and in her I sailed for home.
“Thave never seen Dick Clark since, but you may be sure that neither of
us will ever forget the day we wore those gourdshell helmets.â€
AN UNWELCOME SHIPMATE.
Hap the reader seen the big snake skin which we brought home from South
America on board the bark “Cayman,†he would probably have wished to know
how we became possessed of such a trophy. This I can best relate by describ-
ing our voyage.
We had been lying for some weeks at Port of Spain, in the island of Trini-
dad, which is close to the South American coast, when our vessel was ordered
to the river Orinoco, there to load with various products of that region. Our
immediate port of destination was the city of Angostura, two hundred and forty
miles from the ocean, and in the very heart of Venezuela, so that we looked for-
ward to the trip with no little interest.
STORIES AND STUDIES IN QUARANTINE. 205
Arun of a day and night from Port of Spain brought us off the Boca de
Navios, the principal mouth of the Orinoco; and then with everything set before
the brisk trade wind, we began to stem the mighty current.
Yet, in spite of her broad wings, the bark’s progress was tediously slow.
There was no steam-tug to give us a lift on our way, and, although the breeze
was directly over the quarter, we could not make a mile an hour against the
stream at the best; while on many occasions, as the wind slackened, it became
necessary to anchor in order to hold our own. In this manner we worked along
day after day and night after night.
But the vast river itself was magnificent. Four or five miles wide, and
crowned on each bank with a seemingly endless forest, it gave us a profound
conception of Nature’s grandeur. ;
And then how deep it was, too! Almost like the sea we had left behind, so
that our fellows grumbled at the prodigious amount of chain they had to handle
in our many anchorings, though these were always made near one shore or the
other.
At such times we could see troops of monkeys and flocks of beautiful birds
among the trees; and once we had a plain view of a jaguar as he made his way
along the bank, occasionally stopping to look at us.
The captain and mate both fired at him with their revolvers, but were unable .
to hit him, and he finally disappeared very leisurely in the dark woods.
With our many delays, and our slow creeping against a current that was so |
often stronger than the wind, it took us eighteen days to accomplish the two
hundred and forty miles of river passage; but at last we reached Angostura, -
and once more stepped on shore.
It required a considerable time to collect all the numerous articles of our
cargo, and when they had all been stowed on board, we could have supplied
a tannery with hides, a dye-house with indigo, an India-rubber factory with
caoutchouc, a grocery with cacao, or a drug shop with sarsaparilla, ipecac, and
Peruvian bark; for all these articles were down on our invoice.
After so long a sojourn at the sultry Venezuelan town, there was an exhilara-
tion in once more tumbling the furled topsails from the yards, and feeling that
the stanch bark beneath our feet was at last in motion, bound for the open sea
and for home.
It would take us four or five days to get out of the Orinoco; for, although
the current was now in our favor, the trade wind was against us, so that we
should have to make continual tacks from side to side of the river, in order to
keep our sails full and avoid coming to a standstill.
But we were off for the dear land of the north, and every one was happy.
206 ZIGZAG FYOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
Even old Tommy, the captain’s big white cat, seemed to purr more affection-
ately than usual as he rubbed himself against the legs of our wide trowsers and
twisted his lithe form into all manner of graceful shapes. Tommy was a great
favorite in both cabin and forecastle.
We had another pet, also, —a large, gray parrot, —which hung ina cage by
the mainmast, and which had been procured, cage and all, of an English shop-
keeper at Port of Spain.
Poll was an everlasting talker. She would cry out, “ Eight bells; call the
watch; pump ship!†as plainly as any one. And, although at first afraid of
the cat, she had got used to him, and would call, “Tommy, Tommy! Come:
here, old shipmate!†in the most familiar manner imaginable.
Sometimes Tommy would obey the summons, whereupon Poll would drop.
bits of cracker for him, squalling in a kind of boisterous delight to see him pick.
them up. The season of flood in Venezuela had commenced, and in passingâ€
down the Orinoco we found it much higher than while ascending it. The trees.
on its banks now rose directly out of the water, which reached we knew not how:
far back into the forest. We seemed to be sailing on a long lake, shut in by
- green walls that had no visible foundation. The wind was in our teeth, but,.
with the friendly current all the while sweeping us along as it crossed our keel,
we got on swimmingly.
But on the third day an odd accident happened. We had madea tack some-~
what close to the shore; when, just as we were upon the point of going about,,
our rudder became wedged by a stick of driftwood, of which there were large:
quantities floating down the river.
Finding the helm unmanageable, we let go an anchor in hopes of bringing:
the vessel up; but, in spite of this, she went straight in among the trees, snap-
ping off her jibboom, fore-topmast, and main-top gallant-mast.
Here was a tangle, indeed! Vines, branches, and broken spars were alk
mixed together!
Nevertheless, as we were still afloat, our case was by no means desperate.
It is not unusual for the Orinoco to swell twenty feet above its banks, and we
judged that this depth of water was still beneath us.
The bark had run over her anchor, and by heaving at the cable, as it passed:
under her bows and not beyond the stern, we could hope to move her. But an
abundance of cutting and clearing must first be done, and, as night was at hand,
it would be vain to think of getting out of the scrape before another day.
Our fore-topmast, which had broken just above the cap, had dropped down:
till its lower end rested upon the deck, while the upper part, with all its hamper,
was supported by the trees against which it leaned. The main-top gallant-mast:
STORIES AND STUDIES IN QUARANTINE. 207
hung to the branches by its rigging, and the jibboom lay under the bows.
We succeeded in unbending the fore-topsail, but this was about all we could
accomplish before dark. The sail was badly torn, and we piled it in a heap
forward.
Meanwhile the mosquitoes put us in a torment. Out on the river we had
never been troubled with them, but here in the thicket they swarmed by mil-
lions. That night the officers smoked the little pests out of the cabin, and then
fortified the entrance with netting, while we before the mast took up our quarters
in the top, where — as mosquitoes seldom get much above a ship’s deck — we
were left in peace.
A lantern was hung on the main-stay, and, from our position aloft, we were
to keep a one-man watch for possible contingencies. Some of us were in the
fore-top and others in the main. My own lookout, which was in the early part
of the night, passed without incident, and it was near daybreak before anything
disturbed us, when, all at once, it came to be understood that some unknown
creature was stirring on board the vessel.
Instantly we were all wide awake and peering down from the tops with
startled faces, while we hurriedly questioned each other as to what it was, where
it was, and who had the last watch. The lantern did not light up the deck very
well, and the shadows had a weird look to us.
“T see it!†said one of our fellows, at length, in a frightened undertone.
“Look! There it is under the port bulwarks. It’s a big snake. Keep still,
or he’ll be up here in a jiffy!â€
We could all see it now, though in the dim lantern light its hideous
proportions were indistinct. Sometimes, indeed, it seemed as if there were
two snakes; but we presently concluded that there was only one, and he a
monster.
At intervals he would be wholly lost to sight, and again some portion of his
horrid folds would be visible as he crept slowly about the deck, which was well
lumbered with wreckage.
At last he went over the bows and disappeared in the darkness, though
whether he had gone down into the water or had got hold of a thick-leaved
tree that was close to the bowsprit, we were unable to say. At all events, we
slept no more that night, and were extremely glad to see the daybreak.
In the morning the officers heard our story with great interest, shuddering
to think what would have been their situation had the monster chosen to come
through the mosquito netting and explore the cabin.
It made us creep all over to recall the night's experience, and we determined
to get the bark out of her berth that day, if work would accomplish it.
208 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
We sat, “ Turk-fashion,†on the forward part of the deck to eat our break-
fast, while near us lay the fore-topsail in a pile, as‘it had been left the evening
previous.
The white cat, Tommy, climbed upon the heap of canvas. The next mo-
ment he bounded off upon the deck, and with back and tail bristling, whirled
around to look behind him.
At the same time there was a movement of the pile, and as we sprang to
our feet, the head and neck of a great serpent shot out from the folds of the
sail.
An instant of frozen terror, and then how we tumbled over each other!
Some ran into the galley, and others into the small house on the booby-hatch.
The officers were at breakfast in the cabin. Nobody fled aloft,—we knew
better than to do that, — at least, nobody did so except Tommy, and he, follow-
ing the instinct of his race, sprang into the main rigging.
His terrible enemy was rushing after him, and had actually mounted above
the bulwarks, when Poll’s loud screaming from her cage appeared to attract his
attention. The poor bird was in a great fluster.
“Oh, what’s the matter now?†she cried.
And this query was followed by a succession of wild outcries that showed
her to be dreadfully frightened.
The snake had raised himself for nearly his whole length up the shrouds,
but he now stopped, and craning his thin, tapering neck toward the parrot,
uttered a frightful hiss.
He had seen that Tommy was too nimble for him, while Polly’s flutterings
and squallings had put him in mind of other prey.
Down he came from the rigging, making straight for this new object, when
“crack, crack!†went the captain's revolver from the cabin door.
He fired two shots and missed with both. Then the mate discharged three
bullets, with no better success.
The snake, paying not the least attention to his human enemies struck the
cage violently with his frightful jaws, knocking it from its place, but retaining
his hold of it as it fell.
Half a minute more, and parrot, cage and all would have been travelling down
that living lane had not the two officers improved in their marksmanship. Two
of their balls just then struck the reptile, one in the head, the other in-the neck,
and their effect was instantaneous.
At once disabled, the monster thrashed about in sickening contortions, lash-
ing the deck fearfully, while his two assailants emptied the remaining chambers
of their weapons with the steadiest nerve they could muster.
STORIES AND STUDIES IN QUARANTINE. 209
But there was no need of more shots. The furious writhings became less
and less, at length ceasing altogether, though the snaky tail showed signs of
life for more than two hours.
Then the limp, horrible body was stretched out and measured. We found
it to be twenty-eight feet long and about twenty-two inches around in the
largest part. The serpent was of the boa family, and checkered with black
and yellow.
Probably there had been two of them on board in the night, one crawling
away as we had seen at the time, and the other wriggling himself into the loose
pile of canvas.
All the shots fired by the captain and mate had been discharged from the
companion-way, with the road of retreat well open behind them.
They now stripped off the mottled skin, while we sailors stood looking on,
shuddering at the bare thought of touching the hideous thing.
We could reef topsails in the blackest squall that ever blew, but we wanted
nothing to do with a snake.
Pretty Poll remained unharmed, in spite of her rough usage, though her
cage was sadly battered and bent. It was some hours before she got over her
fright, however, and she would keep screaming, —
“Throw him overboard —throw him overboard! I’m most scared to
death !â€
As for Tommy, he came down from aloft when all was over, but his eyes
still looked big and wild, and his tail indicated an unsettled state of mind.
We got the vessel out of her bad predicament before another night, and,
anchoring in the river, proceeded to repair damages. After a few days our
broken spars had been replaced by others, and the sails again bent, so that
everything was shipshape.
Then we beat through the Boca de Nayios, and three weeks later arrived
safely at New York.
Such is the history of the snake skin which we brought home in the bark
“Cayman.†It was afterwards stuffed, and, for aught I know, is still on exhibi-
tion as a curiosity.
