Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-02-27
A Woman Among the Sons of Malta.

A few days since we called attention to the
fact that great excitement existed In Zanes-
willie Ohio, with regard to the disappearance
of Mr.. Curtis who it was said had divulged
the secrets of the Sons of Malta, and had been
spirited aBay by the members of the Order to
the great distress of his family and the aston
i,hment of the public, who scarcely knew what
T. think of the bOldneSs of the proceeding 1t
turns out now that the expose which gave such
ufence TO the Order was not written by Curtis,
bu, by his wife, who comes out with an avowal
of the fact, and gives it as her opinion that the
Sons are not to blame for his disappearance
Mrs Curtis writes a very amusing account
of Mr. Curtis and Mr.. Smith becoming Sons
Of Malta, and the natural curiosity of herself
snd Mrs. Smith to find out the secrets of the
Order. The two ladies agreed to have them
selves proposed as members, and got Mrs
Smith cousin to attend to the matter.
Well, Mrs. Curtis goes on to say, ''we were
proposed and elected, and Joe come down into
the store where we were and told US; we hurried
throug b with dressing, and went up to the room
and sat down all in a row. We hadn't sat long
before two men came out to US from the inside
room, all muffied up in gowns and having a
kind OF tin hat, on their heads, which covered
their faces. They asked US for S5 each. Joe
handed over the money for US and himself, as
we bad given him nearly our amounts, and
promised him the rest soon. Then there came
two more men like the other two who formed
Us into line (they call it single ie) and told us
10 walk right along. They had swords, and
one Of them walked before Joe, who was in
front. while the other walked behind me. 1t
was dark, or nearly 80, when we passed in I
was glad of the darkness, because, having on
suit of my husbands clothes | was not sure
that they fitted very we'll"
She next describes some of the scenes inside
- she saw them, and says: / was not fright
ened; for | am not one of your timid people.
being reared to ride colts, shoot pistols skate
and swim. So got through all the m maneuvers
previous to that coat business pretty well; but
when the Conductor said, Can you swim, sir?''
| said. Yes Can you swim in fourteen feet
Of water!" said, Yes; the deeper the bet
ter We'll, take off your coat and try YOUR
self Now, when he said, ''take off your
coat," that scared me, because had put on
loose sack on purpose, for reasons you will see
for yourself.
However, thought moment and then said,
No, sir; never heed the coat can swim as
we'll with as without it" every we'll, ;" said
the conductor, 'yOur peril will be upon your
own head. Now hold up your right hand, sir,
take this life-preserver, and" Here he
gave me push, and went over backward,
and as soon as alighted went up again, fiy-
lnS-then down and up in the same way, until
L thought all my brains were flying out the ton
of my head, and then everything swan round
and round until did not know anything at
ALL tor had tainted
The next place / found myself was in the
ante-chamber, or rather just being led into the
ante-eham6er by two men, and was first con-
sclous that L must have been sitting in bath
tub with my clothes on. L think that the cool
AIR brought me to my senses The two men
looked very scSnnd and sorry. / looked about
Tor Mrs. Smith dnd Joe, but they had gone as
soon as they heard the noise in Initiating me.
L asked one of the men if Mr. Curtis was in
the lodge The man said he was I said /
would like to see him a minute. The man
went into the lOdge-roOm, and presently out
came my beautiful husband, all muffied up. |
Jast whispered a word or two in his ear ard
may be he didnt pull off his gown and hood in
short order and walk home with me.
lie left me that night in anger and mortif-
cation, and L have not seen him since But
then he had no need to be angry, because he
has always known that have been in favor of
w oman's Rights, and have always held that
women are as capable as men. But when it
comes to the ''SOns of Malta 1 think s.Wo-
men Rights" is a failure; hev cannot do it.
do not suppose any of the members recolIect
my initiation, but they will recollect the man
who tainted, unless there have been others
who have tainted as well as myself-which last
1 think quite probable
Mrs. Curtis stops here. Her husband, we
may add. Is yet missing, and not likely soon to
turn up, but she blames herself for the whole
thing.