The detention led to the discussion of many topics relating to the
consulates, among them “leaves of absence†and “salaries.â€
The study of the topic “leaves of absence†was interesting, as the
schedule furnished by the State Department furnished a kind of geog-
14
210 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN,
raphy lesson of che longest periods of modern travel, usually ¢wece the
time needed for ocean voyages being allowed the consul on his journey
from the ports of the United States to his place of appointment. The
latest “regulation†is as follows: —
LEAVES OF ABSENCE.
Under the authority conferred upon the Secretary of State by law, the
following have been established, and determined, and made public, as the
maximum amounts of time allowed for transit between salaried consular posts
in the several countries named and the city of Washington, and wice versa,
Viz i—
Argentine Republic, forty-five days. Austria-Hungary, thirty days. Bar-
bary States, thirty-five days. Belgium, twenty days. Brazil, forty days. Chili,
forty-five days. China (except Tien-Tsin), fifty days; Tien-Tsin, ninety days.
Colombia: Barranquilla, sixteen days; Bogota, thirty-five days; Colon, sixteen
days; Panama, sixteen days. Congo State, fifty days. Corea, sixty-five days.
Costa Rica, twenty-five days. Denmark, twenty-five days; St. Thomas, fifteen
days. Ecuador, thirty-five days. Egypt, thirty-five days. France, twenty
days. French possessions: Algiers, thirty-five days; Gaboon, fifty days;
Guadeloupe, thirty days; Martinique, twenty-five days; Tahiti, seventy days.
Friendly and Navigator's Islands, seventy days. Germany, twenty-five days.
Great Britain and Ireland, twenty days; British possessions: Aden, forty days;
Antigua, thirty days; Australia, fifty days; Barbadoes, twenty days; Ber-
muda, ten days; Bombay,,sixty days; Calcutta, sixty days; Canada (except
Gaspé Basin, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Victoria, and Winnipeg),
three days; Cape Town, fifty-five days; Ceylon, fifty days; Demerara, forty
days; Falkland Islands, seventy days; Fiji Islands, seventy days; Gaspé Basin,
six days; Gibraltar, twenty-five days; Hong-Kong, fifty days; Kingston, Ja-
maica, twenty days; Malta, thirty days; Mauritius, ninety days; Nassau, fifteen
days; New Brunswick, six days; New Zealand, fifty days; Nova Scotia, six
days; Prince Edward Island, six days; St. Helena, forty-five days; Sierra
Leone, fifty days; Singapore, sixty days; Turk’s Island, twenty days; Victoria,
twenty-five days; Winnipeg, fifteen days. Greece, thirty-five days. Guate-
mala, thirty days. Hayti, fifteen days. Hawaiian Islands, thirty-five days.
Honduras, twenty-five days. Italy, thirty days. Japan, forty days. Liberia,
forty days. Madagascar, seventy days. Muscat, sixty days. Mexico: Aca-
pulco, twenty-five days; Guaymas, twenty-five days; Matamoras, twelve days;
STORIES AND STUDIES [IN QUARANTINE. 211
Merida, twenty days; Mexico, eighteen days; Nogales, fifteen days ; Nuevo
Laredo, twelve days; Paso del Norte, twelve days; Piedras Negras, twelve
days; Tampico, twenty days; Vera Cruz, fifteen days. Netherlands, twenty
days; Batavia, Java, sixty days: Nicaragua, twenty-five days. Paraguay, sixty
days. Persia, sixty-five days. Peru, forty days. Portugal, thirty days. Portu-
guese possessions: Fayal, thirty days; Funchal, thirty days; Mozambique,
ninety days; Santiago (C. V. I), forty days; St. Paul de Loanda, ninety days.
Russia: Odessa, thirty days; St. Petersburg, forty-five days. Salvador, twenty-
five days. San Domingo, fifteen days. Siam, sixty days. Spain, twenty-five
days. Spanish possessions: Baracoa, fifteen days; Cardenas, fifteen days;
Cienfuegos, twelve days; Havana, ten days; Manila, sixty days; Matanzas,
ten days; Puerto Rico, twenty days; Sagua la Grande, twelve days; Santiago
de Cuba, twelve days. Sweden and Norway, twenty-five days. Switzerland,
twenty-five days. Turkey, forty days. Uruguay, forty-five days. Venezuela,
twenty-five days. Zanzibar, seventy days.
The salaries of consuls are as a rule not large. The consuls-general
are fairly well paid, but the consuls at the smaller ports rarely receive
more than $1500 per annum.
The best paid consulates are as follows, and the study of the sche-
dule will furnish a good lesson of the commercial value of the ports
named : —
SALARIES CONSULAR SERVICE.
Consuls-general at Havana, London, Paris, and Rio de Janeiro, at six thou-
sand dollars each, twenty-four thousand dollars.
Consuls-general at Calcutta and Shanghai, at five thousand dollars each, ten
thousand dollars.
Consul-general at Melbourne, four thousand five hundred dollars.
Consuls-general at Berlin, Honolulu, Kanagawa, Montreal, and Panama, at
four thousand dollars each, twenty thousand dollars,
Consul-general at Halifax, three thousand five hundred dollars.
Consuls-general at Constantinople, Ecuador, Frankfort, Rome, St. Peters-
burg, and Vienna, at three thousand dollars each, eighteen thousand dollars,
Consul-general at Mexico, two thousand five hundred dollars.
For salaries of consuls, vice-consuls, and commercial agents, three hundred
and seventy-seven thousand five hundred dollars, as follows, namely : —
Consul at Liverpool, six thousand dollars; consul at Hong-Kong, five thou-
sand dollars,
to
HH
wo
ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
Cuass II]. — At three thousand five hundred dollars per annum: China,
consuls at Amoy, Canton, Chin-Kiang, Foo-Chow, Hankow, and Tein-Tsin;
Peru, consul at Callao.
Cuass IlI.—At three thousand dollars per annum: Belgium, consul at
Antwerp; Chili, consul at Valparaiso; China, consul at Ningpo; France, consul
at Havre; Great Britain and British dominions, consuls at Belfast, Bradford,
Demerara, Glasgow, Manchester, Ottawa, and Singapore; Japan, consuls at
Nagasaki, and Osaka and Hiogo; Mexico, consul at Vera Cruz; Spanish
dominions, consul at Matanzas (Cuba); United States of Colombia, consul at
Colon (Aspinwall).
Crass IV.— At two thousand five hundred dollars per annum: Argentine
Republic, consul at Buenos Ayres; Belgium, consul at Brussels; Danish domin-
ions, consul at St. Thomas; France, consuls at Bordeaux, Lyons, and Mar-
seilles; Germany, consuls at Annaberg, Bremen, Brunswick, Dresden, Hamburg,
and Mayence; Greece, consul at Athens; Great Britain and British dominions,
consuls at Birmingham, Dundee, Leith, Nottingham, Sheffield, Tunstall, and
Victoria (British Columbia); Spanish dominions, consuls at Cienfuegos and
Santiago de Cuba; Switzerland, consul at St. Galle; Turkish dominions, consul
at Smyrna.
CLass V.— At two thousand dollars per annum: Austria-Hungary, consuls
at Trieste and Prague; Barbary States, consul at Tangier; Brazil, consul at
Pernambuco; Colombia, consul at Barranquilla; Costa Rica, consul at San
Jose; France, consuls at Rheims and St. Etienne; Friendly and Navigator's
Islands, consul at Apia; Germany, consuls at Barmen, Chemnitz, Cologne,
Crefeld, Dusseldorf, Elberfeld, Leipsic, Nuremburg, and Sonneberg; Great
Britain and British dominions, consuls at Cardiff, Chatham, Cork, Dublin,
Dunfermline, Hamilton (Canada), Kingston (Jamaica), Leeds, Nassau (New
Providence), Port Louis (Mauritius), Port Stanley and St. Thomas (Canada),
St. John (New Brunswick), Sherbrook (Canada), Sydney (New South
Wales), and Toronto (Canada); Honduras, consul at Tegucigalpa; Italy,
consul at Palermo; Madagascar, consul at Tamatava; Mexico, consuls at
Acapulco and Matamoras; Netherlands, consul at Rotterdam; Nicaragua,
consuls at Managua and San Juan del Norte; Russia, consul at Odessa; Sal-
vador, consul at San Salvador; Spain and Spanish dominions, consuls at Manila
(Philippine Islands), San Juan (Porto Rico), and Sagua la Grande (Cuba),
Switzerland, consuls at Basle, Horgen, and Zurich ; Turkish dominions, consuls
at Beirut and Jerusalem; Uruguay, consul at Montevideo; Venezuela, consul
at Maricaibo.
At one thousand five hundred dollars per annum: Brazil, consuls at Bahia,
STORIES AND STUDIES [IN QUARANTINE. 213
Para, and Santos; Belgium, consul at Liege and Verviers; Denmark, consul at
Copenhagen; France and French dominions, consuls at Cognac, Guadeloupe,
Martinique, and Nice; Germany, consuls at Aix-la-Chapelle, Breslau, Kehl,
Mannheim, Munich, and Stuttgart; Great Britain and British dominions, consuls
at Amherstburg (Canada), Antigua (West Indies), Auckland (New Zealand),
Barbadoes, Bermuda, Bristol, Brockville, Cape Town, Ceylon (India), Charlotte-
town (Prince Edward Island), Clifton (Canada), Fort Erie (Canada), Goderich
(Canada), Gibraltar, Guelph (Canada), Kingston (Canada), London (Canada),
Malta, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Quebec, Pictou (Canada), Port Hope (Canada), Port
Sarnia (Canada), Port Stanley (Falkland Islands), Prescott (Canada), South-
ampton, St. Helena, St. John’s (Canada), St. Stephen (Canada), Stratford (Can-
ada), Three Rivers (Canada), Windsor (Canada), and Winnipeg (Manitoba);
Italy, consuls at Florence, Genoa, Leghorn, Messina, Milan, and Naples; Mex-
ico, consuls at Paso del Norte and Tampico; Netherlands, consul at Amster-
dam; Paraguay, consul at Asuncion; Portuguese dominions, consuls at Fayal
(Azores), and Funchal (Madeira) ; San Domingo, consul at San Domingo ; Spain,
consuls at Barcelona, Cadiz, and Malaga; Switzerland, consul at Geneva; Tur-
key, consul at Sivas; Venezuela, consuls at La Guayra and Puerto Cabello.
CLass VI. — Belgium, consul at Ghent; Brazil, consul at Rio Grande do
Sul; Chili, consul at Telcahuano, France and French dominions, consuls at
Algiers and Nantes; Germany, consul at Stettin; Great Britain and British
dominions, consuls at Bombay (India), Gaspé Basin (Canada), Sierra Leone
(West Africa), Turk’s Island, and Windsor (Nova Scotia); Hayti, consul at
Cape Haytien; Honduras, consul at Ruatan and Truxillo (to reside at Utilla) ;
Italy, consul at Venice; Mexico, consuls at Guaymas, Nuevo Laredo, and
Piedras Negras; Muscat, consul at Zanzibar; Netherlands, consul at Batavia ;
Portuguese dominions, consul at Santiago (Cape Verde Islands); Society
Islands, consul at Tahiti; Sweden and Norway, consul at Christiania.
COMMERCIAL AGENCIES.
SCHEDULE C.— Gaboon, Levuka, and St. Paul de Loando.
And in the estimates for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hun-
dred and eighty-nine, there shall be estimated for specifically, under classified
consulates, all consulates and commercial agencies where the fees collected or
compensation allowed for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred
and eighty-seven, exceed one thousand dollars.
CONSULAR CLERKS. — Six consular clerks, at one thousand two hundred
dollars per annum each, seven thousand two hundred dollars.
214 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
Seven consular clerks, at one thousand dollars per annum each, seven
thousand dollars.
CONSULAR OFFICERS NOT CITIZENS, — For salaries of consular officers not
citizens of the United States, six thousand dollars.
ALLOWANCE FOR CLERKS AT CONSULATES. — For allowance for clerks at
consulates, fifty thousand three hundred and twenty dollars, the sum to be
allowed at each consulate not to exceed the rate herein specified, as follows: —
Consul at Liverpool, two thousand. dollars.
Consul-general at Havana, one thousand six hundred dollars.
Consul-general at Shanghai, one thousand two hundred dollars.
Consuls-general at London, Paris, and Rio de Janeiro, at one thousand six
hundred dollars each, four thousand eight hundred dollars.
Consuls-general at Berlin, Frankfort, Vienna, Montreal, and Kanagawa, and
consuls at Hamburg, Bremen, Manchester, Lyons, Hong- Kong, Havre, Crefeld,
and Chemnitz, at one thousand two hundred dollars each, Gtrcen thousand six
hundred dollars.
Consuls at Bradford, Birmingham, and Marseilles, at nine hundred and sixty
dollars each, two thousand eight hundred and eighty dollars.
Consuls-general at Calcutta, Port au Prince, and Melbourne, and consuls at
Leipsic, Sheffield, Sonneberg, Dresden, Antwerp, Nuremburg, Tunstall, Bor-
deaux, Colon, Singapore, Glasgow, and Panama, at eight hundred dollars each,
twelve thousand dollars.
Consuls at Belfast, Barmen, Leith, Dundee, and Victoria, and the consuls-
general at Matamoras and Halifax, at six hundred and forty dollars each, four
thousand four hundred and eighty dollars.
Consuls-general at Mexico and Berne, and consuls at Malaga, Naples,
Genoa, Stuttgart, Florence, Mannheim, Prague, Zurich, Beirut, and Demerara,
at four hundred and eighty dollars each, five thousand seven hundred and sixty
dollars.
For an additional allowance for clerks at consulates, to be expended under
the direction of the Secretary of State at consulates not herein provided for in
respect to clerk-hire, no greater portion of this sum than four hundred dollars
,to be allowed to any one consulate in any one fiscal year, twenty thousand
dollars: Provided, That the total sum expended in one year shall not exceed
the amount appropriated: And provided further, That out of the amount
hereby appropriated the Secretary of State may make such allowance as may
to him seem proper to any interpreter for clerical services, in addition to his
pay as interpreter.
STORIES AND STUDIES IN QUARANTINE. 215
The whole consular service of the United States is managed with
rigid economy. The times demand a more accomplished representa-
tion, with more liberal salaries. Such a reform is sure to come. The
American boy, like the English boy now, will one day seek and require
a special education for all services in the Department of State.
CHAPTER XI.
THE MEDITERRANEAN AND ITS LEGENDS.
iq ( HE Mediterranean !— its history is that of the ancient
S\\) world. All the mighty events of the past are in some
SY
a way associated with its shores. It well was called
the “midland sea.†Europe, Asia, and Africa en-
closed it, and around its ports the capitals of the
empires that dominated the world for thousands of
years, rose, shone, and fell.
The great water-plain has a surface of nearly one million square
miles, and is one of the greatest bodies of inland water in the world.
The Sea of Marmora, the Sea of Azof, and the Black Sea are prop-
erly a part of it. It is twenty-three hundred miles long and more than
one thousand wide in its greatest breadth. In some places it is three
thousand feet deep, and in some other places five thousand feet. At
Nice it is forty-two hundred feet deep close to the shores, and the Straits
of Gibraltar, by which it connects with the ocean, are fifty-five hundred
feet deep. Some five hundred species of fishes inhabit its waters.
Tunny fishing is followed as an industry on its shores.. The old tales
of the fishermen of the midland sea would fill volumes.
The hot winds from the deserts of Africa affect its atmosphere,
and the cool winds of many mountain chains. The giant wind that
ships fear-is called the levanter. Another wind peculiar to the sea is
called the solano. The levanter is a powerful east wind, as its name
implies. The solano carries its meaning also in its name.
FLORENCE,
THE MEDITERRANEAN AND ITS LEGENDS. 219
The color of the sea is blue, and a shining blue as it appears in
the sun and calm. It changes color; in the Adriatic it is green, and
in the Euxine it has a dark hue.
It is beautiful in midsummer, when the winds are laid, and it lies
in deep purple under a purple sky, and the clear atmosphere reveals
the shores which are the history of the old world. In ancient times,
the Pillars of Hercules of the sea, now Gibraltar, were supposed to
be the end of the world. The invention of the mariners’ compass and
the daring of Columbus left the great sea to the realms of history, as
opened the ocean world.
The history of the sea, like that of all the empires on its shores,
began in fable. Here was the kingdom of Neptune, here were birds
with human features, dolphins with wonderful intelligence, monsters,
nymphs, and singing shells. The old Greek and Roman poets peopled
it with imaginary beings.
Its shores led the first migrations to the West. From the early
days of the known world, man has been moving westward. The end
of the march of the nations to the West is the Pacific coast of North
and South America; then comes the East again. For thousands of
years the march of civilization was toward the Pillars of Hercules.
When Spain became a great power and expelled the Moors, the sea
awaited its Columbus.
Take the map of the Mediterranean, and glance along its shores
from Trebizond on the Black Sea to Cadiz. What names that stand
for histories! Pass the Bosphorus, and let your eye circle the midland
waters. What visions rise!
Constantinople, the city of Constantine, the glittering capital of an
empire whose arts and arms followed Rome in the glory of the world!
There gleams the crown of St. Sophia, for crescent followed the cross.
Smyrna, Beyrut, Jerusalem, with Joppa, its port, — Jerusalem, near
the sea, which has touched all life with the teachings of the fatherhood
of God and the brotherhood of man.
220 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
Alexandria and the portals of the Nile;— Egypt lifts herself in
dusky air. Thence kings went forth to conquer the world. Armies
of slaves built the tombs of those kings, whose aims were luxury and
a paradise of delights, and who feasted on the spoils of nations from
cups of gold, and dreamed of lotus lands in the unseen worlds, and
of returning again to the embalmed habitations of their former life.
Tripoli, Tunis, Algiers,— on these shores Carthage once was.
Thence Hannibal [how?] drove his elephants over the blue sea.
From those fallen cities of splendor and power that lined the southern
shore came the war on the Aryan race.
Who are the Aryan race? The Asiatic tribes-that moved west-
ward, possessed Europe, produced a Columbus, and found the new
world. Ina sense, we are a part of the Aryan race. The Aryans fol-
lowed the evening star. Our country might well have been called the
Hesperides.
Sweep along the northern coast of the sea. Granada, Valentia, Bar-
celona, — they hover on the border of the history of our Western life.
Marseilles, Genoa, and Rome, cities of fate ;— for a thousand years
Rome was the world.
Naples, Venice, Corfu, Athens;—the blue tides run from the
Grecian cities of the arts to the Roman cities of arms.
Imaginary gods arose and vanished with the old empires. Their
names haunt the shores. We can almost fancy that we see the horse
of Neptune plunging in the sea, and leaving the waves in white foam.
Do we breathe the lotus, we see in it a daughter of Neptune,
who was changed into the flower.
Do we pluck the narcissus, we see in it the youth who loved
the beautiful maiden whose features were like his own, and whom
when she was dead the same youth used to see in his own features
reflected in a fountain.
Do we wander in the groves of old trees in the far East, the leaves
breathe, “ Hylas, where art thou?â€
THE DUOMO, FLORENCE,
THE MEDITERRANEAN AND ITS LEGENDS. 223
Do we walk over the ruin of an old Roman villa, the “lar,†the
fairy of the hearth, starts up before our fancy.
We pass Scylla, to recall the tales of the Sirens, the wandering
rocks, and the six men of the crew of Ulysses. You can almost see
the monster Scylla, with her twelve necks and six heads, and her long
arms reaching out for sea-dogs and porpoises. You have heard in
fable that out of each ship she takes a man, and you wonder if that
man will be yow, and down which of her necks you will go.
The fable of Oceanus comes back here, as the first dream of the
vast waters of the West. Oceanus was the first-born of the Titans,
the offspring of Coelus and Terra, or the heavens and the earth. The
children of Oceanus were the rivers, and the Oceanides, or the three
thousand nymphs of the ocean.
Oceanus lived in the West. The poets were right —he did. He
came from the West to comfort Prometheus. The allegory came true
in history.
Prometheus stole the fire of heaven, and gave it to man to serve
the human race. All arts came out of the fire, and so he stands as
the benefactor of men. For stealing the sacred fire he was punished
by being chained to a rock and by the preying of a vulture upon his
liver (heart), which as fast as it was consumed grew again. The
appearance of Oceanus to comfort him, as water quenches fire, is one
of the most beautiful legends of the Orient.
Another charming tale of the Mediterranean is Arion. We give it
in the version of Herodotus.
Arion lived with Periander, king of Corinth. His fame as a poet had filled
all lands; and he suddenly felt a desire to travel and to visit those who loved the
muse. He went to Sicily and to Italy, and landed on the beautiful coast of the
Adriatic. His songs in these countries brought him great wealth. He took
sail for Greece, but the sailors on the ship, learning of his treasures, formed a
plot to kill him in order to enrich themselves.
‘“ Kill yourself on deck,†said the sailors, “ or leap into the sea.â€
224 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
“Let me dress myself in my festal robes and sing once more,†said the
poet.
He presently appeared on the prow with his lyre, and began to play the
enchanting Orphean strain. The dolphins heard the music, and one of them
swam close to the ship. Arion threw himself overboard, and the dolphin re-
ceived him on his back and bore him to Greece. When the sailors reached
their port they were put to death.
We once arranged this beautiful story for recitation with musical
accompaniment. We recommended the use of Rubenstein’s “ Dying
Poet†as the accompaniment. We present this effort at musical story-
telling here. Some of our readers may like to use it for a reading as
we have arranged it.
ARION.
A RECITATION FOR P1ano ACCOMPANIMENT.
‘CAPTAIN, loguitur, —
“ Sailors of Corinth, the west winds blow free,
And the wings of the twilight spread over the sea,
And Hesper above us shines mirrored below,
And the moon rises slow, the moon rises slow.
Arion, he stands on the prow, and afar
His poet’s eye catches the rose of a star.
Ah, never again shall his young eye behold
Yon crimson star burn in the shadows of gold!
“ Sailors of Corinth, night darkens the air;
Go, tell the young bard for his fate to prepare.
The purple-lipped waters more restlessly flow,
And the moon rises slow, the moon rises slow.
Arion, ho, ho! drop thine eye from the star,
The great disk of Dian is rising afar,
Take thy last drink of bliss of the sea and the sky,
Young bard of Corinthia, this night thou shalt die.
“ Thy suave lyre has charmed the Etrusian glades,
And sigh for it still the Sicilian maids ;
Thou hast led the light dance where the purple wines flow,
When Dian her night-shield held o’er thee aglow.
LOGGIA DI LANZI, FLORENCE.
THE MEDITERRANEAN AND ITS LEGENDS. 227
Thou has haunted the courts of the languorous kings,
In Sicilian airs breathed the raptures divine,
Where gold fell in showers and garlands and rings,
And jewelled cups hailed thee with Samian wine.
“Thou hast harvested crowns, and thy coffers of gold
Weigh down the light ship, and we watch them below;
But thy gems now are ours, all thy treasures untold.
O’er thy grave in the sea, lo! the moon rises slow.
Apollo flayed Marsyas for playing too sweet;
To a spider Minerva changed Ariadne, and now,
O subtle enchanter, to spoil thee is meet;
Get thy harp and attune it once more on the prow.
“Sailors of Corinth, behold him again.
He comes with his crown and his ivy-twined lyre,
He tunes the sweet strings and awakens the strain
[Prano. Any selection of rhythmic music. |
.To whose rapturous touch his own life shall expire.
What robe has he on, — the Sicilian gown?
No, the robe of Apollo, the mantle of white,
On which the throned Muses look happily down,
And protect from all ill with the gis of light.
“He stands ’gainst the moon on the light swaying prow;
Now the glimmering harpstrings his jewelled hands sweep,
And now, lo! he vanishes. Where is he now?
And what melody rises so sweet o’er the deep?
See the dolphins enchanted, — they bear him away.
He rides like a god in a chariot divine,
In the robe of Apollo; and list, hear him play,
As he played to the kings at the spillings of wine.
* List, — hear it ascend on the heart-beating air,
Enchanting the dolphins, the sky, and the seas ;
Now sweet as the love-notes of Orpheus’s prayer,
Now light as the dance of the Peloponnese.
Afar now the island of Oxia grows dim,
And the high shield of Dian now melts in the mist;
Now it soothingly flows like Ionia’s hymn;
Now fainter and fainter, — breathe lightly and low,
While the notes ripple low and the still waters flow,
And the domes of the port in the silver stars glow.â€
228 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
[Low pedal, and continuation of music.)
Morn mingled the blue waves of Corinth with fire,
’Neath the scales of the temple the sailors lay dead;
But Arion awoke to Apollo his lyre,
To the hall of the roses, by princesses led.
Our travellers went from the port of Alexandria to Port Said, and
thence to Suez. They called it a journey to Zag-a-Zig,—a zigzag
journey to Zag-a-Zig, as a lively town by the latter name was conspicu-
ous during the construction of the Suez Canal.
Port Said stands at the northern end of the canal, and derives its
importance from its connection with the canal. On one side of the
port city is Egypt, on the other Ismalia and Arabia Petrza, with Gaza
near, and Jerusalem not far from Gaza. :
Port Said, which now contains some ten thousand inhabitants, had
no existence until 1860. An army of workmen then began to arrive
there to build the canal, and it became the depot of the canal company.
The construction of the long piers of Port Said was a work of immense
difficulty, as the stone had to be brought at first from long distances,
and later artificial stone had to be made. One of the great piers has
a length of seven thousand feet, and another of six thousand feet.
Within the outer harbor is an inner port, and the light-house, with its
starlight electric flame, is 180 feet in height.
That was a notable day in the history of the world, when, in 1869,
November 16, the Khedive of Egypt, the Empress of the French, the
Emperor of Austria, and the Crown Prince of Prussia, formally opened
the canal. What a change has passed over the lives and fortunes of
these people since then!
The English at first stood aloof from the plan of the canal; even
Robert Stephenson looked unfavorably upon it. M.de Lesseps was
regarded in England as a visionary. His name afterward became one
of the most illustrious in the world, to become almost pitiable with the
failure of the Panama Canal.
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FOUNTAIN OF NEPTUNE, FLORENCE,
THE MEDITERRANEAN AND ITS LEGENDS. 231
The town of Suez, seventy-six miles from Cairo, with which it is
connected by railway, is famous for its bazaars; yet it is situated amid
a burning waste of sands.
From Port Said our travellers went to Beyrut, passing Gaza, and
touching at Joppa, which connects with Jerusalem by railroad.
Gaza recalled the story of Samson; and as the party passed by
it one Sunday afternoon, an old New England clergyman on board
related a story which we will give in a story-telling chapter.
CHAPTER XII. .
ST. SOPHIA. — THE DERVISH’S FAIRY TALE.
T was a clear summer morning, and the sky was an
uplifting of splendor when our travellers entered
the Sea of Marmora, and Constantinople rose before
them with the sun. Olympus was burning in the
east, in expanding splendors, like a mountain of
gold. Terrace above terrace, dark with cypresses,
were glimmering in the overflow of light. The city stands upon two
seas. It is really three cities, —Stamboul, Galata, and Scutari.
Stamboul, on the tongue of land between the Sea of Marmora and
the Golden Horn, is the site of the ancient city of Byzantium.
The city was beginning to be alive. The silence of the night,
which had only been broken by the howling of tens of thousands of
dogs under the slanting moon, was giving place to the cries of the
marketmen. The marble domes of St. Sophia were glittering among
groves of eternal verdure, and the muezzins from the rosy minarets
were calling the hour of prayer. .
Our travellers’ first visit was to the mosque of St. Sophia, or the
Church of Divine Wisdom, — the architectural glory of the old Byzan-
tine empire, and one of the most beautiful structures that ever arose
under the sun. This temple first arose in the reign of Constantine
in 325, the year of the Council of Nice. It was destroyed several
times, but always arose from its ruins more beautiful than before.
Justinian made the rebuilding of the church the glory of his reign.
The beautiful marbles of all lands were gathered for its reconstruction.
ST. SOPHIA. 233
The spoils of many of the ancient temples of the world entered into it.
It is said that a hundred architects superintended its construction,
under each of whom were placed a hundred masons. The emperor
TURKISH WOMAN.
himself was the chief architect, and he claimed to have followed the
directions of an angel who appeared to him in dreams. So St. Sophia,
the Church of Heavenly Wisdom, was thought to have been planned
in heaven.
234 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
It was intended to surpass the temple of Solomon. The accounts
of the lavish use of gold and gems, of marbles and historic spoils, read
like fairy tales. There were forty-two thousand sacred vessels of pre-
cious metals and gems, twenty-four sacred books of the evangelists,
with gold covers. The doors were of ivory, amber, and cedar, and
three of them it was claimed were made of wood from Noah's ark.
It was also claimed that the church had the trumpets that overthrew
the walls of Jericho.
The dedication of the church was most dramatic. It was Christ-
mas eve of the year 548. The emperor, elated with the completion of
this temple, which he believed to have rivalled the past and emptied
the future of glory, drove his chariot to the place, and there caused
one thousand oxen, one thousand sheep, six hundred deer, and ten
thousand birds to be slaughtered, and thirty thousand measures of
corn to be distributed among the poor. He entered the church like
one bereft of his senses. He ran from the doors to the altar, and with
outstretched arms exclaimed, “ God be praised! Solomon, LT have sur-
passed thee!†.
After the Moslem conquest the church became a mosque, and new
glories were added to the treasures of the past. Among the holy ves-
sels is a cup said to have been used by the Virgin Mary; also the very
cradle of the Saviour. It has a sweating column, where miracles are
believed to be performed, a cold window, where the Koran was first read,
and where since the wind has ever blown, and a shining stone, which
imbibes rays of light so beautifully as to be regarded divine.
Next to the dogs of the city, a boy is interested most in the der-
vishes and their fairy tales. These story-tellers have an art of their
own; they act their wonder-stories and hypnotize the listener, so that
he seems to see it all.
Let us give you —
eld ,
INTERIOR OF A MOSQUE.
A DERVISH’S FAIRY TALE. 237
A DERVISH’S FAIRY TALE.
ONCE upon a time there were two sisters, —Ellif and Lila. One of them,
Ellif, was very beautiful; the other, Leila, or Lila, was a dwarf and hunchback.
Now Ellif was very proud of her beauty, and Lila, the hunchback, was abashed
at her form, and hid in the kitchen, and did the family work there.
But Lila had a loving heart, and the fairy folk saw her and loved her. The
fairy folk were under an enchantment, which only a happy mistake could break.
One night Lila felt a light on her eyelids, and opened her eyes. Whata
scene! All the fairy folk were there. Her room was as light as day, and the
fairy folk were dancing. As they danced they sung, —
“ Wednesday, Wednesday,
Cheerily, cheerily,
Wednesday, Wednesday,
Merrily, merrily.â€
Lila wished to dance and sing with the fairy folk. She tried to sing, but
she made a happy mistake. She sung, —
“ Thursday, Thursday,
Cheerily, cheerily,
Thursday, Thursday,
Merrily, merrily.â€
This little happy mistake broke the spell, and the fairy folk were made free,
and were delighted. So they determined to reward her. They rushed toward
her, lifted her up. “Sing,†said they.
She sung, —
“Thursday, Thursday,
Cheerily, cheerily,
Thursday, Thursday,
Merrily, merrily.â€
But they sung, —
“ Wednesday! Wednesday!
Cheerily, cheerily.
Wednesday! Wednesday !
Merrily, merrily.â€
“When you touch the floor again,†said the fairy folk, “you will be
happy!â€
She was. Her hump was gone; her form was light and beautiful; her face
was one of the loveliest in all the world; her rags had changed to silk.
238 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
She went home, and entered the kitchen. There her proud sister came to
see her about her work, and she was filled with envy and amazement as she
opened the door.
As they bid her good-by the fairy folk gave her asingle hair. “If you
should ever be in trouble, burn that and we will come,†said they. Lila
treasured the hair, and knew that by it she could have anything that she
wished.
“Where did you get your beautiful dress, Lila, my sister?†said Ellif.
“ The fairy folk brought it to me?â€
“Why, my sister?â€
“T needed it, and I sung so that it broke their spell.â€
“ What did you sing?â€
Lila told her sister the story. The latter was greatly interested and wonder-
struck,
“T need a dress,†said she, “and now that I know the secret, I will go to
the fairy folk to-night and sing too. To-day is Thursday; I will sing /r7day,
and the song of a day to come will break their spell.â€
Ellif that night waited the coming of the fairy folk. But instead of singing
“ Friday,†she sung, — Ne acts
‘Tuesday, Tuesday,
Cheerily, cheerily.
Tuesday, Tuesday,
Merrily, merrily.â€
Now the fairy folk were thrown into horror by the singing of a dead day.
They saw that she was selfishly trying to secure gain by having learned her
sister’s secret. They rushed towards her, and lifted her up, singing, “Thursday,
Thursday.â€
“When you touch the floor again, you will weep,†said they.
She did. There was a hump on her back, and her beauty was gone, and
she was in rags. She went home, and took her sister’s place in the kitchen.
But Lila pitied her sister when she saw her, and wept with her, and sought
to comfort her.
‘Weep not, my sister, it will yet be well.â€
“How?â€
“Do you see this hair?â€
“Yes, my sister.â€
“The fairy folk promised to help me as often as I should burn the end of
this hair. I am going to burn it now.â€
“Why?â€
A DERVISH’S FAIRY TALE. 239
“So that they will make you beautiful.â€
« And we will both be beautiful in heart.â€
“Ves, my sister.â€
She began to burn the hair, and the fairy folk all came. They made the
proud sister more beautiful than ever before, and she now hada good heart
also. The two sisters were in person and heart the most beautiful women
in all the land.
CHAPTER XIIL
BRINDISI.— AN ODD STORY-TELLER.
MOM Constantinople our travellers went to Brindisi,
a city of ancient traditions, where Virgil died.
There was fever in Rome at this time, and as Brin-
disi connects by rail with Naples and Rome, they
thought it well to rest from their journey here, and
to return to Gibraltar by rail.
The harbor of Brindisi is one of the best on the
Adriatic, and consists of an outer and an inner port. The country
around is most beautiful; and as Brindisi was anciently Brindisium,
associated with the Roman wars with Asia, with the glories of the
Augustan age, and with the Crusades, it is as interesting historically
as it is beautiful. The sea is a charm, and the land a garden, and
everywhere the ghosts of historic events arise.
Our travellers stopped at the Grand Hotel de l’Orient, and here
their story-telling was renewed amid. delightful social surroundings
Visiting Naples and Rome at times, they enjoyed a long rest here.
“We are now ina city mentioned by Herodotus,†said an old New
England clergyman, who had accompanied them from Alexandria, and
who was a classical scholar. “Travellers have rested here for three
thousand years or more. Here Maecenas came on a diplomatic mis-
sion, bringing with him Horace. And here was the end of the queen
of all Roman roads, the Appian Way.â€
The Appian Way,— what histories did the name touch with life
again, from the beginnings of the celebrations of the Roman seculums
MOSLEM AT PRAYER.
AN ODD STORY-TELLER. 243
to that barbaric pageant in the days of Philip the Arabian, which
commemorated the one thousandth birthday of Rome!
Down this way which armies marched to embark for Greece and
for the conquests of Asia, what remnants of armies came back over
it, up from the sea! Here the Roman eagles, coming and going,
flashed for a thousand years.
Conquerors trod the Appian Way; captives in chains were sor-
rowfully marched over it towards Rome; poets travelled over it. It
was the way of the living; it was the way of the dead, for it was
along this way that Rome buried her dead. Here was the place of
tombs, funeral torches, and ashes, and human dust. One approached
the Rome of the living through the Rome of the dead.
The captive thought, “ What does it matter?†as he saw the tombs,
and knew that the white palaces of the dead held only common earth.
This end of the Appian Way was really the old port of Rome.
The way was paved with stones as solid as the pyramids. It was a
long road from Rome down to the glorious Adriatic over this firm-set
road. One now passes from Brindisi to Rome in a few hours, but it
was not so in the times of Maecenas, Virgil, and Horace. The length
of the Appian Way was a journey then.
But in the days of her glory Rome began at this port by the cool
sea. Her longest street reached here, and the Romans loved the way
to the Adriatic, where the sea seemed to come up to meet them. .
At Brindisi our travellers became intimate with a benevolent old
New England clergyman to whom we have alluded. His name was
Ware, and he had been a pastor of a church at Scituate, Mass. In his
early days he had had poetic ambitions, and had lived for a time in
Boston. He was full of benevolence and story-telling, and he became
a favorite among the English and American people who were resting
at Brindisi.
The people used to gather on the balconies or within the balcony
windows in the long evenings and Sunday afternoons to hear “ Dr.
244 ZIGZAG FÂ¥OURNEYVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
Ware,†as he was called, or “old Dr. Ware,†tell the tales of his simple
life. He was one of those people who liked to “ make fun of himself,â€
or to freely analyze his own mistakes in life.
One Sunday afternoon he read from the Bible the story of Samson,
which had been made newly interesting to him by seeing Gaza as he
APPIAN WAY.
passed along the coast. The old town of Gaza, which is near to
Joppa,-has still some fifteen thousand inhabitants. It has no walls or
gates, as of old. Its white mosque, with its octagonal minaret, rises
high over the sandy coast and blue sunny sea. Old Dr. Ware illus-
A MODERN SAMSON. 245
trated the incident of the growing again of Samson’s hair by a curious
and happy story, which we give below.
He one evening, when the stories of Shakspeare that relate to
Venice and Verona had been the subject of conversation, told an
odd incident of his own early life, in which he pictured Rome as it
used to appear to him among the old New England farms. The story
prepared the minds of our travellers for the journeys that they were
planning to make to Rome, and recalled the associations of their own
new land, far, far away.
A MODERN SAMSON, WHOSE HAIR GREW AGAIN.
SUNDAY was a still day in old New England a century ago. People did not
ride much nor walk far. It was a still day, even in haying time.
There were few farmers then who regarded labor in the hay-field on the
Sabbath as a work of necessity. This idea was of later growth, when farm life
on that day began to show greater activity.
How still it was in those old sacred days in the fiery midsummer weathert !
The church bell rang at ten o’clock, and its notes echoed among the hills and
along the valleys. The swarths of cut grass lay as the scythes of the mowers
had left them on Saturday. No dinner horn blew; the bells of no bread-cart
man came jingling lazily along from house to house; no ox-cart rumbled over
the roads.
After church the hired men rested in the half-filled haylofts in the barn or
under the shadows of the trees, and, perhaps, discussed the morning sermon,
or told the old wonder-tales of the farms and inns. If clouds gathered in the
afternoon, the deacon would stand in his door, and shade his eyes, and say, —
“T guess there ’s goin’ to be a shower, and the hay will get a wettin’,†and
would retire to his lounge with peace of conscience, leaving the ricks and wind-
rows of hay to the mercy of the sky.
It was such a Sabbath afternoon that the Widow Stillwell sat in the door of
her cottage, and looked out on the fragrant fields and green woods. Her son,
Gideon, or “ Gid,†as she called him, had just returned from church.
“There’s cold victuals on the table, Gid,†she said. ‘ The coffee is cold,
’cos I aint goin’ to kindle any fire to-day. There’s milk and mush and corn’
beef, and swamp tarts, and wild strawberries and cream, and that’s enough.
What did the preacher preach about?â€
246 ZIGZAG FÂ¥OURNEYVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
“Samson!â€
«“ Sho-—~did he? That was a powerful subject. Where was the text? You
tell me, and I’ll find it, and after dinner I’ll talk with you about it, and you
must n’t go to sleep while your old mother is talkin’. You'll think of me some
day, when Iam dead. Where was it, Gid?â€
‘T don’t know where, Mother, but I recollect the words: ‘And the Philis-
tines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and he
did grind in the prison-house.’â€
“Good for ye, Gid! What a memory you have got! That does yer old
mother’s heart good. ‘Did grind in the prison-house.’ I’ll get the concor-
dance and look it up. You go and get your dinner.â€
Gideon sat down at a scoured oak-table in the long porch, to a cold Sunday
dinner. The door was open, and a hen with a brood of chickens came in, and
he fed them.
“What you doin’, Gid?â€
“ Oh, nothin’, Mother.â€
Mrs. Stillweil appeared and saw the hen and chickens, and raised her apron
and said, “Shoo;†then added, “‘ And he did grind in the prison-house; ’
that’s a mighty improvin’ text.
‘No matter how good folk a man may have, if he don’t do as he ought to
do, he will one day find himself at the mill grindin’, with his eyes put out. Eh?
I’ve seen a lot of folks grindin’ in my day. Yes, Gid, grindin’, grindin’, grindin,’
grindin’.
“ Sin puts out the eyes of its servants, and sends them all grindin’, grindin’,
grindin’ at the mill, and a sorry spectacle they are at last.
“ There’s Squire Brown’s son; he’s just drinked up his father’s farm, and
the Philistines have got him; he’s grindin’, grindin’, grindin’. There’s Ned
Gray, he that ran away with the Gratlin gal; he was heady; he’s grindin’.
The Philistines have got /zm.
“ Gideon, that’s a mighty improvin’ text. Be careful that the Philistines
don’t ever get you.â€
* But, Mother —â€
“What, Gid?â€
‘The parson, he said ‘ howdéezt.’â€
“ Howbett what, Gid?â€
“<« Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow after he was shaven.’’
“Ves, but he wasn’t what he used to be. Don’t you ever be a howbeit
man, Gideon. Have ye eaten all ye want? Well, let us go and set down in
the keepin’ room, and talk. I’ll wash the dinner dishes to-morrow.â€
A MODERN SAMSON. 247
The widow found the text of the sermon in the Book of Judges, and began
to give her views upon it. In the midst of a very earnest exhortation she
dropped her spectacles and lifted her hands.
“Asleep, Gid? Well, the poor boy has worked hard during the week,â€
She gazed out of the window under the morning-glories. An old guide-
post stood at the corner of the ways. ,
“Poor boy,†she said to herself, “I wonder what course he will take. There
are clouds in the sky, and the robins are singin’, and I'll go out and see that
the cows come up to the apple pasture, so that Gideon will not have to hunt
for them if it comes on to rain.â€
She went out. The clouds passed, and the Sabbath echoed to the golden
coronation of a long twilight.
Gideon Stillwell was a bright boy. The widow said that he “ favored his
father,†who came to be at last a justice of the peace. In the Friday evening
conference meetings, and at the winter evening debating societies at the school-
house, Gideon’s voice always awakened expectation, and at the “ speaking
schools,†that held weekly evening sessions at the schoolhouse, he was always
received with great cheering when he stepped upon the platform, and honored
with greater cheering when he stepped down. At an early age, after attaining
his majority, he was elected field-driver and pound-keeper at the town meet-
ing, and at the age of twenty-five he arrived at the high honor of his father, in
being made a justice of the peace. These were days that made the widow’s
heart glad.
But there was a barter store in the neighborhood, where all kinds of com-
modities were sold, and to this Gideon began to go to spend his evenings, to
play checkers and joke and talk. Here he learned to drink liquors and treat
and became intimate with some young men who, like the favorite hero of the
drinking song of the time, “ Rosin the Beau,†believed in having a merry time
in the world. To use the refrain of one of their songs as a picture: —
“To-night we ‘ll merry, merry be,
And to-morrow we ‘ll get sober.â€
On holidays these jovial fellows became a terror and a nuisance to the com-
munity, and they made it a habit to celebrate the evening before the Fourth of
July by a frolic, or, as they termed it in country language, by “ going off on
a spree.â€
This change of habits led to a great change in Gideon. The community
were very charitable towards his weaknesses and lapses, because he was a
widow’s son, and his father had been a good man, and his own life had opened
in such a promising way.
248 ZIGZAG FOURNEYVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN,
“I’m sorry,†said the old parson, “ but let us be kindly. He will return to
his Father's house again; †and, with this charitable, spiritual figure, he rested
the case with hope.
Independence Day, after the victory of Commodore Perry on Lake Erie,
was for several years celebrated with great enthusiasm in all American cities
and towns. The bands played ‘‘ The President’s March ;†floral chariots, with
young girls representing goddesses, led triumphal processions; arches spanned
the streets, and the country people gathered about the gingerbread-carts in the
towns. The nights blazed with bonfires ; tar barrels made lurid the sky, and
bells and cannon awoke the morn and saluted the sunset. It was a day of fire
and noise —the one great day that voiced the exultant political spirit of the
time. America stood for liberty in the view of those good times; and liberty
was destined to topple all thrones and crumble all crowns, and lead the world
to ultimate equality of rights, to a unity of brotherhood and never-ending
peace.
The young orator was usually the hero of these unexampled celebrations.
He was sometimes a minister, sometimes a lawyer or college student. He
usually began his oration with “ Ladies and Gentlemen: We have assembled
here to commemorate the days on which our fathers fought, bled, and died.â€
Then the eagle began to fly.
Next in honor to the orator was the reader of the Declaration of Indepen-
dence, who gave that document of Jefferson to the public in an oratorical tone,
which was a kind of heroic chant. The grand language, “ When, in the course
of human events,†was thrown on the air like the voice of a trumpet; the
arraignment of George III. rose and fell in stately tones, and the effectiveness
and eloquence of the reading was a subject of comment for weeks after the
event.
It was in one of these grand, patriotic years that Bristol,.the town in which
the Widow Stillwell and her son lived, had voted at the town meeting to hold
a celebration on the coming Fourth of July, and had chosen the then justices
of the peace and the old Orthodox clergyman to act as a committee.
The committee appointed the young Episcopal clergyman of the place as
orator, and, at the advice of the parson, Gideon Stillwell to read the Declaration
of Independence.
A part of the committee made objection to this last nomination.
“ Gideon has a grand voice,†said the parson.
“ But his conduct on past Independence Days has not been an honor to the
town,†said one. ‘“ He carouses.â€
“This will save him. This will save him,†said the old parson. “ This
: ais
5
rae
aN ie
rey ise ———s
a ie i
TOMB OF CECILIA MATELLA, APPIAN WAY.
A MODERN SAMSON. 251
honor will go right to his heart, and make a man of him. And,†he added
kindly, “it will cheer the heart of his mother. The widow is a good woman —
a good family ; they helped burn the ‘ Gaspee.’ â€
This last touch appealed to local patriotism, and the committee unanimously
yoted that Gideon Stillwell should read the Declaration.
Gideon received this intelligence of this crown of honor with a divided
heart. He had spent his evenings much at the store of late, and he and his
comrades had agreed to have a frolic on the night of the Fourth, and had formed
a strange plan to startle the town.
On the old farms around the town there were, in midsummer, old stacks of
hay that had been left over from the foddering seasons. With the exception
of the tar-barrel, there is nothing that will fill the sky at night with such a lurid
light as the burning of an old haystack. It was the secret plan of the jolly
fellows who met at the country store to set fire to all of the old hay-stacks on
the farms around the town on the evening of the Fourth, and then to assemble
in the old place and enjoy the excitement of the joke, and have a drunken
carousal.,
If Gideon Stillwell accepted the high honor offered him for the Fourth, he
must at once break away from his old comrades and all association with this
unlawful escapade.
The sensation of the proposed frolic had been a delightful prospect to
Gideon’s mind. But the town had appealed to his better nature, pride, and
honor. He thought of his mother, his Revolutionary ancestry, and his future;
and he accepted the invitation, and began to rehearse the eloquent reading out
in the barn and in the woods.
Poor Widow Stillwell used to listen to these rehearsals at the door. She
delighted to hear “created free and equal,†and “ inalienable rights,†and “ life
and liberty and the pursuit of happiness†soaring like eagles over mountain
tops into the air. She shut the door softly when “these States are and of a
right ought to be free and independent,†and sometimes sat down and covered
her face with her apron, saying, “ Oh, that I should ever be blessed by being
the mother of a boy like that! â€
The town of Bristol contained the county jail. In the yard there had been
placed a curious machine for the discipline of stubborn prisoners, called a
treadmill. Prisoners were not numerous in the county, and there really seemed
to be no especial. need of this English instrument of torture; but other officers
of prisons were building them to meet the wants of difficult cases, and the
officers here were public-spirited men, and did not like to be wanting in any
of the improved methods of discipline and compulsory reform.
252 ZIGZAG FYOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
These treadmills were constructed on the principle of the old-fashioned
horsethreshing-machines. The culprit who was placed in one was compelled
to tread until he was released.
This clock-work motion soon became very tiresome, painful, and exhausting.
The officers of prisons called the discipline ‘the breaking of the will.†Most
prisoners so disciplined promised obedience after a very short experience. Of
all discouraging inventions to subdue crankiness and perverseness, the treadmill
was one of the most effective.
Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, in his early years, once wrote a treadmill song,
which used to be found in old readers and speakers: —
“The stars are rolling in the skies,
The earth rolls on below,
And we can feel the rattling wheels
Revolving as we go.
Then tread away, my gallant boys,
And make the axle fly ;
Why should not wheels go round about
Like planets in the sky?â€
The treadmill as a prison punishment has long disappeared from penal
institutions in England and America.
The evening of the Fourth of July came after a blazing day on the blue bays
and green hay-fields. The jolly jokers met early at the store. In an ill-starred
moment of weakness Gideon had consented to meet with them, although he
had declined to go with them. The party were in high spirits, and were enjoying
their fun in anticipation.
“‘ Gideon,†said one, ‘ go.â€
“ But the reading at the church?â€
“No one outside of the party will ever know how you spent the night, and
you may be sure that none of us will tell.â€
‘But if we were to be detected? It would ruin my name, and be a disgrace
to the town.â€
“ We are not going to be detected.â€
“T might get over-excited and heated, and drink too much, and that would
unfit me for to-morrow.â€
“We will see to that. We will not let you get drunk.â€
“I?m heady when I have been drinking; my judgment is warped ; I do
things that Tam sorry for. A little liquor brings out all that is bad in me.
When I am half drunk I am fit only for crime. You know how it is. You
ought not to tempt me to-night, of ail nights. Everything in my life depends
upon my keeping straight to-night.â€
uns want
ne et
ie oa
Ta i)
! i]
THE BAPTIST
ERY.
, DUOMO, AND CAMPANILE OF GIOT
TO, FLOREN
ENCE.
A MODERN SAMSON. 255
‘But, Gideon, drink a little with jovial comrades.â€
“Take a little just to wet your whistle,†said one.
He did; and then he took a little more to keep it company. Presently he
began to grow jovial, and slap his companions on their backs and knees.
He looked out of the door on the green woods that the hills lifted into
the air. The moon was rising, shield-like and dusky, like the sun coming up
again.
“It’s a staver of a night,†said he; “just the one for a lark. Boys, I'll
a
go,
The moon rose over the dewy hills and glimmering bays. At about eleven
o’clock four great fires, like columns of flame, rose into the air from as many
farms. The sky became smoke, then turned into a wannish glare, and the
whole heavens seemed to become a sheet of flame,
The church bells in the town began to ring. People rushed out of their
houses, both in the town and country. At midnight the whole population was
in the streets or roads. :
“It is only haystacks,†said a fireman on horseback, as he rushed back to
the town from the farms.
But a more serious event happened. One of the burning stacks com-
municated its flames to a large barn, and the burning barn set fire to an old
historic farm-house. As soon as the larkers discovered this serious result and
began to comprehend that their joke was a crime, they stole back to the store.
The early morning found them here intoxicated, and the selectmen and
town constable also found them here. The officers rushed in to arrest them
when their eyes fell upon Gideon.
They paused. Their hearts were full of chagrin, mortification, and sorrow.
‘“‘We must do our duty,†said the constable.
The men were arrested and led amid wondering, humiliated throngs to the
county jail.
Once in the jail yard they began to throw off the cloud of drunken stupor,
and see their position.
They refused to’ enter the jail; rough words followed, and then resist-
ance was made to officers, and a fist fight put the custodians of the peace at
bay.
The constable sent for help. Strong men came; still the prisoners resisted.
“Force them down, and put them into the treadmill,†said the sheriff.
There followed a rough handling of the stack burners, but the officers were
Soon masters of the place, and the jolly party of the night before found them-
selves on the revolving cylinder, at the mercy of the common jailer. At the
256 ZIGZAG FOURNEYVS ON THE MEDITERRANRAN.
head of this sorry row, who had started a motion that they could not stop, was
the appointed reader of the Declaration on this day of national honor, Gideon
Stillwell.
The jail yard was surrounded by a fence, and over this the heads of boys
began to rise.
“ They’re in the treadmill. Here’s a sight; run, hurry, — oh, oh, they are
in the treadmill!â€
So shouted a pioneer in the discovery of this strange, odd scene. Boys ran,
men ran, and even girls and young women ran, all who could mounted to the
top of the fence, some shouting, some jeering, some laughing, and some
crying.
The treadmill here was a kind of shed, with stalls for five or six prisoners,
and a rail on which the culprits leaned.
If ever a man’s face wore an expression of agony, horror, and despair, it was
that of Gideon Stillwell on the glowing forenoon of Independence Day. He
heard the boys jeering on the fence, and he knew that his disgrace would be
the talk of the town for a generation. He could not do anything to mitigate
the humiliation of his position.
The high windows and the roofs of the houses around the jail yard filled with
people. Gideon heard voices in the air, crackers and horns, and he knew what
it meant. But he was in the wheel, and the wheel went round and round, and
every revolution made his bones ache and cry out for rest.
One of his fellows began to rail and scold. This caused a great outcry to
go up from the fence.
The church bell pealed out on the air. Gideon heard it. It was the bell
that he had expected would call him to his place of honor. A boy shouted
from the fence, —
“ Now, Gideon, give us the Declaration.â€
At this the boys all along the fence waved their hats and cried, “Three
cheers for Independence!â€
Another cried, “Three cheers for Washington, Commodore Perry, and
Gideon;†which was followed by ‘ Three cheers for Gideon’s Band!â€
This last volley was repeated amid shouts of laughter. All was excitement,
merriment, and sorrow.
Suddenly there fell a silence. The faces were turned backward to the long
street, and one boy said, ‘‘ She’s coming,†and all ceased to jeer. The win-
dows became silent and the housetops. One could hear the robins sing. But
the wheel went round.
An old woman on a crutch was coming: down the street towards the jail.
A MODERN SAMSON. 267
All eyes were fixed upon her, and many eyes began to fill with tears. She
hobbled slowly along under the elms, her gray hair flying on the light wind out
of a funnel-shaped bonnet.
She came up to the fence, and said,—
“ Boy, get down, and let me see.â€
The boy addressed dropped upon the ground. The old woman raised her-
self on her crutch, and slowly lifted her gray head above the fence. There was
silence as deep as the air.
Her eyes were dim, but she saw it all Her gaze was fixed on Gideon, who
was near her. And the wheel went round.
“ Grindin’, Gideon?â€
The wheel went round.
“* And the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and he did grind in
the prison-house.’ Oh, Gideon, do you remember?â€
The wheel went round.
“ Gideon, I am in ‘the chamber over the gate,’ and I wish that I were
dead.â€
The wheel went round.
“ Grindin’, grindin’, grindin’.â€
The wheel went round.
“ Mother?â€
“What, Gideon? â€
“ Howbeit, his hair began to grow after he was shaven.â€
“* Howbeit 2?’ Gideon, I will forgive ye. Ver old mother’s heart is all that
is left you now in the world. When you get through grindin’ at the mill in
the prison-house, come home, Gideon. I’ll mortgage my place, and pay yer
fine. And now I’ll hobble back and pray. Iam all that is left to ye, and God
is all that is left to me.â€
A bell rang. The wheel stopped.
And Gideon —his hair grew again. He lived down his disgrace and
became a worthy citizen, and was forgiven by the kind community.
He and his old mother sleep among the slated memorials of the old church-
yard near the green, under the elms, where the orioles sing in the summer-
time.
17
THE CAMPAGNA.
CHAPTER XIV.
RIENZI, THE LAST OF THE ROMAN TRIBUNES.*
Then turn we to her latest tribune’s name,
From her ten thousand tyrants turn to thee,
Redeemer of dark centuries of shame,
The friend of Petrarch, hope of Italy, —
Rienzi, last of Romans! While the tree
Of freedom’s wither’d trunk puts forth a leaf,
Even for thy tomb a garland let it be —
The forum’s champion and the people’s chief,
Her newborn Numa thou!
Byron.
Â¥LONG the banks of the Tiber, not far from that part
| of its course which sweeps by the base of Mount
Aventine, a remote and tranquil path wound its leafy
way. Ata distance could be seen the scattered and
squalid houses that bordered the river, from amid
which rose the dark high roofs and enormous towers
of the fortified mansions of some Roman barons. On the one side
the river, behind the cottages of the fishermen, rose Mount Janiculum,
dark with massive foliage, from which gleamed the gray walls of
many a palace and the spires and columns of a hundred churches; on
the other side, the deserted Aventine rose abrupt and steep, covered
with -thick brushwood; while on the height rolled the sound of the
holy convent bell.
1 J am indebted for this chapter to Miss Florence A. Blanchard.
RIENZI, THE LAST OF THE ROMAN TRIBUNES. 259
On a summer evening in the earlier half of the fourteenth century,
two youths might have been seen walking through this secluded path.
The elder of the young men, who might have passed his twentieth
year, was of a tall and even commanding stature. His countenance,
handsome though rather thoughtful in expression, was lighted by a
wonderful smile. The younger, who was yet a boy, with an expres-
sion of great sweetness and gentleness, listened with tender deference
to his companion, who talked of the uncertain future and built up his
castles of the air, and we hear him say, “ But you, sweet brother,
though you share not my studies, sympathize with all their results so
kindly — you seem so to approve my wild schemes and to encourage
my ambitious hopes —that sometimes I forget our birth, our fortunes,
and think and dare as if no blood save that of the noblest flowed
through our veins.â€
As they talked a vessel was speeding rapidly down the river, and
some three or four armed men on deck were intently surveying the quiet
banks on either side, as if anticipating a foe. The bark soon glided
out of sight, and the brothers continued their dreams of the future.
As the everling darkened they began hastily to retrace their steps,
when the elder remembered that he was to call that evening at the
convent for a rare manuscript that had been promised him. Bidding
his brother “tarry here a few minutes,†he hastened up the Aventine
to the convent.
Left to himself, the lad thought over all the stories of ancient
Rome which his brother had told him in their walk, as he gathered
flowers for his sister and wove them into garlands.
While thus engaged the tramp of horses and the loud shouting of
men were heard ata distance. They came nearer and nearer, —a
gallant company, their steeds superbly caparisoned. They were all
armed, both cavalry and foot-soldiers.
A momentary fear crossed the boy’s mind, but it was already too
late to flee, — the train was upon him.
260 ZIGZAG FOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
Questioning the boy concerning the vessel which had gone down
the river in the early evening, they placed him in the thickest of the
crowd, and dragged him along with the rest, lest he should prove
traitor, and alarm the Colonna.
A winding in the road brought suddenly before them the object
of their pursuit; but pushing forward in their eagerness to intercept
her, they came upon a small compact body of horsemen, armed cap-a-
pie, who dashed from amid the trees and charged into the ranks of
the pursuers.
The contest was short and fierce, bringing success to the Colonna.
The Orsini turned to fly. Among those who fled onward, in the
very path of the horsemen, was the young lad. Fast he fled, and
fast behind him came the tramp of the hoofs— the shouts. He was
now at the spot where his brother had left him; despairingly he looked
up, and, behold! his brother rushing through the tangled brakes.
“Save me, save me, Brother!†he shrieked; a moment more he
fell to the ground — a corpse.
The horsemen passed on to new victims. Cola had descended, and
was kneeling by his murdered brother.
Presently the advanced guard of the Colonna came by, whose chief
in response to Rienzi’s impassioned plea for “justice! justice!†prom-
ised him that the death of his brother should be avenged. Unfor-
tunately, the cavalier who had murdered the boy proved to be one of
the Colonna, and the promise made by Lord Colonna was broken.
The company passed back the way they had come, leaving Rienzi
motionless beside his dead brother. His thoughts were dark and
stern, —“ thoughts in which were the germ of a mighty revolution.â€
“From that bloody clay Cola di Rienzi rose a new being. With
his younger brother died his own youth. But for that event the future
liberator of Rome might have been but a dreamer, a scholar, a poet, —
the peaceful rival of Petrarch,a man of thoughts, not deeds. But
from that time all his faculties, energies, fancies, genius, became con-
THE AVENTINE,
RIENZI, THE LAST OF THE ROMAN TRIBUNES. 263
centrated to a single point; and patriotism, before a vision, leaped
into the life and vigor of a passion, lastingly kindled, stubbornly hard-
ened, and awfully consecrated — by revenge.â€
Years passed away. The fame and fortunes of Rienzi were grow-
ing amid all the civil strife and contention with which Rome was
torn. Her ancient glory had departed. Barbarian tribes had forced
their settlements into the city of the Caesars. The degenerate Roman
population possessed all the insolent and unruly turbulence which
characterized the plebs of the ancient forum, without any of their
virtues. They were ferocious but not brave. The nobles supported
themselves as relentless banditti.
For nearly forty years Rome had been deserted by the popes; she
had ceased to be the religious capital of the world. The shrines and
the reliques of the great apostles and the famous old churches, the
Lateran, St. Peter, and St. Paul, were still there; some few pilgrims
came from all parts of Europe to the city still hallowed by these
sacred monuments, But the tide of homage and tribute which had
flowed for centuries toward the shrine of the successors of Saint
Peter had now taken another course. Pope Clement VI., more
prudent than courageous, had made Avignon, a luxurious town of a
foreign prince, the court of the Roman pontiff and the throne of the
Christian church.
Rome, thus degraded from her high ecclesiastical position, would
welcome with redoubled energy whatever might recall her ancient
Supremacy. Now republican and now imperial Rome threw off
with disdain the thraldom of the papal dominion. The consul Cre-
scentius, the senator Brancaleone, Arnold of Brescia, the Othos, the
Fredericks, Henry of Luxemburg, Louis of Bavaria, had all been
actors in the drama which proclaimed Rome a new world-ruling
republic or a new world-ruling empire.
Despite their retrogression, the Romans still possessed the sense
and the desire of liberty. For the last two centuries they had known
264 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
various _ revolutions, — brief, often bloody, and always unsuccessful.
Yet the empty form of a popular government existed.
Holding their palaces as the castles and fortresses of princes, each
asserting his own independence of all authority and law, the barons
of Rome made their estate still more secure, and still more odious to
the people by the maintenance of troops of foreign (chiefly German)
mercenaries, against whom the Italians were no match in discipline
and skill.
Of these barons the most powerful were the Orsini and Colonna.
Their feuds wer hereditary and incessant; and not a sun set but that
the gathering darkness covered the fruits of their lawless warfare, in
bloodshed, in rape, and in conflagration.
From these multiplied oppressors the Roman citizens turned with
fond and impatient regret to their ignorant and dark notions of de-
parted liberty and greatness. They confounded together the times
of the empire and those of the republic; vainly imagining that if
both the emperor and the pontiff fixed their residence in Rome,
liberty and law would again seek shelter in the city of the seven
hills. |
Following in the wake of the barons was a crowd of lesser robbers;
and more formidable than either were the free-booters, companies of
Germans organized for the purpose of shameless pillaging, joined by
Romans.
In the year 1343, among the delegates of the people sent on the
public mission to Clement VI. at Avignon, was Cola di Rienzi, a son
of a Roman innkeeper and a washerwoman, born at Rome, 1313, in
a quarter of the city which was inhabited only by mechanics and
Jews.
His early youth was passed at Anagni. When about twenty, he
returned to Rome and embraced the profession of a notary. But his
chief occupation was pouring over those sacred antiquities of Rome,
which exercised so powerful an influence on his mind. The first
ST. PAUL BASILICA.
RIENZI, THE LAST OF THE ROMAN TRIBUNES. 267
dawn of those classical studies had already been publically welcomed
in the coronation of Petrarch. The respect for the ancient monu-
ments of Rome and for her famous writers became a part of Rienzi’s
soul. His favorite authors were Livy, Cicero, Seneca, Valerius Max-
imus; but “the magnificent deeds and words of the great Caesar were
his chief delight.â€
He contrasted the miserable and servile state of his countrymen
with that of their free and glorious ancestors. “Where are those old
Romans? where their justice? Would that I had lived in their
times!†The sense of personal wrong in the murder of his brother
was wrought up with his more lofty and patriotic feelings. He had
vowed vengeance for the innocent blood. Already had he assumed the
office of champion of the poor.
‘As a result of the embassy to Avignon, the pope granted the
jubilee of the fiftieth year, to be held in Rome; and he also promised
when the affairs of Rome should permit, to revisit the city.
On Rienzi’s return to Rome he heard it openly whispered that the
nobles were supported and cherished by the pope himself, that they
waged wars with money from the treasuries of the church.
The growing discontent grew more and more outspoken. More
and more daring grew the robberies by the nobles. In the streets
hand-to-hand fights were frequent. In the times of their greatest
disturbances, the one person in Rome who could control the people
was Rienzi, who calmed the present by the promise of the future.
Despairing of all alleviation of the calamities of the people from
the ecclesiastical power, Rienzi brooded over his hopes of reawaken-
ing the old Roman spirit of liberty. He proceeded with wonderful
courage and resolution, submitting to every kind of indignity, and
assuming every disguise which might advance his end. The worst
tyrants with whom he had to deal were no frank and open foes, but
men of “shifts and wiles, the subtlest and most deceitful.â€
Once in his indignation he was betrayed into a premature appeal to
268 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
the yet unawakened sympathies of the people. The only answer was
a blow from a Norman kinsman of the Colonnas; in the simple
language of the historian, “a box on the ear that rang again.â€
Nightly meetings were held on the Aventine (he may have learned
from Livy the secession of the people to that hill), where he addressed
the people with earnest eloquence, which grew more and more impas-
sioned as their sympathies weré awakened.
Allegorical picture was the language of the times. The church
had long used it to teach Christian truth. Political purposes had been
consummated by it. It was the familiar language of the whole people.
Rienzi seized upon the unrestricted freedom of painting. All his-
torians have dwelt on the masterpiece of his pictorial eloquence, “which,
when the people saw, every one marvelled.â€
“Ona sinking ship, without mast or sail, sat a noble lady, in widow’s
weeds, with dishevelled hair and her hands crossed over her breast.
Above was written, ‘This is Rome. She was surrounded by four
other ships, in which sat women, who personated Babylon, Carthage,
Tyre, and Jerusalem. ‘ Through unrighteousness, ran the legend,
‘these fell to ruin. An inscription hung above: ‘ Thou, O Rome, art
exalted above all; we await thy downfall. Three islands appeared
beside the ship; in one was Italy, in another four of the cardinal vir-
tues, in the third Christian faith. Each had its appropriate inscrip-
tion. Over faith was written ‘O highest Father, Ruler and Lord,
when Rome sinks, where find I refuge?’ Bitter satire was not want-
ing. Four rows of winged beasts stood above, who blew their horns
and directed their pitiless storm against the sinking vessel. The
lions, wolves, and bears denoted, as the legend explained, the mighty
barons and traitorous senators; the dogs, the swine, and the bulls
were the counsellors, the base partisans of the nobles; the sheep, the
serpents, and the foxes were the officers, the false judges, and notaries ;
the hares, cats, goats, and apes, the robbers, murderers, adulterers,
thieves, among the people. Above was ‘God in His majesty come
Ta
cia
SQUARE OF THE CAPITOL, ROME,
RIENZI, THE LAST OF THE ROMAN TRIBUNES. 271
down to judgment, with two swords, as in the Apocalypse, out of his
mouth. Saint Peter and Saint Paul were beneath, on either side, in
the attitude of supplication.â€
The morning of the rgth of May, 1347, saw the beginning of the
end. The Colonna barons were absent from the city. Ruienzi’s hour
had come.
Over the city brooded a deep silence. The streets were deserted.
The shops were but half-open. Toward noon a few small knots of -
men might be seen scattered about here and there, whispering to each
other, but soon dispersing. Suddenly there was heard the sound of a
single trumpet.
Slowly about the streets paced a solitary horseman, winding a long,
loud blast of the trumpet suspended round his neck as he passed.
Suddenly, as if by magic, the streets became thronged with multitudes
— multitudes who broke the silence only by the tramp of their feet
and an indistinct low murmur. The Romans were convened for the
morrow, at dawn of day, to provide for the good estate of Rome.
The call came from Rienzi. This was the commencement of the
revolution. :
All that night Rienzi was hearing, in the church of St. Angelo, the
thirty masses of the Holy Ghost. | ;
On the morrow —
“The Soul of the Past, again
To its ancient home,
In the hearts of Rome,
Hath come to resume its reign.â€
At ten in the morning he came forth in full armor; by his side
the pope’s vicar, Raimond, Bishop of Orvieto, and surrounded by a
guard of horsemen. Amidst thronging multitudes he ascended the
capitol. The laws of the good estate were read. They contained
the wild justice of the wild times. The senators were dismissed; the
people shouted their approval. Rienzi was invested with dictatorial
power — power over life and limb, power to pardon, power to estab-
272 ZIGZA G ¥OURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
lish the good estate in Rome and her domain. A few days later he
took the title of tribune, — an office which had been vacant for more
than five hundred years.
The Colonna nobles returned. They all looked on in wondering
apathy. All the Colonnas, the Orsini, the Savelli, were compelled to
yield up their fortress palaces, to make oath that they would protect
no robbers or malefactors, to. keep the roads secure, to supply provis-
ions to the city, to appear in arms or without at the summons of the
magistracy. All orders took the same oath; they swore to maintain
the laws of the good estate.
“Never, perhaps,†says Gibbon, “has the energy and effect of a
single mind been more remarkably felt than in the sudden, though
transient, reformation of Rome by the tribune Rienzi.â€
A den of robbers was converted to the discipline of a camp or con-
vent. After the death of Orsini, the chief of that tribe of nobles, none
who were “conscious of guilt could hope for impunity; and the flight
of the wicked, the licentious, and the idle, soon purified the city and
the territory of Rome.â€
In this time (writes the historian) the woods began to rejoice that
they were no longer infected with robbers; the oxen began to plow;
the pilgrims visited the sanctuaries; the roads and inns were replen-
ished with travellers; trade, plenty, and good faith were restored in
the markets; and a purse of gold might be exposed in the highway
without danger. Her fame spread. Supreme tribunal and confederate
union of the Italian republic might have healed their intestine discord
and closed the Alps against the barbarians.
“But the varnish of power brings forth at once the defects and
beauties of the human mind.†The leap of an hour from a citizen to
a prince, from the victim of oppression to the dispenser of justice, is
dangerous in proportion to the imagination, the enthusiasm, the genius
of the man. The qualities that make him rise hurry him to his fall.
The great misfortune of a man nobler than his age is, “the instru-
RIENZI, THE LAST OF THE ROMAN TRIBUNES. 273
ments he must use soil himself; half he reforms his times; but half,
too, the times will corrupt the reformer.â€
Rienzi did not so much acquire new qualities as develop in greater
contrast those which he already had exhibited. Prosperity made more
apparent his justice, his integrity, his patriotism, his virtue, and his
genius; but it also brought to light more conspicuously his arrogant
superiority, his love of display, and his daring ambition.
He was faithful to his idol of liberty. Even his enemies admitted
that. His pomp was the custom of the age. His gorgeous festivals
increased the importance of the tribune abroad. Taste grew refined,
and foreigners from all states were attracted by the splendor of his
court. “And often since then it has been recalled with a sigh by the
poor for its justice, the merchant for its security, the gallant for its
splendor, the poet for its ideal and intellectual grace.â€
The secret of much of his greatness, many of his errors, was his
great religious enthusiasm. Had there been a brave, intelligent people
to back him, Italy’s thraldom would have closed; and the bright dream
which every great Italian has dreamed from Dante to Mazzini—the
unity of Italy and the supremacy of Rome—would have been realized.
But the barons were revolving projects for the restoration of their
own power. Incited by the pope, who was jealous of Rienzi, they
moved from Palestrina, November 30, and encamped before Rome.
A fierce conflict was fought all that day. At eve the battle ceased.
Of the barons, who had been the main object of the tribune’s assault,
the pride and boast was broken; but the slaughter of the citizens had
been tremendous.
Needing money constantly to repulse the nobles, Rienzi levied
taxes in a tyrannical way.. The people rebelled. The pope saw his
opportunity, and threatened him with excommunication on the charge
of heresy. His followers deserted him in large numbers. He lost
heart, and, lacking the daring recklessness which would have held his
power, he resigned the office which had been his for seven months,
18
274 ZIGZAG FÂ¥OURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
and took refuge in the castle St. Angelo, a Franciscan convent of the
Apennines, Dec. 15, 1347, where he remained for two and one half years.
He had reared his edifice on a quicksand,— the Roman people.
HOUSE OF COLA DI RIENZI.
Their passion of virtue had
been too violent to last. The
virtues of old Rome — fru-
gality, fortitude, love of order,
respect for law, — were virtues
of slow growth. They had
been depressed too long, too
low; they were fierce and
fickle.
The two years and one-
half following his resignation
were one long tale of deep and
dire disaster to the people.
The nobles were again in
power. Fires followed earth-
quakes — the dangers of both
were small compared with the
power of that terrible scourge,
the Black Plague.
In the year of jubilee
Rome swarmed with pilgrims.
Rienzi stole in in disguise.
On his return to the convent,
he was induced by the hermit
Fra Angelo to undertake a
mission to the Emperor
Charles IV. for the good of
mankind, by the restoration
of the power of the emperors. The mission was unsuccessful. He
RIENZI, THE LAST OF THE ROMAN TRIBUNES. 275
was imprisoned by Charles, at the command of the pope, and sent
to Avignon.
After a time interest was. again aroused in him. Petrarch even
ventured to write to Rome to urge the intercession of the people in
his behalf.
In 1354 he was sent to Rome, with the title of senator, by the
pope, who proposed to use the talents he possessed for the restoration
of order in the capital. Before the end of the year he was killed in
an assault upon the capitol, by the people whose defiance was again
aroused against him. Disguised asa shepherd, he slipped into the
crowd, but, recognized by the golden bracelets which he had forgotten
to.remove, he was stabbed with a thousand wounds, Sept. 8, 1354.
For two days his body was exposed to the assault and indignities of
the people, and then burned.
“T loved his virtues, I praised his design; I congratulated Italy ;
I looked forward to the dominion of the beloved city and the peace of
the world.�
THE ROMAN HYMN OF LIBERTY2
“ LET the mountains exult around!â€
On her seven hill’d throne renowned,
Once more old Rome is crown’d.
Jubilate !
Sing out, O vale and wave;
Look out from each laurell’d grave,
Bright dust of the deathless brave.
Jubilate!
Pale vision, what art thou? Lo!
From time’s dark deeps,
Like a wind it sweeps,
Like a wind when the tempests blow:
A shadowy form, as a giant ghost,
It stands in the midst of the arméd host, —
The dead man’s shroud on its awful limbs ;
And the gloom of its presence the daylight dims:
1 Petrarch. 2 Sung at the triumph of Rienzi
276 ZIGZAG JOURNEYS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
And the trembling world looks on aghast —
All hail to the Soud of the Mighty Past /
Hail! all hail!
As we speak, as we hallow, it moves, it breathes ;
From its clouded crest bud the laurel wreaths ;
Asa sun that leaps up from the arms of night,
The shadow takes shape and the gloom takes light;
Hail! all hail!
The Soul of the Past, again
To its ancient home,
In the hearts of Rome,
Hath come to resume its reign.
O Fame, with a prophet’s voice,
Bid the ends of the earth rejoice,
Wherever the proud are strong,
And right is oppress’d by wrong,
Wherever the day dim shines
Through the cell where the captive pines :
Go forth, with a trumpet’s sound,
And tell to the nations round —
. On the hills which the heroes trod,
In the shrines of the saints of God,
In the Cesars’ hall and the martyrs’ prison —
That the slumber is broke and the sleeper arisen ;
That the reign of the Goth and the Vandal is o’er,
And earth feels the tread of the Roman once more!
LYTTON.
CHAPTER XV.
NAPLES. — ROMAN FAIRY TALES.— THE STORY OF SORDELLO.
4} HIE white city of Naples rises over the blue sea,
g/ under a sky all sun and cerulean; and Vesuvius
rises over the city, serene and cloudless, except a
pearly column of smoke fading in air. The
Bay of Naples, with its margin of villas and gar-
dens, is one of the most beautiful in the world.
Any one who has seen it will dream of it ever after.
“ My soul to-day
Is far away,
Sailing on the Vesuvian bay.â€
Naples is a picture. It is a city of palaces, churches, and gardens,
a little more than one hundred miles from Rome, with which it con-
nects by railway.
Our travellers, with Mr. Ware make one or two visits to Rome
from Brindisi. They found the city almost deserted by travellers, and
to be hot and presumably unhealthy. There were improvements mak-
ing in the harbor of Brindisi, and they feared malaria as a consequence.
So Mr. Van der Palm, Percy, and Mr. Ware thought it well to go to
Naples, and to secure there one of the cool villas overlooking the sea.
This they did; and established themselves on one of the hills near the
city of palaces, in the clear, cool, and delicious atmosphere. They
could now go to Rome and return in a single day.
Story-telling began again in the gardens of the Neapolitan villa.
Mr. Van der Palm drew around him his usual consular company, and
these were pleased to relate stories of the ports.
278 ZIGZAG FOURNEVS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN.
Mr. Ware interested Percy in the old fairy tales of Rome. Such
tales were usually associated with the Lar, which was the house spirit,
or with the Lares and Penates, the household gods.
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